Custom Adrenal Support

Stress is defined as any disturbance—extreme cold or heat, psychological stress, sleep deprivation, work overload, physical trauma, as well as toxic exposure—that can trigger the stress response. The body’s stress response system is comprised of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Prolonged stress triggers the HPA axis and consists of three stages: alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

The initial, short-lived phase (the alarm phase) is the body’s normal fight-or flight response to danger which is characterized by elevated cortisol levels. The next phase, the resistance phase, allows the body to continue buffering extended stress exposure, long after the initial fight-or-flight response has dissipated. Hormones released by the adrenals, such as cortisol and DHEA, help support the “resistance” reaction. However, extended periods of stress not only burden the system, creating an imbalance in cortisol and DHEA production, but can result in mental and physical fatigue, nervous tension, irritability, poor memory and decreased immunity—all of which are characteristic of stage 3. Custom Adrenal Support provides a unique blend of botanicals that support the body’s ability to respond to and counteract the negative effects of stress.

Holy Basil
Holy basil is an adaptogenic herb that enhances the body’s stress and immune response. Positive therapeutic effects of holy basil have been shown with neurocognition, immunity and metabolism. Holy basil has been found to have a statistically significant promise to help support low mood and attention.

Ashwagandha Root Extract
Ashwagandha’s strong adaptogenic properties provide an array of benefits for individuals that have compromised health due to extreme stress exposure. Ashwagandha’s benefits include improving stress resilience, supporting immune response, regulating the sleep cycle, supporting healthy thyroid function and protecting against exhaustion of the nervous system. Ashwagandha has also been shown to be beneficial in supporting proper mood regulation and restoring a sense of calmness under stress.

Rhodiola rosea Root Extract
Rhodiola rosea has been categorized as an adaptogenic botanical due to its ability to increase resistance to a variety of stressors. Rhodiola has been studied extensively and is widely used in Eastern Europe and Asia to help support the nervous system, mood regulation, mental clarity, work performance and the sleep cycle. Within the central nervous system, Rhodiola has demonstrated an ability to preserve levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Rhodiola has been examined for its significant reduction of fatigue under stress. It has also shown significant improvements in mental performance, greater mood stability, and improved sleep patterns.

Eleuthero Root Extract
Eleutherococcus senticosus has also been identified as a strong adaptogenic botanical and is widely used in China to improve general health, support memory and endurance. In addition to its ability to improve stress resilience and fight fatigue, Eleuthero has exhibited immune supporting effects. Eleuthero has demonstrated a reduction of heart rate in response to a stressor and improvement of performance in runners (race time).

Schisandra Berry Extract
Schisandra is an adaptogenic botanical that has been used for centuries in China and Russia to help support mental clarity, stress response and emotional wellness. It has been used with athletes and found to increase nitric oxide, a molecule which causes the blood vessels to expand resulting in increased circulation, increased blood flow and nutrients throughout the body. Schisandra berry has been shown to support learning and memory and may have some protective factors that support brain health.

Licorice Root Extract
The primary components in licorice root that support adrenal health include glycyrrhetic acid and glycyrrhizin. Licorice has also been shown to block 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of cortisol to the inactive cortisone. When taken in small doses, licorice root extract can be used to maintain normal cortisol levels, an important factor for individuals that need to support adrenal hormone production and maintain healthy inflammatory pathways.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. †