Adrenal Fatigue, Stress and the Cause of Disease

Poor stress coping abilities and adrenal fatigue may contribute to a number of health conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, low thyroid, poor sleep, fatigue, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and more.

The German physician, Dr. Hans Seyle (father of modern stress theory) was able to demonstrate that under normal conditions the body is able to use its homeostatic (self regulatory system) mechanisms to counter various stresses. However these same mechanisms could be overwhelmed by too much stress. The person would then start to develop various symptoms associated with “burn out.” A combination of minor stresses, each incapable of triggering an alarm reaction in the general adaptation syndrome can, when combined or sustained, produce an all out alarm response and lead to “burn out.” Dr. Seyle’s research led him to come up with the 3 phases of general stress adaptation – the general adaptation syndrome.

The general adaptation syndrome (GAS) is divided into 3 phases-

1. Fight or Flight or The alarm reaction- The first phase is known as the “fight or flight response.” This response is an alarm reaction triggered by messages in the brain. The heart beats faster to provide blood to the muscles and brain. The breath rate increases to supply extra oxygen to the muscles, heart and brain. The body is now ready for any real or imagined danger.

2. The Resistance Reaction- While the alarm reaction is usually short lived, the resistance reaction can last for quite some time. The major players in this phase are the hormones cortisol and DHEA. The resistance reaction allows the body to endure ongoing stress (pain, fatigue, injury, etc.,) for long periods of time.

However, long-term stress can generate a host of health problems including, high blood pressure, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, hypoglycemia, decreased immune function, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, and adrenal exhaustion.

3. Exhaustion- The third stage is a result of chronic over-secretion of cortisol. This leads to adrenal exhaustion. Adrenal exhaustion accelerates the downward spiral to chronic poor health. Chronic headaches, nausea, allergies, nagging injuries, fatigue, dizziness, hypotension, low body temperature, depression, low sex drive, chronic infections, and cold hands and feet are just some of the symptoms that occur with adrenal exhaustion.

Hypoadrenia is low adrenal function and occurs when the adrenal glands cannot keep up with continual stress and increasing demands.
It displays itself in a variety of ways.

As severe depression, suicidal tendencies, asthma, chronic upper respiratory infections, hay fever, skin rashes, colitis, gastric duodenal ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, headaches, fatigue, fainting spells, obesity, heart palpitations, edema in the extremities, and learning difficulties – the list goes on and on.

Persistent, unrelenting stress will ultimately lead to adrenal “burn-out.” Adrenal “burn-out” and exhaustion render the person defenseless against the continuous chemical, emotional, and physical damage that occurs with chronic stress.

Cortisol and Your Health

Since its discovery some 50 years ago, the adrenal hormone cortisol has gained increasing prominence in treatment of autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, and athletic injuries. When first introduced, synthetic corticosteroids (prednisone) hormones were hailed as wonder drugs. Unfortunately, in continued high doses, these prescription drugs (corticosteroids) cause adverse side-effects which include depression, fluid retention, high blood pressure, bone loss, gastrointestinal ulcers, cataracts, and breathing disorders.

Adrenal Glandular Supplements

I’ve found adrenal cortex glandular supplements, to be the “missing link” for restoring energy to those with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. It has become my number one supplement for repairing a “burned out” or sluggish adrenal gland. It helps increase a person’s ability to handle stress (more resilient), reduce achy pain, increase energy, and reduce general fatigue.

Glandular therapy began with the discoveries made by Swiss physician Paul Niehans, M.D. in the 1920s. The use of glandular therapy was the birth of prescription hormones (thyroid, cortisol, estrogen, etc.). Dr. Niehans went on to develop live cell therapy at his clinic in Montreaux, Switzerland. His therapies became famous for rejuvenating all that came to see him; wealthy businessmen, royalty, presidents, and celebrities. It is estimated that some 5,000 German physicians continue to use cell therapy.

As recently as 1968 adrenal glandular extracts were still being made by some of the leading pharmaceutical companies. (Upjohn and Eli Lilly, among others)” These extracts are used to replenish and eventually normalize adrenal function. An advantage over prescription cortisol hormone replacement is adrenal cortical extracts can be discontinued once they have done their job of repairing adrenal function.

I recommend my patients use Essential Therapeutics Adrenal Cortex-a freeze-dried adrenal cortex glandular extract harvested from organic, grass-fed New Zealand cows. These cows are government inspected and raised without the use of pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. There’s never been one single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow’s Disease in New Zealand cattle. Organic fed cows are immune from getting the disease.

All glandulars are subject to in-process as well as finished product testing. These tests include microbial contamination tests to assure acceptable total bacteria counts and the absence of disease-causing bacteria.

If you’re struggling with low energy, fatigue, poor stress coping abilities you should consider adding an adrenal cortex supplement to your daily rout
ine.