Re: Sleep and adrenal fatigue

 Wow, thank you Hv, you are wonderfully thorough and so far are the only person I've spoken to who weighs options and possibilities instead of assuring me that it IS parasites, or that it IS the adrenals. I feel hopeful now that I can work this out WITHOUT synthetics.

I'm guessing that the hormones and menstruation problem I should leave until later, see if it resolves itself once the adrenal and other issues are addressed?

Actually there are simple things you can still do now to help with your hormones such as more phytoestrogens, B vitamins and bitters in the diet.  Here is a link to my write up on balancing the hormones:

http://mountainmistbotanicals.com/info/Hormone_Balance.htm

The thing is I was regular but just skipping every other period. I felt like maybe one of my ovaries just wasn't ovulating. I tend to get like clockwork when on certain chinese herbs (bupleurum spleen restoring pill, I think, will have to check with my acupuncturist). lately, we've been relaxing the herbs to see how it does on its own, and I am now menstruating every 5 weeks, so still stretched out, but better.

There are a number of things that affect your menstruation such as age, ovarian cysts, lack of body fat, etc.

But one thing that I just realized that's very interesting given your info about androgen dominance. I read that estrogen dominant women can have a low sex drive.

This is a persistent myth that has really been repeated over and over especially by those promoting progesterone creams.  

Actually estrogen increases sex drive, desire for touching and receptiveness in women.  This is why the name estrogen is derived from the word "estrus" meaning sexua| excitement/receptivity.  It also helps to maintain vaginal tone, promotes vaginal lubrication and increases oxytocin, which is the peptide responsible for orgasms and one involved in "pair bonding".  On a more subtle level estrogen increases pheromones that make women smell more pleasant to men.

On the other end of the spectrum is progesterone, which suppresses the sex drive.  This is why progesterone is used to "chemically castrate" men and why the other name for the herb vitex is "chaste tree berry".  Vitex increases progesterone, which if too high will kill the sex drive.  Progesterone also increases aggression, weight, acne and depression by increasing monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity while decreasing oxytocin, touch sensitivity and sensitivity of the genitals decreasing sexua| pleasure and the ability to reach orgasm.  Progesterone also suppresses LHRH actions further suppressing sex drive.  On the more subtle level the actions of progesterone are also the opposite of estrogen making women actually smell unpleasant to men on a subconscious level.

By the way, progesterone can also screw with menstruation.  

But there is so much more to sex drive then simply estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels.  Other things such as dopamine, serotonin, vasopressin, prolactin, etc. also play roles.

I have a very high sex drive and have been this way for as long as I can remember. I just remember thinking it was strange that I had the opposite symptom. Is this a symptom of androgen dominance? (not sure if it can be classified as a problem or a symptom at all but might be important information?)

Testosterone is also an androgen and it promotes sex drive in both men and women as well as aggression.  But it also has different effects than estrogen when it comes to sex drive.  Both estrogen and testosterone promote sex drive.  Where the difference lies is that estrogen also increases the desire for touch, cuddling, etc.  Testosterone is the opposite.  Testosterone promotes the desire for sex then leave and don't let the door hit you on the backside as you leave type behavior.  This is why people with high testosterone levels tend to spank the monkey frequently.  They want the sexua| release without any real commitment.

To answer your questions, when I wake up these days in the middle of the night - these days meaning, the last couple of weeks - I have felt heart palpitations. My mind may or may not be racing. But the heart palpitations are quite obvious.

If this were from excess epinephrine your heart would also feel like it was racing and pounding.  If this is not the case then it sounds like your heart is not getting enough oxygen as you sleep.  Since it is only occurring when you sleep I would suspect sleep apnea.

Before that, a month or so ago when I was feeling marginally better than I am now, I would wake up and would primarily feel a mind racing problem, which would start a minute or two after waking up because I would worry myself awake (what if I don't get back to sleep? etc) and then the palpitations would begin as a result.

Has your partner ever said anything about you stopping breathing when you are asleep for short periods of time?

And of course, at times when my body felt better (a couple of months ago), sometimes I would wake up at 5 or 7AM and simply be...awake. I wouldn't feel bad, just awake. Of course later in the day I would feel like death from lack of sleep.

I have the same problem.  I tend to deep sleep for the first few hours then lightly sleep after that.  If anything wakes me up at that point I have a hard time going back to sleep.  But that is usually because my mind gets going at that point.

Here are the ingredients for the kidney herbs:
Marshmallow Root, Pau D' Arco, Burdock, Elecampane, Fennel & Ginger
This formula is to be taken as follows: 2 caps in the morning and 2 caps 8 -12 hours later for 15 days.

Those herbs are fine.

And liver herbs:
Milk thistle, gentain, burdock, barberry, Pau d'arco, cayenne, and again 2 caps twice a day for 2 weeks.

The only bad herb in this formula is the barberry, which is a berberine source.  Berberine herbs include goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape root and coptis (goldthread).  Berberine is not for long term use since it kills the intestinal flora.  It can also damage the intestinal lining and raise the blood pressure if used for more than 2 weeks.  And it lowers blood sugar, which can be an issue for hypoglycemics.

Also here is a formula that humaworm wanted me to take while i was in between parasite cleanses:
Garlic, onion, sage, thyme, cinnamon, clove, ginger. Which can be gotten from food, clearly.

These are fine.

I haven't started any of these yet, thought better to wait for advice.

But I agree about cleansing the liver gently. By the way, after the parasite cleanse I started taking essiac tea to help my body recover. I'm still taking it about 4 weeks later. 4-6 ounces a day. Is this ok, not ok, doesn't matter? I think it might support the liver as it is bitter, etc?

This is another formula that really should not be used long term.  The formula contains rhubarb root, which is a source of stimulant laxative anthraquinones.  Used for more than a few weeks these herbs can cause a laxative dependence.  Other sources of stimulant laxative anthraquinones include senna, cascara sagrada and aloes.

Thank you so much. Ashwagandha is what I will try next especially because it is adrenal related. I have ordered a bunch of orgnic amla powder, bee pollen, etc, and am looking forward to starting an all natural program (that won't break my bank either)!

One last thing - in terms of my low blood pressure I thought this was also a symptom of adrenal fatigue?

Yes, the adrenals regulate the blood pressure in part through the release of epinephrine and also due to its effect on maintaining water balance in the body.  Although there can be other reasons as well such as medications and some supplements, dehydration, hypothyroidism or excessive athletic activity, etc.

Is it linked to hypoglycemia?

No.  But here is more on hypoglycemia:

http://curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1664281#i

Or salt intake? I've started taking celtic sea salt in water in the mornings.

Salt balance does affect blood pressure.  But salt balance is regulated primarily through the adrenals.