I’m exhausted! Do I have adrenal fatigue syndrome?
- By Elena Gournelos
- •
- 17 Oct, 2016
There are many possible causes for fatigue. Regardless of your diagnosis, or lack thereof, myofascial release and cranial work can help you rest, re-energize and rejuvenate
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic feelings of exhaustion and a lack of well-being. Symptoms such as poor sleep, poor digestion, lack of stamina, stress, headaches, and depression have become more common than apple pie. But despite decades of neuroendocrinology and immune research, conventional medicine is not always able to give a clear explanation … or a solution.
Unfortunately, many diagnosable diseases must reach an advanced level of severity before showing up in standard medical tests. Early symptoms of poor health are too common to fit into any one “box.” The result? People can unknowingly suffer for years, pushing themselves to the limit and getting progressively worse, before they receive a clinical diagnosis such as adrenal insufficiency, fibromyalgia, or lupus. Even after being diagnosed, many of these conditions are difficult to treat effectively with conventional methods alone.
And here’s the rub … even though pre-clinical conditions such as adrenal fatigue are not detectable in any test, the symptoms are very real! So what can you do?
Luckily, non-invasive therapies such as myofascial release and cranial work can help. These therapies are virtually risk free and can help balance the neuro-endocrine-immune system safely and effectively. Regardless of whether your symptoms are pre-clinical or you have received a formal diagnosis, myofascial release and cranial work often have a profoundly relaxing effect on the mind and body, building energy and a deep sense of well-being. Stress, depression and anxiety decrease, while sleep and digestion improve.
How is this possible? It may have to do with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or “HPA axis” for short. This is a neuroendocrine pathway in the body that connects the brain to the pituitary and adrenal glands, regulates our response to stress, and is even tied to our immune system. Myofascial release and cranial work may have a calming and balancing effect on the HPA axis.
Either as a stand-alone approach or in combination with other therapies, myofascial release and cranial work are wonderful ways to restore your mind, body and spirit. Rest, rejuvenation, and healing are possible!
Don't despair! Myofascial release often succeeds where other therapies fail. And you don't have to abandon your current doctor, therapist or chiropractor to reap the benefits.
..............
Why is the myofascial release approach so important? Myofascial release, especially when combined with cranial work, acts on a cellular level to release restrictions in the body that other therapies aren't able to address. Fascia is a matrix of connective tissue that is present everywhere in your body, surrounding and connecting every cell. It does not appear in X-rays, MRIs, or any other standard medical test. However, when fascia gets restricted, it can wreak havoc inside your body.
Fascial restrictions have a tensile strength of 2000 lbs per square inch, and they can exert a lot of force on surrounding muscles, joints, and even internal organs, causing severe pain and dysfunction. Releasing these restrictions releases the pressure safely and naturally,returning your entire body to a fluid and responsive state. The result? Less pain, better functioning, and a healthier body.
..............
So do you really need surgery? Maybe, maybe not. Myofascial release may be able to alleviate your symptoms and spare you the significant risk, expense, and inconvenience of surgery. And if you do decide to go under the knife, myofascial release can be used both before and after surgery to promote healing. Addressing restrictions in the connective tissue before the procedure may make your surgeon's job easier and decrease the risk of complications. Myofascial release after surgery may decrease the amount a scar tissue formed and speed up recovery time.
In fact, myofascial release can even act synergistically to enhance the effects of other therapies. Because it never works in opposition to the body, combining myofascial release with chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, or physical therapy can be a powerful approach to healing. When the fascia has been released, chiropractic adjustments hold longer, energy flows more easily through the body, yoga becomes easier, and physical therapy becomes more effective.
So whether you choose to use myofascial release alone or in combination with surgery or other therapies, the benefits are immense, both for your body and your spirit. The sooner you are able to get back to living fully the better!
Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their contributions, especially those of you who have shared your personal stories in the form of testimonials. Your healing experiences help to inspire others as they take their own steps toward health and wholeness.
