How decidedly deflating to be met with this remark from others, isn’t it?
Causes of Under Eye Circles, Puffiness Around Eyes, and Looking tired: Hormonal influences
Despite our best efforts with concealer makeup and energy-boost beverages – feeling lackluster is written all over our face.
Lack of sleep + Stress? Certainly, both contribute to the appearance of dark circles and feeling tired.
Another culprit: Topical steroid crèmes for Eczema can thin the skin when used daily over long periods of time, and reveal more of the surface blood vessels that create a dark shadow.
Yet, It Goes Deeper:
In addition to those common causes, I often see this more pronounced in individuals who require corticosteroid therapy, for issues such as Asthma, Allergies, Autoimmune Disorders, Arthritis, or following treatment of Respiratory Infections.
It Adds Up! Overlay of these factors together compounds into a playlist on repeat:
Adrenal recalibration phase of recovery from anti-inflammatory steroid use impacts proper balance of the other integrated hormonal pathways.
THE BIG PICTURE: Adrenal + Reproductive + Thyroid + Pancreatic Hormonal Pathways — Regulation and balance is a remarkable orchestration between brain Neurotransmitter Hormones and ALL of the body’s Endocrine Hormones for optimal health!
When one pathway is under strain, it impacts the other pathways, either directly or indirectly.
Concern #1: “Boosting” Immune function when it is already over-stimulated can worsen certain Allergies and Autoimmune Conditions.
In other words: A primary concern with overstimulating immune function for recovery from corticosteroid therapy is a potential to exacerbate Chronic Allergies or Autoimmune Conditions (as both are an already over-activated immune response) — requiring more steroid to control. (recurring cycles)
Most people do wish to speed recovery from infections, in general, so: How do we break this cycle, then?
We look to MODULATE (not stimulate!) Immune activity + RESTORE (not stimulate!) Adrenals.
Not all immune-loving herbs and superfoods are suitable for proper recalibration under depleted circumstances, because many act as Immune Stimulants.
The key here resides in nuances of plant selection alongside the Individual’s unique medical history, to REPLENISH and RESTORE overtaxed systems.
Concern #2: When chasing Fatigue, “energy boost” preparations generate a physical demand for — and stimulation of — greater adrenal output.
What does that mean? Adrenal stimulants prompt increased secretion of “fight or flight” hormones from the adrenal glands, including Cortisol and Adrenaline (a combination of hormones including epinephrine and norepinephrine).
Can you expect your car to run on an empty fuel tank? Not likely. In fact, running on very low fuel repeatedly over long periods of time can cause other problems in your vehicle!
Same for Adrenal Glands: Adrenal functions require adequate hormonal “fuel” reserves in responding to stress, demands for energy production, and efficient recovery.
Adrenals become depleted or exhausted ( “tapped out” ) of adequate Cortisol and Adrenaline hormones as a result of chronic stress, disrupted sleep, poor diet, and/or withdrawal from corticosteroids (for care of Allergies, Autoimmune conditions, Infections).
Therefore, “energy boost” products consumed in a depleted state generate a demand for adrenals to produce more hormones than they are able in that moment.
The body will of course adapt, by calling upon alternative hormonal responses in order to function that have some undesirable effects over time. One of several effects is not only FEELING fatigued — but also fluid retention, increased dark under eye circles, and puffiness around eyes — at the very least!
In Summary; Causes of under eye circles, puffiness around eyes, and looking tired associated with Hormone Imbalance:
- When recovering from corticosteroid use, we must be mindful to avoid over-stimulating Immune activity
- Adrenal-Stimulating Herbs that compel pumping out more stress-response hormones than the body is able to accommodate feeds into Hormone Imbalances
- Restoring proper hormonal balance will improve the appearance of dark under eye circles, eye puffiness, and looking tired.
Feeling like a wet noodle — and hearing more frequent comments about looking tired? Send us an email to get started on breaking this cycle!
Contact: https://medherbalist.com
