One of the most overlooked contributors to poor health and disease in the United States and elsewhere is adrenal fatigue. Even though conventional medicine no longer acknowledges it, holistic physicians and practitioners now consider it as a legitimate illness.

The inability of the body to respond to mental, emotional, and physical strains in the same manner that a typically functioning mind and body would is what distinguishes adrenal fatigue. This paves the way for degenerative joint and muscle conditions, recurrent infections, cognitive issues, immune system imbalances, and an inability to regulate inflammation.

In 1998, Dr. James L. Wilson, a naturopath and chiropractor, came up with the term "adrenal fatigue" to describe a new condition. He thought that long-term stress could overstimulate the adrenal glands, or "adrenals," and cause an uneven amount of the stress hormone cortisol to be in the bloodstream.

In addition to having too much stress or not enough stress hormones, people with adrenal fatigue often don't have enough DHEA, the "parent hormone" that tells the body how to make many other important hormones.

Dr. Wilson explains how adrenal fatigue changes throughout the day as follows:

It's interesting to note that the traditional establishment previously referred to adrenal fatigue as hypoadrenia. This term in medicine refers to adrenal glands that are not functioning properly. Today, only Addison's disease, a condition marked by the adrenal glands' inability to produce enough of the stress hormone cortisol and frequently of the hormone aldosterone, is acknowledged by conventional medicine. This may result in the body breaking down or perhaps a serious health crisis.

Adrenal fatigue describes a milder form of reduced adrenal-gland functioning than Addison's disease. To sum up, Addison's disease represents one extreme while perfect adrenal function represents the other. There is a gray area in between, and it can be called adrenal fatigue.

Your triangular adrenal glands sit atop your kidneys, and they're divided into two parts. The hormones cortisol, pregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are produced in the adrenal cortex, the outermost layer of the adrenal gland. The stress response is reinforced by these three hormones, and aldosterone plays a role in controlling blood pressure. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are two hormones made in the medulla of the adrenal glands that aid in the body's stress response.

The main problem with recognizing or diagnosing adrenal fatigue is that its symptoms and patterns are hard to tell apart from those of other diseases. The parameters for this condition aren't very clear, which has unfortunately led to a lot of disagreement about it, even though cortisol and other hormones in the body have a wide range of effects.

This condition is hard to diagnose because stress hormone levels usually fall "inside the normal range," even though the symptoms are clear to those who have it.

People who don't think adrenal fatigue is a real health problem often say that consistent, long-term stress has no effect on the adrenals and that the only real endocrine disorders are those caused by other diseases or direct damage to the adrenal glands.

But many people who practice natural medicine know that hypoadrenia is very real and linked to a number of problems, based on their experience in health care and scientific evidence.

Also, treatment for adrenal fatigue is usually not too invasive and is good for your health no matter what the diagnosis is.

From working with tens of thousands of patients, holistic healers know that most people with chronic fatigue and chronic illnesses have adrenal fatigue to some degree. If you treat adrenal fatigue in a whole-person way, you can get better faster. In some cases, the only way to see any improvement at all is for the adrenal glands to work better.

Adrenal fatigue is a condition in which the body and adrenal glands can't handle the stress that many people face every day. Sometimes, adrenal fatigue is mistaken for an autoimmune disorder because it can look like the start of other common illnesses and diseases.

Wellness doctors and practitioners think that short-term or long-term stress (especially if it lasts for more than a year) can cause the adrenal glands to become overworked and ineffective, and then they release too much cortisol. Root causes can include

Constant stress mentally, emotionally, or physically

Exposure to toxins and pollution in the environment

Nutritional Deficiencies

Sleeping problems

Chronic illness

One study found that students who had been stressed for a long time and were getting ready for medical exams at the end of their schooling had a weaker cortisol awakening response.

Stress makes it hard to wake up fully, no matter how much sleep you get, because it stops the natural rise in cortisol that happens when you wake up in the morning to help you feel alert.

In 2005, another study found that students with chronic fatigue syndrome had "alterations in adrenal function." This was especially true for female students, which suggests that their adrenal glands were not getting the normal amount of stimulation.

Depression may also make adrenal fatigue worse or cause it to happen. Research shows that after a major depressive episode, cortisol levels don't go back to normal very easily. This could be one reason why depression comes back.

And research shows that people with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, often have hypothalamic dysfunction. Researchers are looking into why the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis often doesn't work right in people with multiple sclerosis, but it's thought to be because of abnormal cortisol release.

Adrenal fatigue treatment looks a lot like the healthy, healing diets that help fight the underlying problems that cause a number of conditions.

Natural remedies for adrenal fatigue involves: cutting down on stress on your body and mind, getting rid of toxic substances, avoid thinking negatively about circumstances, and putting healthy foods, supplements, and ways of thinking into your body.

Incorporate more frequent, smaller meals composed of healthy foods into your daily routine. Make sure you're getting enough protein at every meal, but especially breakfast. Adrenal fatigue is exacerbated by blood sugar swings. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy pH level in the body. Apples, avocados, coconut milk, and water are all examples of foods high in potassium are good examples. Use good salts like sea salt or pink salt. Keep your daily salt consumption below 2,000 mg. Include healthy fats like olive oil and coconut oil in your diet.

Here’s a list of good foods to add to your diet:

These foods help people with adrenal fatigue because they are either highly nutritious, high in healthy fats and low in sugar.

Some foods to avoid are:

Here’s a list of good foods to add to your diet:

Ashwagandha - 250 mg standardized extract daily. This adaptogenic herb helps with fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia. B alances DHEA and cortisol.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled research showed Ashwagandha extract reduced fatigue by 79%. Stress, anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration, and poor memory decreased. The placebo group had no changes. Ashwagandha supplementation lowered serum cortisol by 24.2 percent and increased DHEA by 32.2 percent, improving adrenal function.

Rhodiola - 300 mg of 3% rosavins extract daily.

Fifty-six young, healthy doctors who worked the night shift took part in a double-blind crossover study. After two weeks of taking Rhodiola rosea extract, the total fatigue index scores were much better. In the treatment group, measures of mental performance also got better. No side effects were reported.

Licorice root - Support low cortisol with 500 mg daily. Caution if you have high blood pressure.

Adrenal glandular - 1-4 capsules 3x daily or as directed on label for adrenal nourishment.

Eleutherococcus extract - 100–300 mg daily.

Maca root - is an adaptogen known to support adrenal glands. Take 500 mg two times a day.

Liposomal Vitamin C

At least 1,000 mg daily, 2-3x daily.

B-complex

50–100 mg daily.

DHEA

Buy over the counter. 15 mg to 50 mg per day.

Pantothenic acid (a B vitamin)

500 mg once or twice a day.

Magnesium

Those who have adrenal fatigue are often low on magnesium. 250 mg twice daily.

Since adrenal fatigue is often caused by long-term stress, it is very important to find ways to reduce your stress every day.

The most important thing you can do to get your adrenals to work well again is to pay attention to what your mind and stress need. Pay attention to your body and try some of these natural ways to deal with stress:

Tap in to the healing power of your own thoughts and words. The human body is made to heal. But the words we say have a big effect on our bodies and on how well they heal.

Your environment is one of the most important factors, no matter what you eat or what supplements you take. Make sure to avoid toxic and stressful relationships, workplaces, situations, places, etc. as much as possible, especially while trying to heal.

Love yourself and others. Try not to say bad things about yourself or other people. Spend time with positive people and keep a positive attitude about yourself.

Skeptics exist, but it's been scientifically proven that "thought replacement," a form of positive self-talk that involves reciting good outcomes to stressful situations out loud, can help reduce pathological worry. You can talk to yourself if there is no else to talk to!

People with adrenal fatigue can get help from acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. Chiropractic care makes it easier for nerves to reach the adrenal glands.

Homeopathy that is tailored to your specific symptoms may work well.

People with adrenal fatigue can get a lot of help from IV therapy that gives them nutrients like B vitamins, minerals, and vitamin C.

People with severe adrenal fatigue can benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement.

Consult with a qualified practitioner for these.

REFERENCES

Balch, James F.; Stengler, Mark. Prescription for Natural Cures (Third Edition)

What Is Adrenal Fatigue? Steps to Overcome It Naturally. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN. Reviewed by Marcelle Pick, MSN, OB-GYN NP, Pediatric NP

Biswajit, A., et al. 2008. A standardized withina sominifera extract signifincantly reduces stress-related parameters in chronically stressed humans: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association 11(1):50–56.

Chandrasekhar, K., et al. 2012. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 34(3):255–62.

Darbinyan, V., et al. 2000. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue: a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine 7(5):365–71.