What are Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are found above the kidneys.  Adrenal glands regulate the stress response by releasing cortisol and adrenaline. These glands are absolutely vital to your wellbeing. We each have two of them, and they play a hugely important role in producing the hormones that we need, particularly during times of stress. Below we will explore and summarize what the adrenals are, what they do and why they are so central to our good health.

Adrenal Glands collectively influence all of the major physiological processes in our bodies. They closely affect the use of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, the distribution of stored fat (waist), normal blood sugar regulation and proper cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. They also provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help minimize negative and allergic reactions to alcohol, drugs, foods and environmental allergens. During menopause, the adrenal glands slowly become the major source of sex hormones circulating in the body. These hormones affect energy, mood, libido, weight, and metabolism.

Adrenal Fatigue is a stress-related condition that occurs when your adrenal glands, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland (together – the HPA axis) are functioning below their optimal level. When overstimulated for a long period of time, they begin to weaken.

What do adrenal glands do?

Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct parts: the outer part called the adrenal cortex and the inner adrenal medulla. The adrenal glands secrete different hormones which act as 'chemical messengers'. These hormones travel in the bloodstream and act on various body tissues to enable them to function correctly. All adrenocortical hormones are steroid compounds derived from cholesterol.

What Are The Causes of Adrenal Fatigue

At the simplest level, adrenal fatigue is caused by the inability of your adrenal glands to cope with stress. But to really understand this condition we need to know how the adrenal glands have reached this point. We instinctively know that our adrenals are performing sub-optimally, but what is the reason (or reasons) for the dysfunction. Factors that lead to adrenal fatigue include:

Life Issues

• Financial pressures
• Death of a loved one
• Marital stress
• Unemployment
• Emotional stress
• Fear, negative attitudes, and beliefs

Body Issues

• Allergies
• Infections (acute & chronic)
• Prescription drugs
• Poor wound healing

 Lifestyle

• Smoking
• Lack of sleep
• Overexertion
• Lack of or excessive exercise
• Lack of relaxation
• Poor eating habits
• Toxins

  Diet

• Caffeine
• Lack of good food
• White flour products
• Sugar
• Coffee
• Processed foods

What Are The Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

Every individual with Adrenal Fatigue tends to have a slightly different set of symptoms, although there are always common complaints.

You can split up Adrenal Fatigue symptoms into two sets. The most common symptoms are those that are experienced by most (if not all) Adrenal Fatigue sufferers. These include symptoms like fatigue and food cravings. Then there are the less common symptoms, which are only experienced by a smaller set of patients. These include low blood pressure and frequent urination. Typically, an individual with Adrenal Fatigue will have most or all of the main symptoms listed here, along with a handful of the less common symptoms. 

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue and cortisol disruption include:

• Poor immune function
• Allergies
• Muscle aches/tenderness
• Confusion
• Worsening of thyroid symptoms
• Emotional hypersensitivity
• Fatigue
• Feeling better AFTER 6 PM
• Jittery
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Inability to handle stress
• Fluid retention
• Feeling tired after sleeping
• Craving salt and sugar
• Loss of libido
• Rage or sudden angry outbursts
• Tired but wired
• Acne
• Hypertension

Homeopathic Treatment For Adrenal Fatigue

In our clinical practice, we have seen varying degrees of adrenal fatigue and insufficiency. Some are tired and wired, others flat and burnt out,  while many are up and down like a yo-yo with their energy in a given day. The best success we have had in treating these cases have come from accurate case taking and history along with proper diagnostic measures (blood & saliva results) prior to preparing a treatment plan. Many patients typically ignore or neglect key symptoms that help accurately determine the most beneficial remedy or remedies for treatment. Proper administration of the treatment plan, nutritional, and lifestyle advice and patient compliance pay dividends in healing. The following are the key remedies in treating Adrenal Fatigue that we have implemented successfully

• Argentum Nitricum
  For most weak and trembling patients. There is going to be a periodical weakness; one day they will be well, but then, they will be overtaken by weakness. Sometimes their fatigue may become very pervasive to the point that they cannot dress or even lift a book. This weakness may come with the exact periodicity or more at irregular intervals. They will become irritable with a lot of anxiety.  They will start crying because they feel nothing can be done to help them. This state of debility is caused by adrenal insufficiency.
• Berberis Vulgaris
  This remedy is best when adrenal fatigue is accompanied by chronic, yet moving pain. It is also useful for those suffering from spinal irritation and in need of regular chiropractic care.
• Coffea Cruda
  Great nervous agitation and restlessness. Neuralgia in various parts; always with great nervous excitability and intolerance of pain, driving to despair. Unusual activity of mind and body.Easy comprehension, irritability, excited; senses acute. Impressionable, especially to pleasurable impressions. Full of ideas, quick to act. Tossing about in anguish. Wakeful; on a constant move. Sleeps till 3 am, after which only dozing. Wakes with a start. Sleep disturbed by dreams. Sleepless, on account of mental activity; a flow of ideas, with nervous excitability. Disturbed by itching of anus.
• Gelsemium
  For those with slow pulse, tired feeling, and mental apathy. Usually, there will be a muscular weakness, drowsiness and even dizziness. They are sensitive to falling barometric pressure, with many symptoms aggravated by cold and damp weather. They are lethargic, dull, and apathetic to their own complaints. They want to be left alone because any excitement, even good news, will make them feel worse physically.
• Graphites
  Unable to decide. Want of disposition to work. Fidgety while sitting at work. Stout, of fair complexion, with a tendency to skin affections and constipation, fat, chilly, and costive, with delayed menstrual history, take cold easily. Sexual debility, with increased desire.
• Ignatia Amara
  Effects of grief and worry. Stressed, anxious, overwhelmed. Changeable mood; introspective; silently brooding. Melancholic, sad, tearful. Not communicative. Chill, with thirst; not relieved by external heat.
• Kali Phosphoricum
  These types are nervous, oversensitive and excitable. Everything is too much for them and when they get tired they get irritable.They have a feeling that something bad will happen to them; they startle easily. They have difficulty with concentration, and they are forgetful of words and names. There is a profound state of mental and physical exhaustion.
• Nat Muriaticum 
  This is a slow acting remedy and is best used for chronic fatigue conditions. This remedy prepares the body to be able to effectively use the salt that it receives daily.
• Nux Vomica
  This remedy can be very helpful for people who have low cortisol in the morning, but by nighttime, they are wide awake and not tired.  This makes it hard to go to bed early like you're supposed to for adrenal fatigue. Nux can help bring down cortisol to allow you to fall asleep.
• Phosphoric Acid
• someone presenting with extreme physical exhaustion, inertia, apathy, and sexual weakness. These people often complain about the loss of hair and even change in visual acuity. Their whole pathology arises from hypo-function of the endocrine system, especially of the adrenals.
• Ribes Nigrum
• Stimulates adrenal cortex and adrenal gland, Anti-inflammatory. Asthma. Allergies. Chronic fatigue. Hypoadrenalism. Autoimmune diseases.
• Sepia 
  Feels totally burnt out and exhausted from the care of loved ones, chronically tired, too much to do.  Especially helpful after childbirth.  The exhaustion is on both a physical and emotional level.  A common remedy for busy moms with children and busy working moms with no time for themselves.  Reduced sexual desire or no interest as   Menstrual issues include a backache prior to menses, PMS, irritability, and menstrual cramps.  Indifference to loved ones desires to leave the family and go away, but may not act on this urge.

Herbal Treatment For Adrenal Fatigue

Herbs for adrenal health are best used in combination, but need to be individualized to each person's specific needs Herbs can be used to modulate adrenal secretion or to increase the body's ability to respond to stress which is called an "adaptogenic" approach.  It took a lot of stress to reach the point of adrenal fatigue, and the problem cannot be resolved overnight. Herbal therapies for adrenal fatigue usually require 30 to 60 days for noticeable effects.

Some of the most commonly used herbs for Adrenal Fatigue 

• Ashwagandha 

Supports the restoration of inner core for strength, libido, and endurance.
It is an ancient Indian herb with a history of therapeutic use dating back to at least 1,000 BC. It has direct and beneficial effects on adrenal tissue and function. Because of its anti-inflammatory action, it is used for the treatment of rheumatic pains, inflammation of joints and other related conditions that are commonly seen in states of adrenal fatigue. Ashwagandha is considered to be an adaptogen. An adaptogen is any substance that helps the body function more towards its normal level. Studies have shown it is capable of normalizing cortisol levels, whether they are too high or too low.  This herb is becoming recognized for its multiple health benefits and especially for its value in adrenal fatigue.

• Siberian Ginseng Root -  good for women as well as men.
  It has antidepressant properties and the ability to calm anxiousness, improve sleeping, diminish lethargy, lessen irritability and induce a feeling of well-being. It has a wide range of activities that help support and rejuvenate adrenal function, increase resistance to stress, normalize metabolism, and regulate neurotransmitters (which are important in modifying the stress response). It counteracts mental fatigue and is known to increase and sustain energy levels, physical stamina, and endurance. It is used to increased vitality and to counter depletion of the adrenal stress hormones. In addition, it has been shown to normalize blood sugar, stimulate antibodies to bacteria and viruses, increase resistance to environmental pollutants, improve absorption of some B vitamins and decrease vitamin C loss. Although it has been shown to normalize blood pressure, it should not be used if blood pressure is very high. Siberian ginseng is more normalizing than stimulatory in its effects on the adrenals.
• Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) 

increases stamina, energy, and endurance, and improve the ability to withstand stress. This is an adaptogenic herb that helps normalize the body’s response to stress, modulate cortisol levels, reduce the exhaustion that follows a stressful event, and protect the body against the negative effects of stress.

• Ginkgo Leaf (Ginkgo biloba) - excellent for enhanced blood flow and anti-oxidant protection.
  It is common herb well known for its ability to enhance peripheral circulation and for its neuroprotective effects. Gingko is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps protect the adrenal glands, the brain and the liver from inflammation and free radical damage that occurs during stress.  Not all Ginkgo extracts are the same. Products that are standardized to 24% ginkgo flavones and glycosides, and 6% ginkgolides and bilobalide are recommended. 
• Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale). 
  Ginger is another adaptogen for the adrenals that helps modulate cortisol levels.
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra and G. uralensis)
  Licorice is a traditional medicine for adrenal insufficiency and ulcers. It contains triterpenoid saponins that influence cortisol-cortisone balance throughout the body. Glycyrrhizin is the main active compound in licorice. At higher amounts, it has a strong effect on the kidney and allows cortisol to interact with aldosterone receptors, which affects sodium/potassium balance and increases blood pressure. For this reason, patients taking higher amounts of licorice need to be monitored closely especially those with high blood pressure. Good quality liquid extracts are also available and should contain around 30mg/mL glycyrrhizin. Licorice has been positively linked to a range of other health benefits including better blood glucose control and fat modulation, improved iron absorption, reduction of coughing, improved female hormone balance, decreased inflammation and healing of the gut lining.
• Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng) - excellent for supporting adrenal and thyroid function.
  This herb is for physical or mental exhaustion, lowered immunity and to facilitate adaptation to stress. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is considered a key herb for reinforcing vital energy and longevity. Recent human studies have expanded the therapeutic uses of Korean Ginseng to include improvement of insulin sensitivity, increased cerebrovascular circulation, better memory, improved cell-mediated immune function and reduced incidence of the common cold and reduced DNA oxidative damage in smokers.  There are symptom improvements in patients with depression, headache, insomnia, and fatigue in women with menopausal symptoms. 
• Rehmannia(Rehmannia glutinosa)
  rehmannia can be effective for reducing inflammation and adrenal fatigue from a hypothyroid and hyperthyroid etiology. is an herb used extensively in Chinese medicine. It is similar to licorice and can be used as both a tonic and as specific support for the adrenal glands. It is helpful for people suffering general debility, adrenal depletion, and poor immune system function, specifically in the context of autoimmune disease.

Rhodiola (Rhodiola Rosea) 
It is another adaptogenic herb with a long history of traditional use. It helps improve mood, depression, and libido, and improving mental clarity. It also has a number of positive human trials in the areas of stress and fatigue management, enhancement of mental performance and treatment of mild depression. Rhodiola has been used successfully to increase stamina, prevent fatigue, improve mental function, reduce anxiety and ameliorate symptoms of mild depression.

Useful Tests for Adrenal Fatigue

• Iris contraction Test

Equipment required: chair, small flashlight, mirror, a watch (with a second hand), and a dark room.

In a darkened room, sit in a chair in front of a mirror. Holding the flashlight at the side of your head, shine it across one eye (not into the eye). Watch what happens in the mirror.

You should see your pupil contract immediately after the light hits the eye. The pupil will normally stay contracted, but if you have adrenal fatigue, the pupil won't be able to hold its contraction and will dilate. This dilation will take place within 2 minutes and last for about 30-45 seconds before it contracts again. Time how long the dilation lasts and record it along with the date. Retest monthly as it serves as an indicator of recovery.

• Blood Pressure Test

If your blood pressure drops when you stand up from a lying position, this almost always indicates low adrenals. This can be measured with a blood pressure gauge (a sphygmomanometer), which you can buy at a drug store. Make sure to purchase the type that doesn't require a stethoscope to take your blood pressure.

Make sure to do this test when you are well hydrated or it could give you a false positive. Lie down quietly for about 10 minutes, then take your blood pressure (while still lying down). Then stand up and measure your blood pressure immediately upon standing. Normally blood pressure will rise 10-20mmHg from standing up. If your blood pressure drops, you likely have adrenal fatigue. The more severe the drop, the more severe the adrenal fatigue.

• Sergent’s White Line

This is only present in about 40% of people with Adrenal Fatigue, but if the test is positive, it's a clear confirmation.

With a ballpoint pen, take the cap end of the pen and lightly stroke the skin on your abdomen, making a mark about 6" long. Within a few seconds, a line should appear. In a normal reaction, the mark is initially white but reddens within a few seconds. If you have Adrenal Fatigue, the line will stay white for about 2 minutes and will also widen.

Saliva testing tells you the level of cortisol that is free and available (unbound) for your body to use. A blood cortisol level tells you what is bound and unbound. It is the unbound cortisol that we need to know about. Tests may show changes in potassium, low blood pressure, low cortisol, low serum sodium but normal sex hormone levels.

Other Helpful Tips and Solutions for Adrenal Fatigue

• Don't skip breakfast!  Eat within 1 hour of waking and include protein at all means.
• Don't work to exhaustion, pace yourself.
• Attract a positive outcome.  Avoid negativity, both toward yourself and others.
• Say NO when you're at your limit.
• Set healthy boundaries and stick by them.
• Get 7 - 8 hours of sleep by no later than 10 pm when possible.
• Keep healthy snacks with protein on hand to stay energized
• Drink half your weight in water per ounce, per day
• Use 1/2 tsp of unrefined sea salt on food daily to support your adrenal function.
• Disconnect
• after dinner and after work - unplug, spend time with your family, get off the internet.
• Consider supplements from a class called adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbs, like ashwagandha, Rhodiola, licorice root, ginseng, and maca. They help support adrenal function. Use them under the guidance of a trained integrative Healthcare provider

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to suffer from the debilitating exhaustion and other issues caused by adrenal fatigue. This is by no means a comprehensive list of homeopathic and natural treatments. Talk to your healthcare professional, have your adrenal gland function tested, develop a customized program that will help resolve this condition, and relax. Homeopathic remedies will help a person with adrenal fatigue and rebalance the endocrine system. Contact us to learn more!

References

http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/p.htm

https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/adrenal-fatigue/