Stress due to prolonged problems and life challenges can wreak havoc on your well-being. The most common “outside” challenges which people face are the threat of losing a job, financial issues, personality conflicts, relationship problems and death or illness of a loved one. The common stressors we inflict upon ourselves are skipping meals, yo-yo dieting, drinking too much coffee and/or energy drinks, eating too many carbs, not sleeping at least 7 hours per night, over-exercising, and not resolving emotional issues from the past or present.
Stress affects both the mind and body (for article on how to calm the mind read – You Have The Power To Keep You Inner Peace). Physically the glands most affected by stress are the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two small glands, one on top of each kidney. Each has an outer part called the cortex and the inner portion which is the medulla. The cortex secretes three different classes of hormones: mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgenic hormones. The medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine (commonly known as adrenaline).
ESSENTIAL HORMONES WHICH THE ADRENALS SECRETE
The most important mineralocorticoid hormone is aldosterone. It’s main function is to keep both sodium and potassium in check. This in turn keeps blood pressure in check and fluid (water) in balance (so as not to retain water; edema, which increases blood pressure). The kidneys need to have sodium and potassium at proper levels so they can also function properly and keep all fluids and waste acids in check. Too much aldosterone hormone or too little aldosterone affects our organs, especially the heart, blood pressure, muscles (feel weak) and joints (painful and achy).
The more well known glucocorticoid produced by the cortex is cortisol (hydrocortisone) or “the stress hormone”. Normally, it’s present in the body at higher levels in the morning, and at its lowest at night, which allows the body to “come down” and “unwind” so that we can get to sleep. Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it is termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s “fight or flight” response to stress (when the hormone epinephrine is secreted; a.k.a. adrenaline), and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.
While cortisol is an important and a helpful part of the body’s response to stress, it’s important that the body return to a neutral mode after a stressful event. Unfortunately, in our current high-stress culture, the body’s stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal, resulting in a state of chronic stress. Which can lead to build up of body fat around the mid-section, muscle wasting, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances and depress your immune system which leads to more bouts of colds, flu and respiratory issues.
The adrenaline hormone, epinephrine, secreted by the adrenal’s medulla, historically came into play when our life was threatened. The threat would cause a rush of this hormone to enter our blood stream so that we could muster as much ability to “win” a fight or successfully run away. Epinephrine increases heart rate, blood sugar, and it increases an individual’s metabolic rate in order to produce the most amount of energy for the individual to utilize. If the brain is under constant stress, more adrenaline is secreted in order to satisfy the body’s needs. This is where the problem begins.
Living in a constant state of energy is not a healthy lifestyle because the brain is already over stimulated (sub-consciously as well). An exhausted brain will not be much help when you are trying to perform trivial every day tasks much less important or complicated tasks.
HORMONES GONE WILD!
When the adrenal glands begin to act “dysfunctional” due to prolonged stress, they first go into a hyper (overactive, stressed) state. As they are pushed further and not given the opportunity to recover they go into an “extreme” stressed/overactive state and eventually reach the hypo (under active, exhausted) mode. At every stage of “dysfunction” certain symptoms begin to develop because the hormones secreted by the adrenal glands are not at their proper levels (too much or too little). The following charts list many of the symptoms which arise due to adrenal dysfunction.
- Overactive – Hyper Adrenals (can lead to Cushing’s Disease)
|
|
- Underactive – Hypo Adrenals (can lead to Addison’s Disease)
|
|
HOW TO REVERSE THE SYMPTOMS
The adrenal glands in most cases can be brought back to normal function with appropriate herbs and vitamins. When the glands are hyper they need substances which will calm down the hyperactivity. Such herbs and vitamins tend to be passion flower, hops, chamomile, fennel seeds and vitamin C (in ascorbate form). The vitamins and minerals which need to be replaced because of the hyperactivity are the B-complex vitamins (especially pantothenic acid, B-5), potassium and magnesium.
With a hypo condition the glands are in need of nourishment and support. Herbs which nourish are astragalus, licorice root (avoid if have hypertension) and Korean ginseng.
The herbal formula I use with great success for a hyper condition is Stress-J. It provides an excellent mix of calming herbs. The herbal supplement I recommend highly for a hypo condition is Nervous Fatigue Formula an excellent Chinese formula. It takes about 2-3 months for a hyper condition to resolve itself while a hypo condition may take 3-4 months to fully resolve.
If you believe you are suffering from one form of adrenal gland dysfunction please do not hesitate to contact me to determine the correct course of action for you. You do not need to continue suffering needlessly!
OWN YOUR HEALTH!
** If you would like to order some of the Nature’s Sunshine products (NSP) like Stress-J or Nervous Fatigue Formula, call them at 1-800-453-1422 and you can use my account number #576437-6. Tell them you want a drop ship order.For more information about NSP go to my Health Analysis page and read the last section.
"Your Soul's Plan" by Robert Schwartz
I don’t know if I’m suffering from it or not. Three months ago I started having panic attacks and that’s what the doctor told me. I have figured out that I’m getting adrenaline all of a sudden for no reason. This also happens when I’m sleeping. I get really nervous, kind of jittery during the day and when I eat I just get sick to my stomach. I also have a low thyroid but I’m currently not on any medication until 2 weeks from now. It has been almost 2 months since I’ve been off of it but I started all of this mess while on it and my levels were fine. For 3 weeks I was doing good with no sudden adrenaline until my husband ended up getting sick. Now I’m sick all the time and nervous. I’m not sleeping hardly at night and my heart will just race for no reason. I’m so miserable.
Dear Leslie, I feel for your suffering. I do believe you are suffering from overactive adrenal glands, very low pantothenic acid (B5) and deficient potassium.
I suggest ordering the Stress-J herb formula I recommend (from Nature’s Sunshine – ordered out of Utah – See information at http://www.bodyandsoulreconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Stress-J.pdf ). This will calm the adrenal glands. Or look for an herbal product that has at least the passion flower, chamomile and hops. Take 6 capsules per day (3 morning, 3 evening) for 1 month then drop to 4 capsules per day for another 2 months. Sleep will improve, anxiety will subside and concentration will increase.
Take pantothenic acid to relieve stomach discomfort (500 mg per day for 2 weeks then drop to 250 mg for 1 month). Your food is not breaking down properly due to this need. All citrus will also be very difficult to process.
Low potassium also causes great fatigue, heart palpitations, leg muscle weakness, water retention and an inability to digest all dairy and corn based products. If you have some joint pain that comes and goes low potassium is the root cause because the kidneys need potassium to excrete many of the acids our body produces. Therefore, the acids are not being eliminated properly and it causes some joint pain. Ingest 1,200 mg of potassium per day for 1 week then drop to 1000 mg per day for another 2 weeks. You can do this through diet like bananas ( approx. 200 mg per), carrot juice ( approx. 420 mg per 8 oz), LOW sodium tomato juice (450 mg per 8 oz), coconut water (450 mg per 8 oz). Or there are also potassium tablets. Nature Sunshine has a product called Potassium combination.
Regarding your thyroid. I am sensing you need an amino acid call L-tyrosine. 1000 mg per day initially and then drop to 500 mg after 1 month.
Anyhow, if you rather place an order through Nature’s Sunshine you can use my account number 576437-6 to place a drop-ship order. Their order line is 1-800-453-1422 (Mon-Sat). All products except the amino acid L-tyrosine can be ordered through them. Their prices are comparable to good quality supplements.
By the way corn, dairy and citrus products will be easily broken down once you have elevated the appropriate nutrients. Takes about 6-8 weeks.
Any questions contact me. I hope you find this helpful. If you start this regimen you should begin to feel some relief in 15 to 20 days. You may need all or part of this regimen for about 3 months.
4 years ago i was diagnosed with an adrenal problem i have had several blood test taken since and since there is no change i have not been back for the last year
my question is would hair loss and my nail use to grow long and very hard but have stopped are these any symptoms related to the adrenal gland?
thank you for your input
Hi Bonnie, sorry to hear about the length of time you have suffered with adrenal issues. It is quite possible that your adrenals are now in the “underactive” mode. In other words they are passed the stress mode and into exhausted mode. Did you connect more to the list with the underactive adrenal symptoms?
Regarding hair loss and your nails, read the article on low progesterone and see if it resonates with you. You may need to elevate your progesterone levels. Dysfunctional adrenals can affect progesterone levels.
Try the supplements suggested or something very similar to them. You should see the beginnings of improvement in 4-6 weeks. The underactive adrenals can shift to health in time with diligent intake of the correct supplements; around 4-6 months. Two to three menstrual cycles of applying progesterone cream should stop excessive hair loss. However, the cream should be used for at least 6-8 months.
I hope you find this helpful. If you believe a consultation will help you with other health concerns, please contact me.
Hi I suspect I am Hpothyroid because of cold hands and feet, I also warm up when Itake supplements for hypo.I have had a history of severe pms and heavy bleeding, so I used progesterone cream and it gave me more energy but the bleeding got much much worse and my hair started falling out.Now I am 51, periods come and go, I am on a mood stabilizer, Im ok but I am trying to keep my supplements in balance. I was thinking of adding sibering ginseng to support my adrenals along with my thyroid supplement that also has a glandular to go with it. Is that too much? I was able to control my bleeding by bringing my estrogen levels down with a natural supplement that had broccoli and other things but I heard that broccoli blocks thyroid function unless it was cooked.Since I have a very strong history of breast cancer in which everybody died and even though I dont bleed heavily anymore I am concerned about the bad estrogen in my body and I wont to eliminate it without creating other hormonal imbalances. I cant use progesterone, or the broccoli supplement, would supporting adrenals or using adaptogens give my body some stability and keep everything steady while I take some fiber to decrease my estrogen levels and since I am in menopause should I be doing that in the first place?Thanks for your help
Hi Rosie, sorry to know about your health imbalances. If you tend to have insomnia then possibly you are suffering from underactive (hypo) adrenals. If it’s more restless sleep but you do sleep then it is overactive adrenals. Either way the adrenal glands affect so much of the balance of your hormones, sleep, mood, temperature as well, perspiration, menstrual cycle…etc.
If you are positive you suffer from under-active thyroid as well then you have a double whammy with both of these glands not doing their job properly. I suspect other nutrients may also be off. I highly suggest you have a complete health analysis because you want to be 100% sure how to help your body recover it’s balance and prevent further imbalances and symptoms in the future. Let me know if I can be of help, or seek out another alternative health provider that you feel confident in helping you.
Hello. I have been treated for hypothyroidism for 10+ years, with Naturethroid (like Armour). Then every 6 months, I was retested with the TSH, T3 and T4 tests and they would go up or down and I would be advised periodically to adjust my tablet up or down a little. No problem. Then, about 7 months ago, my nutritional chiropractor decided to order a Full thyroid profile. (He had also been working with me the past 2 years to heal what he diagnosed as adrenal fatigue or exhaustion).He did not like the results of the thyroid tests, put me on still more supplements and repeated the tests in January 2011. Then he advised me to go to an Integrative Medicine internist, who ran a bunch of expensive tests, as well as a repeat of the full thyroid panel in March 2011. Based on that, she put me on a compound thyroid formula. Since time proved to me that she was possibly a scammer and certainly out of her realm of knowledge to treat me, I consulted with my MD internist of 25 years, He looked at mt thyroid panel tests and my previous, (from 2 years ago) ASI adrenal stress index saliva reports and female hormone panel (estrogen, DHEA, etc – I am postmenopausal)reports that my chiropractor had ordered, again from 2 years ago, and decided on the spot that I have pituitary dysfunction and need, besides thyroid medication, cortisol . He wants me to see an endocrinologist now, have a full battery of tests and take that little magic physiological dose of cortisol daily for the rest of my life- simple, he explained. Well, I am no dummy. I am an RN, well-versed in alternative medicine and want nothing to do with an adrenal hormone to take the rest of my life- something he assures me has no side-effects. I have successfully resisted HRT all my life, and agreed to thyroid meds years ago, only because it was a natural dessicated form. Unfortunately, my chiropractor did try to fix my adrenals with 2 years of giving me just about every supplement that you would know about to assist the healing, but nothing changed. Maybe he just wasn’t hitting on the right formulas. Also, I was experiencing a great deal of personal stress in my life. Nonetheless, hearing my internist tell me this week that I need to see an endocrinologist and get placed on some Western medicine steroid, call it what it is, has 100% increased my stress levels. Can you advise any help for me? Do you know of any good open-minded, compassionate doctors in the Atlanta area?
Signed, desperate in Atlanta. Thank you!
I’m sorry to hear about your bouts of thyroid and other potential imbalances in your other glands. I truly advise you to see a very reputable Naturopathic Doctor if you can’t find an MD which you feel comfortable with. I wish you the very best.