In today’s fast-paced culture, many of us have suffered with low energy, especially since Covid - which can not only deeply impact our energy if we have physically had Covid and been recovering and healing from it, but also with the multitude of changes and tests to our resilience we have had in these times, in general. Carrying these extra stresses and strains leads to our bodies becoming fatigued, and our energy levels becoming lower - with our endocrine systems being imbalanced.  

We often talk about the necessity of ‘healing’ when we become exhausted, and I know from having had chronic fatigue in my earlier life, just how important this is.  Energy fuels our body’s internal functions and repairs, helping us build and maintain cells and tissues and facilitating the chemical reactions that allow us to heal.  And yet, half the time, we expect to heal whilst still carrying on in our hectic lives, without stopping to really think about the impact on our bodies.   

So, today, we thought we would explore the impact of this ‘forcing through’ on our endocrine system - and specifically our adrenal glands - and how essential oils can be a potent way of supporting our bodies when we are feeling that lack of energy and resilience, if we are really fully ready to choose to support ourselves to deeper healing.

The role of our endocrine system and adrenals

The reason we focus on the endocrine system and adrenals is because these are the systems that need to be working well, fuelling our bodies with the hormones we need to heal and restore our energy levels.  Our adrenal glands are small, triangular shaped glands that sit on top of our kidneys.  They are responsible for producing and releasing the stress hormone, cortisol, which provides the body with the energy it requires to survive physical and emotional stress.  Cortisol levels are at their highest in the morning so that we can begin our day with more energy, and they fall at night, so we can relax for sleep.  And, we can also influence this by creating moments of calm (and through utilising essential oils to support that, which is why we are focusing here).

When our adrenal glands become over-stretched or taxed, they are not able to supply the body with the amount of energy it needs to heal, and this can lead to adrenal fatigue.  In this instance - and really, whenever we become conscious that we are feeling a little stressed (why wait to get to adrenal fatigue state?), we need to support the adrenal glands to create balance.  This includes balancing the adrenals, and addressing our emotions, our digestion, and hormone balance - including our thyroid, which also has a role in energy maintenance (if thyroid function is low, cortisol levels can be impacted, trying to compensate for the low thyroid hormones).  Cortisol also impacts our inflammatory response, and therefore the immune system.  If our cortisol levels are imbalanced, our immune systems may go into overdrive, which is what happened to me.  Overall, the invitation here is into supporting our endocrine system - and our bodies in general - in creating more energy. 

Returning to homeostatic balance with essential oils

Our body’s balanced state is called homeostasis.  Homeostasis helps us to maintain stable internal and external environments so that our bodies can function - and essential oils can support this return to balance, with their naturally balancing properties.  Oils directly change the chemistry of our bodies, which then signal our bodies to respond - so when we use adrenally balancing oils, this can really help us to heal our energy.  Of course, the added bonus of essential oils is that they also have other properties - so they can create balance all round - in our endocrine system, our nervous system, our brain, our circadian rhythm and our emotions.  All of these things can contribute to improved energy levels. 

So with all this mind, we’ll explore 5 ways we can use essential oils (along with some blends and tips) to improve your energy levels.

Essential oils for the adrenal glands 

Obviously, if the adrenals release cortisol - the energy hormone - it is important to balance and heal the adrenals in order to improve energy.  The best essential oils for supporting the adrenals include Sweet Thyme, Rosemary, Cinnamon and Pine.  I’d recommend incorporating these oils into part of your regular daily routine - as a morning massage blend to stimulate and boost your adrenals each morning when they will be most fatigued (if you are in a state of imbalance).  

Suggested blend: Mix 3 drops Rosemary, 2 drops Pine and 1 drop Sweet Thyme in 15ml of Grapeseed carrier oil, and apply to your mid to lower back, and around your trunk, each morning for adrenal support.

Essential oils for the hypothalamus 

You might also like to support your hypothalamus as this is the master gland of your endocrine system.  The hypothalamus is essentially your body's coordinating centre - it is the part of the brain that keeps your body in that homeostatic state of balance, and it does this by directly influencing your autonomic nervous system, or by managing hormones. Signals to the adrenal glands to release cortisol are governed by the hypothalamus. So, any oils that can balance the hypothalamus are important.  Essential oils to support homeostatic balance include Bay Leaf, Frankincense and Patchouli.

I’d recommend diffusing these oils each morning,  in addition to using the above massage blend.

Suggested blend: Diffuse 3 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Frankincense and 1 drop Bay Leaf for 30 minutes each morning.

Essential oils for emotional balance

Keeping your emotions suppressed will be exhausting for your body.  So, allowing your emotions to be expressed will create balance that will deeply aid your energy levels.  I’d recommend having a soothing aromatic bath, at least once or twice a week to allow yourself to release what is needing to be seen, felt and let go of.  Essential oils like Rose, Geranium and Bergamot can be really powerful to help soothe and balance and release your emotions.

Suggested blend: Mix 3 drops Rose, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Geranium in 15ml Bath Oil or Shower Gel and add to the hot running water of your bath, before allowing yourself to be with whatever wants to come up and be released.  

Essential oils for the parasympathetic nervous system 

Your parasympathetic nervous system is a part of the autonomic nervous system that puts you into the “rest and digest” state.  In adrenal fatigue, we want to relax as much as possible - and this is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system.  When this system kicks in, you relax, which reduces cortisol.

To support your parasympathetic nervous system, I’d recommend carving out some daily space for something relaxing like meditation (even if just 10 minutes at the end of the day), while diffusing oils that support this system.  This would be ideal at the end of the day - before bed.  Essential oils like Valerian, Ylang Ylang and Vetivert are excellent choices.

Suggested blend: Diffuse 3 drops Vetivert, 2 drops Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Valerian for 30 minutes before bed, each night, whilst spending this time meditating, or relaxing - however feels aligned to you (I’d recommend away from technology).

Essential oils for the circadian rhythm

Of course, we couldn’t end without discussing sleep - and the circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep-wake cycle.  We require the release of melatonin in order to sleep, and when cortisol is high, melatonin is low, so we need to create balance in our circadian rhythm in order to sleep and well and increase energy.  Prolonged stress throws off the body’s natural energy cycle of the cortisol-melatonin rhythm.  So, to balance this, at night-time, we recommend using Lavender, Rose-Geranium and Myrrh.

Suggested blend: Mix 1 drop Lavender, 1 drop Rose-Geranium and 1 drop Myrrh in 10ml Grapeseed oil in a rollette bottle, and shake well.  Roll this blend on to your temples and wrists, each night, before you go to bed, to help create balance in your circadian rhythm.

Overall, all of these tips and aromatherapy blends will help you to create more balance in your body which can help you to begin to slow down and recover from adrenal fatigue (or to avoid it in the first place!).  The most important thing, though, is that you have to choose it that way - so using essential oils in your regular routines will instil a sense of relaxation and honouring of your body, which in and of itself is revolutionary for your energy.  

Happy (and relaxing) blending!

Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist

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