Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Daily Support, 60 Vegan Capsules, 30 Servings

I purchased this supplement after reading over 100 Amazon reviews of the product, 90% of which were very positive. I was looking for a supplement to combat fatigue, and got something that helped me with much more. The following review is a chronological account of a month long trial of this supplement with some extended updates. I hope it will help you to decide whether this product is for you. SPECIAL NOTE: Any mention of my health issues added to this review was done in hopes of assisting others who may be interested in taking this supplement. I generally don't like to share personal information such as medical conditions in a review, but I feel that for those suffering from similar conditions, it may be helpful. However, this is just my experience with this product and I in no way advocate using it to treat any of your ills without first consulting your doctor. What led me to this supplement, a little background... I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 15 years ago by Dr. David Dryland; a rheumatologist who is also a nationally known specialist in fibromyalgia. (He and has a few books on Amazon: The Fibromyalgia Cure and The Fibromyalgia Solution: A Breakthrough Approach to Heal Your Body and Take Back Your Life .) While I've taken various medications in the past to manage FMS, they all seem to have side effects - including the ones prescribed by Dr. Dryland. Currently I manage my fibro with no prescribed medication. I believe in a holistic approach to health, using both western and naturopathic means in combination as needed for various things. I take ibuprofen, eat healthy foods, get rest as needed and exercise. I lift weights and do 20-30 minutes of moderate to intense cardio 3-4 times a week, and take several supplements including: Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women, Women's Multivitamin, 120 Capsules, CoQ10, Fish Oil, Biotin, Red Rice Yeast, and Jarrow Formulations Jarrow L-glutamine 1000mg, 100 Tablets. Recent fatigue combined with hair loss has led to extensive blood tests by an endocrinologist to look at my hormone levels and thyroid function; both of which showed no abnormalities. Imaging tests showed the thyroid to be `lumpy' but normal. A CT scan showed a cyst on my adrenal gland, which was determined to be benign. Symptomatically I have also experienced brain fog (unclear thoughts, `word salad' - picking the wrong word to express myself verbally, memory loss), irritability, insomnia, hair loss and hot flashes. Reading an article on adrenal fatigue, I decided to look for a book on it on Amazon, I found this supplement. I asked my primary doctor about `adrenal fatigue' and he wasn't convinced it was a real thing. Despite this, he said that trying Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health shouldn't be harmful, so I decided to give it a go. NOTE: Please ask your doctor prior to trying this supplement or any supplement as they can be harmful to some. More info on this supplement can be found at GaiaHerbs dot com in their products section. MY 1st WEEK: I took the recommended dosage - 2 capsules, twice a day after meals. I noted no stomach upset with Adrenal Health, but did note a persistent headache and stuffy head all week. I had also gotten a flu shot so perhaps it was all my immune system finding a balance again? On a positive note, I have felt more positive, and calmer overall. I still get stressed, but the feeling seems to subside a bit more quickly than usual. I'm still achy and tired, but that too seems a touch less pronounced. (One thing about fibro is that your body is in a constant state of 'fight or flight', which means a high level of adrenaline is being released all the time. This makes your muscles and tendons ache, and no amount of relaxing thoughts, will calm it down if you're in a flare - which can last for months.) I have been able to concentrate and complete tasks more easily too. My focus is better, with short term memory returning. (I've been enjoying Scrabble on my iPad again, after months of being unable to do so without frustration.) I've slept pretty well, having a few dreams, which is rare for me. No groggy feeling in the morning, and other than the headache (which could be from allergies, a cold coming on, my flu shot, or these pills...), I feel pretty good. As a bonus my appetite for sugary sweets and carbs has dropped off significantly. My appetite in general is less, and the usual evening (9pm-11pm) snacking is gone. I'm starting to drop body fat that's been stubbornly hanging onto my midsection for months, and have dropped two pounds in a week without changing anything other than taking this supplement. I'm not ready to scream 'buy these' at the top of my lungs to anyone with FMS, CFS or similar ills, but right now, I'm feeling like these subtle, positive changes are a direct result of the only new thing in my routine: Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health. I will update this review as I continue to take these capsules as directed. 9/17/13: UPDATE - Headache returned when I took the second daily dose too close to the first. Spacing them out at least 6 hours seems to work well for me. My 2nd WEEK: I continue to take this supplement at directed (4 a day). No magical cure, but I do feel calmer and less scatter brained. My sense of humor is coming back, and much needed as life's ups and downs continue to toss me about. I've noticed no substantial side effects and am sleeping very well, without a grogginess upon waking. I'm dreaming and actually feel rested (albeit still achy) each morning. My appetite for sugary drinks and carbs has dropped off, and I lost another pound this week without any effort. I do eat well and exercise regularly, so it's nice to have that doing its job again! Energy levels are not high, but I do feel more alert in the afternoon and able to complete my 'to do' list without feeling like I need a nap. I will continue to take Adrenal Health in hopes that this trend will continue. 3rd WEEK: I had a tough time remembering to take this supplement twice a day this week. Also, despite having had a flu shot, I got sick. I feel whipped and achy, but I'm continuing to sleep well and feel like the Adrenal Health when taken at the full dose, does help me to roll with the punches of life a bit more than without it. 4th WEEK: One month's worth of Adrenal Health supplement later, and I still like it. Here's why... 1. I'm sleeping better - dreaming again, and seem calmer overall. 2. It's a stressful time in my life, and yet I feel like I'm keeping things in perspective better than I was before taking Adrenal Health. 3. I've stopped putting on body fat (a nice perk...) and my appetite for sugar and carbs has subsided. 4. I feel as though my mental clarity is better. Less brain fog. 5. I have experienced fewer hot flashes and night sweats. 6. I feel less weary all the time. No grand energy boosts, but a sustained energy and clarity that I've been missing for a long time, seems to have returned while taking this product. I still take it as suggested on the bottle; twice a day (2 capsules). I notice no side effects other than I tend to perspire more during workouts. I highly recommend it to anyone with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. (I recommend asking your doctor prior to trying any new vitamin or supplement.) It's not a magic pill, but it may help in the management of conditions related to overactive 'fight or flight' response in the body. UPDATE: 10/24/13 I figured out that these supplements are really helping to stop my night sweats and hot flashes. I'm thrilled! This stuff has had so many positive effects and I feel like I may be restoring a balance to my system that had been lost. UPDATE: 11/12/13 Still taking it, and finding that I need to be sure to take the first dose right after breakfast (6:30am) and then a second dose (2 pills each time) between noon and 2pm to get the optimum effects. I tried dropping down to 2 pills a day, taking them after my lunch, but find this just isn't enough for me. UPDATE: 2/2/14 I'm sold on the effectiveness of these capsules for me. Taking them consistently, 4 a day (2 in the morning and 2 at noon) I feel calmer with no night sweats or hot flashes. Energy levels throughout the day fluctuate much less frequently as long as I also maintain a good diet. I recommend them as a 'give them a try' to anyone who feels tired, down and or is having issues with hormones. UPDATE: 4/27/14 I ran out and forgot to reorder. After two weeks I felt my weight starting to creep up, I was more tired and night sweats had returned. I've not put this item on my Amazon Subscribe and Save list. I will have it shipped to me every month this way, and if I find I need it less often, it's easy to adjust in my Account settings. For me, this is one supplement I definitely don't want to be without! UPDATE: 9/8/15 I'm still taking this supplement and now in combination with Gaia Herbs Tumeric for inflammation and using a combipatch (DR RX) for reduction of menopausal symptoms - extreme hot flashes and night sweats during the past six months were not controlled in any other way. I feel that this supplement is a great help to me in terms of maintaining my mood and energy. My blood work is all normal and I'm rarely sick with a cold or flu. (I do get a flu shot each year as recommended by my doctor due to my auto-immune disorder.) I am having some increased joint pain and swelling, which my doctor may be rheumatoid arthritis - being tested next month. Despite these challenges I still believe this is a great product and a key component to my overall well being. I recommend it to anyone, but do understand that this has been MY experience with this supplement and as with any drugs or supplements, your experience may be different.

I was looking for herbs for various reasons and circumstances. I stumbled upon adaptogens via Wikipedia and became very interested in the claimed benefits. After a little more research, I came to the best place on Earth, Amazon, and looked for some of the ingredients that I researched; It eventually led me to this product. Gaia Herbs has a feel of superior quality when compared to a lot of other herbal companies. Plus, they have a tracking ID # that allows you to see the process of your specific batch of herbs from growth, to manufacturing, which is actually kind of neat. Though, I must admit that I have not used this feature. Onto the effects of the product. I bought this specifically for a backpacking trip that I just took in Wyoming. I live in Portland, Oregon and the elevation difference is insane. I live at about 200 feet and the vast majority of the trip would be at above 10,000 feet. As soon as I got these, I took two just to get it into my system so it could have some time to build up. The first sign I noticed that it was working was on a day where I hadnt't eaten much and decided to do a small workout. Usually when I workout, I must eat tons of carbs beforehand in order to sustain maximal effort throughout the workout (Muscle Glycogen). While I wasn't working at max, I could tell that I had much more stamina and strength than I usually would have thanks to this herbal blend. Though, I did notice it took a bit of time for it to start working; more on this in a bit. When I reached Wyoming and started my excursion, I honestly didn't notice a difference right away. I took my usual 2 pill dose, along with some ZipFizz and continued my pack in. About 2/3 of the way in, I started hurting and slowing WAAAY down, as did the other people I was with, which naturally led to them stopping and starting repeatedly. This is very difficult for me to do, so I opted to forge ahead into the wilderness that contained grizzly and black bears, cougars, moose, elk, wolves, and many other creatures. This is where I started to notice something quite incredible. During the last slog of our pack in, we gained about 2,500 feet in about 3 miles, with at least 50 pounds on our back. The last section was straight uphill, and I practically RAN up this portion. I stopped only a handfull of times to take photos and check on the rest of my crew, which was out of sight after about 10 minutes. I even ran out of water and still had TONS of energy. The amount of endurance was nothing short of astounding, especially in such high altitude. I reached a spot where I thought I had better wait in case they decided to go elsewhere or stop for the night. I ended up waiting for about 30 minutes for them to catch up. Now thirty minutes equates to about a mile distance between me and them. We started at the same time, and I ended up at least a mile in front, despite me leading a rather sedentary life. This was only day one. On day two, three, and four, results were the same. HOWEVER, I do NOT believe this was entirely due to the herb. I sincerely believe that adding the ZipFizz energy drink to the herbs drastically improved its effects. DRASTICALLY. I felt like Superman while everyone else was a minimum of a half mile behind me. Conclusion. BUY THIS. If you are needing some *intense* energy, I suggest coupling it with some ZipFizz, and you will have sufficient energy and stamina for hours. I did notice some caveats, however. In order to really get the benefits of this herb/combo, you MUST be active and properly hydrated. It also takes some time to work even after taking it. So, if you take it at 10am and then decide to hike at 1p, the herb will still take about 20-40 minutes to begin working AFTER you start your hike. Also, if not taken AFTER food, it can cause an upset stomach, so be ware. I also suggest proper nutrition and hydration to maximize the benefits. Would I recommend this to people? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would do so in a flash. I will continue to buy this, and possibly some Rhodiola to supplement this herb blend. I am NOT a Dr. and do not suggest that anyone take ANY supplement without first researching it. I also highly suggest that one finds out out whether they are allergic to any ingredients, where they are healthy enough to take herbs, and whether said herbs potentially interfere with any other medications/herbs they may already be taking. Do not think that all herbs are safe to take together, because this is far from true. Please be smart and research any possible contraindications and allergy information. Love, Light, and happiness. Update 5/16/2015 I still take this product to keep my adrenals from being totally taxed, due to the amount of caffeine that I take on a daily basis, to keep me sharp and full of energy to get through my demanding days.With that said, I ran out last week, and figured I would see if it makes a difference. It does. It makes HUGE difference when supplementing daily with caffeine. Not taking the Adrenal Health, I have ridiculous crashes, to the point of needing to sleep right away. Forget trying to get things done. Brain fog is very evident, and my energy levels, both stamina and muscle, get to be ultra low as well. However, when taking the Adrenal Health, I have NO crash, and still have plenty of energy at the end of my work day to come home and smash it in the gym. I'm still completely sold on this product.

For the record, I am a 33 year old Male, i don't work for Gaia or Amazon and usually i am waaaaaay too lazy to write reviews on my purchases - but i went through a phase in my life that felt like a living HELL..... and these pills gave me my life back!!! From what i've read - Adrenal Fatgue is a REAL illness that is NOT taken seriously by doctors because it is SO HARD to detect. And i know there must be a MILLION people out there, going through what i've been going through - so i felt compelled to write a review, in an attempt to help others...... I was going through a phase where i was waking up TIRED!!! And when i say tired - i mean.....MAJORLY MAJORLY tired!!! I was waking up feeling like i hadn't even slept!!! I could barely function in the mornings and i had ZERO energy. I can't go near energy drinks (the hardcore kind - because they play with my acid reflux) so i tried some natural ones (Zip Fizz is AMAZING) but that STILL wasn't helping me get through my day. I knew something was definitely wrong with me, when it got to where i was almost late for work EVERY day - and that doesn't happen. I also workout religiously at the gym, and i noticed that my gym workouts were no where near as good as they had been. And during one gym session, i got dizzy and felt like i was gonna pass out. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ME!!! I tried eating right, going to bed early - still - i was getting no where. I HATE Doctors, and stubbornly refused to go (as usual) so i did some HEAVY research with doctor Google....... and with some reasonable and rational thinking....... I narrowed all my illness's down........ and determined that i may be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue, as i googled the symptoms - they sounded EXACTLY like mine. I started looking up vitamins and i stumbled on Adrenal Pills - there's so much choice out there - and i narrowed my FIRST pick down to THESE PILLS!!! I went to my local vitamin store and bought a bottle of 30 pills (they were NOT cheap) and I started taking them immediately. After the first few days, i wasn't really noticing anything - but after 4/5 days or so - i noticed i was sleeping a little better and waking up with a little more energy and a little more pep in my step. Let me tell you something - these pills DO WORK!!! - but they DO work... slowly!!! As with ALL vitamins, they need TIME to get into your system. After that first bottle, i was no longer waking up tired, and i felt i was waking up more naturally and with a little more energy. I started to feel amazing!!! I liked the pills - but not the PRICE. So i jumped on Amazon and i was AMAZED to find a bottle of 120 pills - priced at what i paid for just 30 of them!!! So ordered them right away - it's been 2/3 months now since i had my first batch - and i have been taking these pills religiously now (2 every morning and another 2 in the evening) and let me tell you - as time goes on - i am getting BETTER and BETTER!!! As i said before, they DO work.... but they DO work SLOWLY!!! They are NOT going to give you AMAZING amounts of energy like an energy drink would, but they WILL take away all that fatigue and tiredness. I know longer feel like i am carrying around a lead weight each day. I recently started going back to the gym, and i found that i am working out EVEN LONGER and BETTER now, than i did BEFORE!!! And I put it ALL down to THESE PILLS!!! I'm not sure what caused my Adrenal Fatigue??? I have worked at the SAME job for 10 years and only recently did i start suffering from this feeling of HEAVY tiredness. All i know - is that i don't know where i would be WITHOUT these pills!!! I am a LIFE-TIME customer now. I just wonder how i will feel a YEAR from now??? Maybe i'll post an UPDATE some time (if i remember). But don't just sit there - i hesitated JUST like you did - but these pills are the REAL deal!!!

This is, hands down, the best supplement I've ever taken. It has made such a positive difference in my overall functioning. If you read what it says about the individual herbs on the Gaia website, it's all accurate, in my experience. My inflammation is down, sexual functioning much enhanced :D, ability to handle stress greatly heightened, energy level is amazing. After having been apart from a co-worker for several months she immediately wanted to know what I had done. I feel like this, coupled with my increased ability to exercise and decreased food cravings, has taken 10 years off of my life in a couple of months. I am on my second bottle. Wish I had this years ago! Due my very busy, stressful life, I will continue taking this indefinitely. I currently take 4 on most days. I have had to taper down a couple of times when my energy level was making sleep difficult. That's not a common problem for me. I usually crash early in the evening and have a hard time staying awake through a movie, due to exhaustion. Awesomeness. Love it!!! Update: I have been taking this since the first of July. It is now the end of October. I am still doing great. I've lost about 10 pounds and have exercised mild to moderately but regularly the whole time. I've also followed other lifestyle recommendations for adrenal problems: cutting down on caffeine and alcohol and taking other vitamins (all B vitamins and C and E are especially helpful). I've also followed the general eating recommendations. I also have taken up kayaking which has given me a great way to relax. I won't say I've gotten a ton of sleep because I've really been on the go because I feel great. I honestly feel like I've awoken from a coma. I won't say this supplement did it all but it certainly helped a lot. I am so much more productive in the afternoons and evenings. I used to be exhausted. My husband, who thinks he doesn't need this kind of help, is now taking this because he can't believe the change in me. I have a number of friends who have also ordered due to my success. You can't expect a pill to do everything. Make sure you read and study on the lifestyle factors, especially the caffeine. Interestingly, I no longer crave my cafe mochas, which used to prop me up through many of my days.

Started taking for problems with severe fatigue and elevated arthritic pain due to a new, physically-demanding job. I also suffer from insomnia. Because I was a little worried after reading some reviews, I began by taking only 1 capsule with my evening meal (instead of 4 capsules daily). I immediately noticed an improvement in my insomnia! In fact, I slept 8 solid hours and was still a bit groggy (but not to the point of concern). I haven't slept so well in almost 17 years! My pain and fatigue improved quite a bit too (although I did also cut my work hours down a little). I also noticed, pleasantly, an unexpected boost in libido. Yay! After 5 weeks taking 1 capsule a day, I feel that the sleep benefits have worn off quite a bit, but the pain, fatigue, and libido benefits remain. May try increasing dose now to 2 capsules each day, but am quite happy with the results as they are. Will be getting another bottle for sure when this one is done.

Excellent

So I have waited to write a review until I had been taking this for a while. First, I didn’t notice a burst of energy but I am older and was low on iron. I did notice a bit more energy and now with my iron problem better I do feel more energetic. I did notice with taking this supplement along with the nightly one everyday that my stress level is much better even with a move etc. I also couldn’t believe that I started to lose weight much faster. My former Doctor had thought, when I had suddenly gained weight fast while eating well, that it might be my cortisol and adrenalines. It took me about 10 months to lose 10 lbs. After being on these for a little over two weeks I suddenly started losing weight faster without changing my diet. I lost another 25 lbs in the next three months. Then I went off of them for 2 weeks to see if there was any difference. Within that 2 weeks my weight loss slowed down, my stress level went up and my energy level went down. I also caught a cold which may or may not have anything to do with these. I went back on them and within two weeks began to start feeling more energy, less stress and the weight loss began again. It seems to be what I needed. I had done a lot of research on what the best things to take and had tried several individually but not with this success. This is organic and is a really good blend. The nightly one helps me to sleep better and I know it is really hard to lose weight or lessen stress if you don’t get proper sleep. I would talk it over with your Doctor to make sure that there is nothing that would interact with your medications or any medical problems you have and also so that your Doctor is informed. For me it has been the best I have taken and no I don’t work for the company and have not been given anything for a review!

If you think you might be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue, this could help you get your life back. For those who might be searching for a remedy to their suffering, I'll provide the long version of my experience with this frustrating disorder. For everyone else, there's a brief synopsis directly following. Synopsis: This product might be of tremendous help, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms associated with Adrenal Fatigue: sleep disturbance, generally in the form of sleepiness during the day (especially mid-afternoon) and sleeplessness at night; blood sugar dysregulation; carbohydrate cravings; moodiness; brain fog; weight gain and/or muscle loss; excessive fluid retention; or, hormonal issues like acne or menstrual discomfort. I noticed some improvement in my sleep and energy levels within weeks of taking this supplement and major improvement within about three months. The Long Version: My story with Adrenal Fatigue began with undeniable dysfunction in my sleep patterns and energy levels. Each day at about 3PM, I felt as though I'd been hit by a bus. I mean hard-to-hold-your-head-up sleepiness would come down like a hammer out of nowhere. It was crazy. Sometime around 5 or 6PM, I'd liven back up. Then, onset of normal, nighttime sleepiness would begin at 8 or 9. Then... jussst as I'd go to lay my head down at around 11PM, zing! Eyes. Wide. Open. This would usually last until 3 or 4AM when I'd *finally* nod off and sleep until 8 or 9. Talk about torture! I usually felt pretty terrible after this fiasco and morning grogginess wouldn't lift until about 11AM. Lather, rinse, repeat. This went on for weeks. I also noticed during this time that *if* I could muster the energy to incorporate physical activity into my day, it would usually be followed by ravenous carbohydrate cravings. I was like some crazed cookie monster, except in my case the drug of choice was usually homemade, gluten-free granola or raisins as these were really the only carb sources on hand. Okay, so clearly something was up; thus began my journey to healing Adrenal Fatigue. After hours and hours of poring over information on the internet, it seemed my constellation of symptoms fit squarely within the description of Adrenal Fatigue. My adrenal glands were secreting a dysregulated pattern of the stress hormone cortisol. Recommendations for treatment included: 1) Eliminating caffeine (absolutely essential!); 2) Eliminating exercise other than walking (also essential!); 3) Eating a protein-rich breakfast within 30 minutes of waking; 4) If at all possible, napping whenever sleepy; 5) Practicing proper sleep hygiene; 6) Taking Vitamin C; 7) Generously using sea salt throughout the day; 8) Taking adaptogenic herbs, like Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, and Siberian Ginseng. The latter point (#8) was what really jumpstarted my healing process; while I went about the process of implementing the other changes. Specifically, it's what got me sleeping again. I found this product probably about one month after the initial onset of my symptoms. I took it according to directions along with the Holy Basil product also by Gaia Herbs. Within a couple of weeks, I noticed mild to moderate improvement in wakefulness during the day and in sleep at night, as well as in my general sense of wellbeing. I had been frustrated to tears trying to find a solution to what was happening to me and so this initial improvement, while small, was so encouraging! Within the first couple of months, I was able to sleep through the night on a consistent basis and get through most afternoons with far less struggle. By the three or four month mark, I truly started to feel human again. Something like halfway through this period, I stopped taking the Holy Basil regularly to see if the Adrenal Health was enough; and indeed it was. Though the Holy Basil does provide a noticeable boost to my sense of wellbeing. While I made my own initial diagnosis via Dr. Google, three months into the process I did see a physician who positively confirmed Adrenal Fatigue. My symptoms fit the disorder so clearly that rather than order a 24-hour salivary cortisol test, he was able to make a clinical diagnosis in-office through a couple of confirmatory tests. This consisted of using a penlight to detect a sluggish pupillary response and scratching the skin of the abdomen to see whether the consequent welt remained longer than, if I recall, three minutes. My doctor's treatment protocol matched the above eight points almost exactly. He did prescribe a 5 gram (not milligram!) dosage of Vitamin C, which was far greater than the amount I has been consuming and which seemed to accelerate the healing noticeably. Though my doctor approved this supplement for continued use as part of my regimen, I have out of curiosity tried a couple of others. From my research, I'd guesstimate that there tends to be about 80% overlap of ingredients in Adrenal Fatigue supplements; so it's not surprising that all the ones I've tried been helpful. However, the Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health as well as the Emerald Labs' Coenzymated Adrenal Health have made me feel the best. I've also had success in recommending this product to others. So, what led to my Adrenal Fatigue? 1) a perfectionistic personality; 2) several years of working 60-80 hours in a high stress job; 3) a period of extensive travel with lots of changing timezones; 4) gluten, dairy, and egg intolerance (a huge source of physical stress on the body); and 5) the straw that broke the camel's back, a period of intense exercise that included Pilates, High Intensity Interval Training, boxing, and Tae Bo classes combined with a low carbohydrate diet. Major. Lessons. Learned. Adrenal Fatigue really is a blessing and a curse. It stops you dead in your tracks and is so scary and complex that you're forced to examine yourself and your life and FIND BALANCE, whatever that means for you. If you're in the bottom of the valley right now, you're probably not feeling too optimistic. But once your start climbing the ascent to the next peak, you might find yourself in a better place than ever before. The bottom line is that if you are experiencing Adrenal Fatigue symptoms (outlined above), you may benefit tremendously from this product. Best wishes to you in finding health and happiness!