Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Daily Support, 60 Vegan Capsules, 30 Servings | Herbal Cortisol Support with Ashwagandha, Holy Basil & Schisandra, Help Maintain Healthy Energy & Stress Levels, Vegan*

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.

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!

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.

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!!!

I'm sure it's a great product, but I had an adverse reaction to something in the mix.... . I do recommend taking a deeper dive into your adrenal issue though. 3 years ago I suffered from adrenal fatigue (which isn't a medically recognized issue) due to a high stress/high activity lifestyle. One day I didn't feel like myself at work. I felt off. It only got worse from there. I couldn't leave bed for 3 days straight. I became numb to feelings and found myself very depressed and highly emotional for seemingly no reason at all. Saw tons of doctors and got every test in the book. They found nothing abnormal. Started taking Munuca and Ashwagandha which got me back on track. Fast forward to today and the same issue came back to bite me. I had just moved to Colorado and was having extreme fatigue and racing thoughts. Rounds and rounds of testing yielded nothing. I was prescribed xanax and the doctors said it is just an anxous time in life.....long story short I have adrenal fatigue BUT it is due to having copper toxicity. I am posting this to help anyone that thinks they have the same issue as modern medicine has failed me. I thought I was losing my mind. Racing thoughts, out of touch with reality, hyper emotional, loss of libido, oily/acne skin and fatigue that resulted in little to no motivation. Checkout coppertoxic.com... It will blow your mind. Get a hair mineral analysis test and get a professional to review your results. Also buy the book "Why am I always so tried?" by Ann Louise Gittleman. NY won't allow you to get your own hair test so you have to do it via 3rd party on Amazon. Stress decreases zinc levels which leads to biounavaiable copper build up and a host of other issues. Women who are on the pill and or who have a copper iud are especially at risk. Hope I can help at least one other person struggling. I am currently on a 6 month copper detox program. You got this!

I have been using this product for a month and I am ECSTATIC with the results. Ever since my early 20s, I have had symptoms of hypothyroidism (i.e., intense feelings of fatigue despite sleeping well, difficultly concentrating, feeling like my brain is foggy or cloudy, super dry skin on my hands and feet). I am generally a very healthy person: I go to bed/wake up at about the same time every day, I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, maintain a healthy weight, exercise moderately most days of the week, and I eat very well. I don't have children, so the only stress in my life is balancing graduate school and work. Yes, I'm stressed, but I feel I have it easy compared to a lot of people I know. Regardless, it's definitely not NORMAL to feel utterly exhausted by 10am each day. For the last ten years, on a regular basis, I get what I call "stupid-tired," which is where you feel so tired your tongue seems to swell up in your mouth and prevent you from speaking a coherent sentence. However, whenever I see a doctor to complain of these symptoms, my blood work comes back perfectly fine. I've tried EVERYTHING to feel more energized: exercising in the morning, exercising a lunch, taking 10 minute walking breaks every couple of hours, eating every 3 hours, black coffee, different types of teas, 5 hour energy drinks, Vitamin B tablets, multi-vitamins, stress-reduction/management programs, installing "natural" lights in my office...you get the picture. One doctor did mention that my blood levels may not be normal for ME (personally) even though they fell with the "standardized" normal range, so I decided to take a chance and try a vitamin that was specifically geared towards adrenal health. Let me tell you...this product has literally changed my life for the past month. For the first time since I can remember, I feel how I think a normal person feels on a regular basis. I can actually focus on work for more than 15 minutes at a time without loosing concentration or dozing off. I look forward to going for a walk or a jog rather than having to talk myself into it each and every day. I also don't seem to have to fight as hard to understand complex topics in my lectures, and I can focus more easily on conversations. I can't say if this has affected my sleep or not because I've always been fortunate enough to sleep pretty well. Another bonus is that I don't seem to have to curb my appetite as much. Before taking these pills, I really had to fight to stay at a healthy weight because I was ALWAYS feeling the need to eat, and when I did eat, I could consume huge plates without ever feeling full. Since I've been taking this vitamin, I've noticed that it's not quite as hard for me to say no to big portions, I have significantly fewer cravings, and I don't feel the need to nibble all the time. I'm not attempting to lose weight, but it is really nice not to have to try so HARD to maintain. One of the things that caught my attention with this product is the fact that it contains extracts from the Ashwaganda root. I'm earning my doctorate in Aging Studies, and one of my colleagues researchers the beneficial effects of this plant. Ashwaganda has long thought to be a natural supplement that enhances/preserves cognitive ability. Personally, I have tried organic Ashwaganda root powder, but the taste was so bitter, I didn't use it regularly. This vitamin doesn't have any strange after taste, which is great. I have been taking 2 pills a day instead of the recommended 2 at breakfast and 2 at dinner simply because I'm a poor graduate student and I need to stretch out my supplies as long as I can! I have found that 1 pill with breakfast and another around 2pm with a snack really helps get me through the mid-morning and mid-afternoon humps, which are the times I would feel utterly exhausted. I would probably take 2 pills on the days when I have an unusual amount of work/stress to deal with. Needless to say, I REALLY hope these vitamins keep making me feel the way they do. I've already stocked up on a 4 month supply in preparation for the fall semester!!!

It started with a 3-year period of my life where I was stressed out to the max and in total survival mode. Once life settled down and things improved, my body said "HEY! I can stop running from that lion now!". My fight/flight response, which had been kicking out extra cortisol to help me cope with the stressful period, was no longer needed and my body just couldn't regulate back to normal. So when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue three years later, I suddenly understood why I had been suffering from INSANE cravings for sugar, caffeine, and wine (all forms of stimulants which helps your body "self-medicate" in order to survive without enough natural hormones/cortisol to keep you functioning), falling dead asleep at 7pm, and experiencing constant irritability and erratic moods. All symptoms of adrenal burnout! Since I trust Gaia Herbs and think their other products are great, I decided to try the Adrenal Health supplement. After reading all the reviews on Amazon and successfully using this product for months, I have a few notes: 1. If you need this product, you will feel the difference in a week or less. More energy, not as tired at night, stable moods (my husband called these my "nice pills"!) and fewer cravings for sugar/carbs/caffeine. But don't miss a dose! 2. If you are dealing with the aftermath of stress (as I was), you may not need to take this product for long. As your adrenals heal and function on their own, you may start to experience side effects (headaches, typically in the afternoon, trouble going to sleep, jittery sleep, etc) which indicate that your adrenals don't need as much of the product (that's a good thing!). I believe this is why some people have negative reviews -- because they really didn't need an adrenal stimulant and it left them feeling jittery, wired, and with a head ache. In my case, after 2 weeks of taking the full dose (2 in the AM, 2 in the PM), I noticed I was getting a bit of a head ache in the afternoon and was staying up much later than usual (from my usual crash at 7pm to being up past midnight). So I cut out the PM dose. The headaches went away and I was back to a healthy bedtime of 10pm. After two more weeks, I noticed I was staying up late again and reduced my AM dose to just one pill. Things regulated again. After a few more weeks, I was able to stop taking the pills completely and now only take them when I feel the adrenal fatigue symptoms returning (fatigue, irritability, sugar cravings, etc.). Because our hormones are so connected to everything, I experienced many other symptoms after correcting my adrenals. For one, my extremely heavy periods (6-7 oz) improved and even balanced back to normal (2-3 oz) after FIVE YEARS of suffering all the awful symptoms of such heavy menstruation. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this product!

I have been going through one of the most difficult times of my life the last few months. The stress level was so high that I was experiencing adrenal shut down and I didn't know what to do. Everything else in my body was struggling so badly that I was frustrated. I was experiencing break downs of a serious nature from the stress. I eat VERY healthy, and was using some herbs for support but the stress level was so high that I could not get results from what usually worked well for me up until now. I didn't know what to do. I had had the other version of this stress support system from Gaia that I had tested out and reviewed some time ago. I had found the bottle and forgotten that it had made me feel very sick when I tested it out previously. I took as directed, but only ONE after a meal early in the day. The next day something awful happened that would have sent me over the edge. Instead, I laughed and just let it roll off. CLEARLY this was making a difference. Since I can not do anything to stop the stress from happening for the next few weeks or months, I can only plow through it. I found out that the Adrenal Health is the same as the Stress Response that I have been using, so I purchased this. It works just the same. I have also given this to my husband who usually avoids supplements except once in a while, and I must say the difference in him has also been astounding. We have had several incidents happen to us that would have sent us both over the edge and instead we rolled with all of it quite nicely. THE BOTTOM LINE At first when I tested this formula, I didn't have the high stress level that I have at this point in time. I am not sure what changed, but I have not experienced any ill feeling at all from taking this supplement. I have seen a remarkable shift in my capacity to cope with difficult situations having had previous meltdowns from similar things prior to taking this supplement. The unavoidable stress level that I have been at for the last few months would generally result in nothing working for me. Instead, this has taken the edge off beautifully. I use one after morning meal and then as the stress increases, I have gone up to one after three meals still using less than the four recommended per day. I scale it according to what I am going through that day. I am so very thankful for this supplement. I can not rave about it enough. Interesting how things can change in time, isn't it?