There is such an abundance of opportunity in the thriving city of Calgary. It's often hard to slow down or say "no" when there's so much going on. As a result of this fast-paced lifestyle, many people are struggling with a pattern called adrenal fatigue. This essentially means that the body and mind have lost their ability to rest and rejuvenate. Instead, the nervous system is always switched "on" and the individual no longer has the ability to manage the incessant mental chatter, anxiety, and stress.

​

Adrenal disorders often involve several of the following symptoms: fatigue (especially upon waking and in the later afternoon), irritability, restless sleep, low back pain, anxiety, depression, nervousness, many female hormonal problems, food cravings and various addictions, weight gain, sluggish metabolism, and so on.

​

The question is, what lies at the root of this pattern and, more importantly, what can be done about it?

​

As many acupuncturists have witnessed in their patients, adrenal fatigue often results from individuals using excessive will power to get through life. It's as if they're constantly swimming upstream, fighting against the flow of life. They work too hard, rarely rest, and constantly face a "to do" list that never ends. These are some of the external causes. Lying deeper at the root is the inner issue of people feeling disconnected from their true purpose for being alive. They don't know themselves on a deeper intimate level, thus causing them to repeatedly make decisions that lead to distress, distraction, and lack of fulfillment.

​

Generally speaking, adrenal fatigue is as much a spiritual-emotional issue as it is a lifestyle one. If the root cause of disconnected purpose isn't addressed, then the person can take all the supplements in the world or get acupuncture 3 times a week and it will only have a temporary effect.

​

This is not to say that certain forms of alternative therapy won't help adrenal disorders. Acupuncture alone can be useful in jump-starting a person's adrenal function in a very powerful way. But by far, the patients who make the most progress are the ones who are willing to do the work and take a deeper look at their life. They are compliant and motivated to make the changes necessary to live a life in balance and awareness.

​

If you have questions about acupuncture and your specific health situation, please phone 403.455.0880. Dr. Wegmann will be happy to answer your questions.

​

Mitch Wegmann is a registered acupuncturist and doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He owns and operates Calgary Acupuncture Centre in the city's southwest quadrant, near the Marda Loop district.