Adrenal Health
Recommended Reading
Adrenal Fatigue
By: Dr. James L. Wilson
BOOK $14.95/ EA
By: Dr. James L. Wilson
BOOK $14.95/ EA
Cortisol Calm
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Super Adrenal Stress Formula
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Adrenal Fatigue Q&A
What is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is any decrease (but not failure) in the ability of the adrenals glands to carry out their normal functions. The chief symptom of adrenal fatigue is, indeed, fatigue, but it is accompanied by many other signs and symptoms. Adrenal fatigue occurs when stress from any source (physical, emotional, mental, or environmental) exceeds, either cumulatively or in intensity, the body’s capacity to adjust appropriately to the demands placed upon it by the stress. When this happens, the adrenals become fatigued and are unable to continue responding adequately to further stress.
Who suffers adrenal fatigue?
Anyone, from birth to old age and from any race or culture, can suffer from adrenal fatigue. People vary greatly in their ability to respond to and withstand stress. However, those suffering from serious or repeated injury, illness, infectious disease, allergies, inadequate nutrition, intense social, emotional or physical pressures, or who are exposed to a toxic environment are most likely to suffer from adrenal fatigue. Unfortunately many of these factors are common in modern life.
What causes adrenal fatigue?
There are multitudes of individual causes of adrenal fatigue but they usually stem from one of four common sources that overwhelm the body.
Adrenal fatigue is any decrease (but not failure) in the ability of the adrenals glands to carry out their normal functions. The chief symptom of adrenal fatigue is, indeed, fatigue, but it is accompanied by many other signs and symptoms. Adrenal fatigue occurs when stress from any source (physical, emotional, mental, or environmental) exceeds, either cumulatively or in intensity, the body’s capacity to adjust appropriately to the demands placed upon it by the stress. When this happens, the adrenals become fatigued and are unable to continue responding adequately to further stress.
Who suffers adrenal fatigue?
Anyone, from birth to old age and from any race or culture, can suffer from adrenal fatigue. People vary greatly in their ability to respond to and withstand stress. However, those suffering from serious or repeated injury, illness, infectious disease, allergies, inadequate nutrition, intense social, emotional or physical pressures, or who are exposed to a toxic environment are most likely to suffer from adrenal fatigue. Unfortunately many of these factors are common in modern life.
What causes adrenal fatigue?
There are multitudes of individual causes of adrenal fatigue but they usually stem from one of four common sources that overwhelm the body.
- Disease states such as severe or recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis or flu, cancer, AIDS, auto-immune and other illnesses.
- Physical stress such as surgery, poor nutrition, addiction, injury, exhaustion, etc.
- Emotional stress, usually arising from relationship, work or psychological origins.
- Continual and/or severe environmental stress from toxic chemicals and pollutants in the air, water, clothing or food.
Symptoms
Cortisol Excess
- Anxiety
- Bone loss
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Loss of muscle mass
- Sleep disturbances
- Thinning skin
- Weight gain (WAIST)
Cortisol Deficiency
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Chemical sensitivity
- Cold body temperature (thyroid resistance)
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Stress
- Sugar cravings
- Low blood pressure
The Adrenals and Hormones
The adrenals are involved in manufacturing numerous hormones; blood sugar regulation; the regulation of the body's minerals; producing and maintaining the body's energy levels in conjunction with the thyroid; and producing stress-monitoring hormones.
The adrenals, the body's shock absorbers, are the core of the endocrine stress response system. Two of their most important hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline deals primarily with short-term stress while cortisol is produced as a result of both acute and long-term stress.
Prolonged stress, whether as a result of emotional, environmental or physical causes, is disastrous for the adrenals. Initially, it results in chronically elevated cortisol levels, resulting in weight gain (especially around the midsection), blood sugar imbalances, thinning skin, muscle wasting, memory loss, high blood pressure, dizziness, hot flashes, night sweats, excessive facial hair, and other masculizing tendencies.
Overworked adrenals eventually crash, leading to adrenal exhaustion, where the body is unable to maintain adequate adrenal hormone production. Symptoms of overtaxed adrenals include extreme fatigue (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), irritability, inability to concentrate, frustration, insomnia, addictions to either sweet or salty foods, allergies, nervousness, depression, anxiety, PMS, sensitivity to cold, diabetes and headaches. Chronic low blood pressure can be a key symptom of adrenal exhaustion.
Since the adrenals contribute to about 35 percent of premenopausal female hormones and almost 50 percent of postmenopausal hormones, compromised adrenal function profoundly affects hormonal balance.
Progesterone is the primary raw material for producing cortisol. When the glands are in overdrive, the body will divert progesterone to the adrenals to support cortisol production. With reduced progesterone, the body may experience estrogen dominance, i.e. PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, fibroids, heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, weight gain, etc.
Excessive cortisol also blocks progesterone receptors, further contributing to low progesterone. These two imbalances are the primary reasons why adrenal exhaustion leads to estrogen dominance.
Restoring adrenal function is a pre-requisite for hormonal balance. Nutrients that have special importance to the adrenals are the B vitamins (especially B5), vitamin C, proteins, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, plant enzymes, adaptagenic herbs (i.e. Ashwaganda, Rhodiola Rosea, Eleuthero, American Ginseng Schisandra, Astragalus), adrenal extracts and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine.
Rest is mandatory for rebuilding the adrenals.
Individuals who suspect adrenal exhaustion can determine whether the body is producing healthy levels of adrenal hormones through proper testing. Cortisol levels can be measured with a saliva test that collects at least four samples over 24 hours. Unfortunately, medical doctors rarely check for adrenal issues nor make the connection that adrenal dysfunction is the underlying issue behind a majority of hormonal problems and other more chronic health issues.
If you are interested in getting your cortisol levels checked with a saliva test, please call or email Murray Avenue Apothecary to arrange for a test kit to be sent to you. The test is done at home and then sent to the lab. After the test results come back to us we can work with you to revive the adrenals with our successful protocol or lower excessive cortisol when needed
The adrenals are involved in manufacturing numerous hormones; blood sugar regulation; the regulation of the body's minerals; producing and maintaining the body's energy levels in conjunction with the thyroid; and producing stress-monitoring hormones.
The adrenals, the body's shock absorbers, are the core of the endocrine stress response system. Two of their most important hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline deals primarily with short-term stress while cortisol is produced as a result of both acute and long-term stress.
Prolonged stress, whether as a result of emotional, environmental or physical causes, is disastrous for the adrenals. Initially, it results in chronically elevated cortisol levels, resulting in weight gain (especially around the midsection), blood sugar imbalances, thinning skin, muscle wasting, memory loss, high blood pressure, dizziness, hot flashes, night sweats, excessive facial hair, and other masculizing tendencies.
Overworked adrenals eventually crash, leading to adrenal exhaustion, where the body is unable to maintain adequate adrenal hormone production. Symptoms of overtaxed adrenals include extreme fatigue (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), irritability, inability to concentrate, frustration, insomnia, addictions to either sweet or salty foods, allergies, nervousness, depression, anxiety, PMS, sensitivity to cold, diabetes and headaches. Chronic low blood pressure can be a key symptom of adrenal exhaustion.
Since the adrenals contribute to about 35 percent of premenopausal female hormones and almost 50 percent of postmenopausal hormones, compromised adrenal function profoundly affects hormonal balance.
Progesterone is the primary raw material for producing cortisol. When the glands are in overdrive, the body will divert progesterone to the adrenals to support cortisol production. With reduced progesterone, the body may experience estrogen dominance, i.e. PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, fibroids, heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, weight gain, etc.
Excessive cortisol also blocks progesterone receptors, further contributing to low progesterone. These two imbalances are the primary reasons why adrenal exhaustion leads to estrogen dominance.
Restoring adrenal function is a pre-requisite for hormonal balance. Nutrients that have special importance to the adrenals are the B vitamins (especially B5), vitamin C, proteins, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, plant enzymes, adaptagenic herbs (i.e. Ashwaganda, Rhodiola Rosea, Eleuthero, American Ginseng Schisandra, Astragalus), adrenal extracts and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine.
Rest is mandatory for rebuilding the adrenals.
Individuals who suspect adrenal exhaustion can determine whether the body is producing healthy levels of adrenal hormones through proper testing. Cortisol levels can be measured with a saliva test that collects at least four samples over 24 hours. Unfortunately, medical doctors rarely check for adrenal issues nor make the connection that adrenal dysfunction is the underlying issue behind a majority of hormonal problems and other more chronic health issues.
If you are interested in getting your cortisol levels checked with a saliva test, please call or email Murray Avenue Apothecary to arrange for a test kit to be sent to you. The test is done at home and then sent to the lab. After the test results come back to us we can work with you to revive the adrenals with our successful protocol or lower excessive cortisol when needed
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Legal Notice: The Author specifically invokes the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press without prejudice. The information written is published for informational purposes only under the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution for the United States of America, and should not in any way be used as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other licensed health care practitioner. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products discussed herein are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any disease. Images, text and logic are copyright protected. ALL rights are explicitly reserved without prejudice, and no part of this essay may be reproduced except by written consent.
©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.
©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.