How to support your Endocrine System
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:15 May 2019
As you read this today, chemical messengers (hormones) secreted by organs within your endocrine system are busy at work, carrying chemical messengers to different parts of your body to guide your respiration, metabolism, sensory perception, sleep, stress response, growth and development. Isn’t your body marvellous!
This amazingly accurate system, considering how complex it is, provides a system of checks and balances. Specific hormones increase, decrease or turn off activity, regulating activity within the body and mind within a narrow range of internal norms, in order to maintain equilibrium or homeostasis.
As Dr. Claudia Welch explains in her book Balance Your Hormones Balance Your Life
“Whereas some hormones (like stress hormones) kick our bodies and minds into high gear, others (such as the dominant sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone) lead us to calm our minds and slow down so that our bodies can replace depleted energy.”
Lifestyle Choices Matter
Our hormones can be thrown off by our lifestyle choices such as what we eat, when we eat, how we eat, our levels of exercise, sleep, stress resilience, work and play habits and more. When our bodiy’s amazing buffering systems become compromised, our health and wellbeing inevitably begin to decline.
The Endocrine System
The endocrine glands secrete hormones into the space outside the cells so this tiny messenger is then passed into the blood capillaries and carried around the body by the bloodstream. Endocrine system is the name given to a group of glands that excrete hormones in this way.
Your Master Gland
The pituitary gland is the master gland because it produces hormones which influence other endocrine glands. It is found at the base of the brain. Hormones produced include the growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone. Others are involved with maintenance of body fluid and stimulation of the production of hormones in both male and female sex glands.
The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is situated in the neck, in front of the trachea. It produces thyroxine which regulates the metabolism. If the thyroid produces too much thyroxine the person can become hyperactive with profound weight loss. An underactive thyroid will cause mental sluggishness, fatigue and the person can become overweight. The parathyroid glands lie on either side of the thyroid gland. They produce a hormone which regulates the amount of calcium circulating in the blood.
The Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands lie at the top of each kidney and consist of the cortex and the medulla. The cortex produces mineral-corticoid hormones, regulating in particular potassium and sodium. It produces gluco-corticoid hormones which influence the metabolism of glucose. The medulla produces adrenaline which stimulates the fight/flight response in the autonomic nervous system. At times of stress, fear or anger this hormone is released causing a fast heart rate and increased breathing, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen and glucose supplied to the tissues of the body. This prepares the body for flight from potential danger.
The Pancreas
The pancreas has two basic functions, secretion of pancreatic juice to assist in chemical digestion of food, and production of the hormone insulin which controls the level of glucose in the blood and converts glucose to glycogen. If an insufficient amount of insulin is produced then excess glucose cannot be converted giving way to a condition known as diabetes mellitus.
Reproductive Glands
The testes are part of the male reproductive system which produces testosterone. This hormone controls the development of the male sex organs and the development of secondary sexual characteristics at puberty.
The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. Ovaries also secrete oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen controls the development of the female reproductive system and also controls the reproductive cycle.
- To support cellular rejuvenation and to promote balance of the whole system I typically recommend
- 1 tablet of Rejuvenation Plus prior breakfast, lunch and evening meals.
- 1 tablet of Triphala Guggulu taken with Rejuvenation Plus 3 times a day before meals.
- At bedtime take 1- 2 tablets of Digest Tone and 2 tablets of Stress Relief.
- 1 tablet of Amrit Kalash Nectar and Ambrosia prior morning and afternoon.meditations or prior morning and afternoon tea.
- Take sips of hot water regularly through the day.
- Be physically active for 30 minutes most days.
- De-stress with Transcendental Meditation daily.
- Have your main food of the day at midday with a light evening meal by 6pm.
- Be in bed by 9.45pm and rising just before sunrise.
- Do what you enjoy and prioritise time with friends and family.
As you balance your doshas, cleanse the deeper tissues and nourish the whole system, your body and mind are supported in maintaining a healthy balance within your endocrine system.
Wishing you the bliss of balance.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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