Stress can have a major impact on your body. Whether it is a new baby, menopause, an accident or injury, financial or legal concerns, or chronic illness, stress can throw your whole system off-balance. The normal “feedback” loops that maintain homeostasis–a state of equilibrium in your body—can get out of whack and the result can be fatigue, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, low sex drive, high blood pressure, disrupted menstrual cycles, low pain tolerance, inability to concentrate, burn-out. You may find it increasingly hard to recover fully from even minor set-backs.
Stress affects a feedback loop called the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA axis). This loop, in turn, plays a major role in the body’s entire endocrine system, including proper thyroid function. High levels of stress hormones such as cortisol interfere with the body’s ability to convert T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone, to T3, the active form. This type of low thyroid function often doesn’t show up on a typical thyroid screening test. But it can be detected by low body temperature, typically below 97.8 F. (36.56 C.) This condition is called Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome. (WTS) Many people who develop WTS do so after some major or chronic stress in their lives.
Certain herbs can be very useful in helping your body withstand stress–both chronic and acute. They are called adatogens, or adatogenic herbs, because they help your body to adapt, and they have a long history of use during times of physical stress such as high altitudes, extreme cold, and heavy work or extreme athletic performance. More recently, they are being used to help people recover from modern-day acute or chronic stress.
Adapatogenic herbs include Ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus), Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola), and Holy Basil (Ocimum), among others. Although each works in slightly different ways, and all contain an array of active ingredients, they all tend to have a similar effect. They reduce stress hormone levels and calm down the central nervous system so that the body can naturally move back into balance. They also help to protect the body–especially the brain and heart– against high levels of stress hormones. People who benefit from these herbs report feeling calmer and more centered, better able to focus, less anxious and irritable, able to both sleep better and perform better.
Adaptogenic herbs can help provide adrenal support in people who are are also in need of thyroid support. The thyroid and adrenal systems both help the body deal with stress. Adaptogens are especially helpful for people who may be under some adrenal stress such as those with chronic illness, or who are undergoing extreme medical treatments such as chemotherapy.
You can discuss adaptogenic herbs and T3 therapy with your doctor and we will be happy to discuss your case with your doctor. Your doctor can call 800.420.5801. The object of T3 therapy is to normalize your oral body temperatures to average 98.6 (37 C.) during treatment. (See “How are body temperatures measured” for complete instructions.) When the temperature improves metabolism returns to normal.
REFERENCES
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Gaffney BT, Hugel HM, Rich PA. The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes. Life Sci 2001;70(4):431–42.
Gaffney BT, Hugel HM, Rich PA. Panax ginseng and Eleutherococcus senticosus may exaggerate an already existing biphasic response to stress via inhibition of enzymes which limit the binding of stress hormones to their receptors. Med Hypotheses 2001;56(5):567–72.
Mattioli L, Funari C, Perfumi M. Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. extract on behavioural and physiological alterations induced by chronic mild stress in female rats. J Psychopharmacol 2009;23(2):130–142.
Panossian A, Wikman G, Kaur P, et al. Adaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones. Phytomedicine 2009;16(6–7):617–22.
Shames R. Diagnostic Challenges and Treatment Options for Thyroid Conditions. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. February 2012, 18(1): 8-13.
Zubeldia JM, Nabi HA, Jimenez del Rio M, et al. Exploring New Applications for Rhodiola rosea: Can We Improve the Quality of Life of Patients with Short-Term Hypothyroidism Induced by Hormone Withdrawal?
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