Adrenal Fatigue Updated Part I

Adrenal Fatigue Updated

PART I

Searching for answers

For years I have been searching for answers to my health concerns and those of many others who have crossed my path. My journey involved years of not feeling well, an illness that surfaced, over three years to realize the emotional core of all illness including mine, and over a decade of trial and error regimens that eventually led me to uncover some amazing facts. I always felt there had to be one core issue that contributed to, if not caused, the decline of health and the surfacing of disease. Many doctors and health practitioners had ideas and protocol, much of which I followed, but it never produced vibrant health for me. I felt I was a yoyo – up and down – going nowhere. So I continued my search.

Providentially, I came upon information that resonated with my thoughts – that a single core imbalance was a significant factor in many illnesses. My continued research uncovered the significance of the endocrine system and how the glands within this system basically run the body. Many doctors addressed the sex hormones, blaming those hormones, which are often involved, as the culprit for my significant imbalances and symptoms. Others said, “Well, you’re getting older so you have to expect some of these things.” Others said it was simply stress. I didn’t buy their answers so looked further.

Through my studies I had realized the thyroid imbalance prevalent in many individuals as well as myself, so began working with this gland. Although taking a natural thyroid prescription did help somewhat with symptoms – cold hands and feet, fatigue, constipation, insomnia – it never really allowed me to feel great. So there had to be more, and as I devoured every article and book I could on hormones, I uncovered the significant role of the adrenal glands in the body. Then it hit me – this must be the missing piece of the puzzle for which I was seeking. And like a tire that goes flat on a car inhibits the entire vehicle from performing well, so would an imbalance with one gland affect the performance of the other glands within the endocrine system, and thus affect the entire body’s performance.

I previously wrote an article entitled “Adrenal Fatigue: How it Affects Your Life - How to Heal It.” But since I have a deep desire to uncover other aspects of this primary gland and its hormonal impact, I keep discovering new information that can be beneficial for those suffering with adrenal fatigue. However, please read that article first as it lays the foundation for this article and the information I am sharing.

What are the hormones?

When I reference hormones that must be balanced, I am referring to these: T3 and T4 in the thyroid gland, Cortisol and DHEA in the adrenal glands, Progesterone, Estrogen and Testosterone in the sex glands, Melatonin that aids sleep, HGH in the pituitary gland, and Pregnenalone the King of all hormones, all of which are aided by other smaller but relevant steroid hormones. DHEA is the most abundant hormone in your body and is beneficial for your immune system, anti-aging and keeping muscles strong and flexible. Like all other hormones, they begin declining around age 40, sometimes even sooner. If your body is stressed, then they decline at a faster pace.

Although the decline of hormones is a natural process, our present day diet and lifestyle wreck havoc on our health and contribute immensely to the greater decline we see today. Changing your diet, exercising, and reframing beliefs and mental attitudes can go a long way into helping to create vibrant health. But why not restore some of the necessary hormones so life can be more enjoyable and fulfilling? Here again, it is important to do some research and use only products that nourish the body and give it high level energy so it can create vibrant health, not just supply it with a ‘fix” to alleviate symptoms. Go for the cure of the core!

The hormonal chain

EFA’s, commonly known as essential fatty acids, are necessary for the conversion of all steroid hormones. They create the good cholesterol required to begin this process. Without sufficient EFA’s your body cannot convert the hormones into functional use. EFA’s are found in foods like wild caught cold water fish, raw organic nuts and seeds – almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds – organic coconut oil and organic olive oil.

The cholesterol first converts into pregnenolone which is considered to be the King in the hormone chain because it has the ability to essentially convert into all other steroid hormones. It converts into progesterone on one hand and DHEA on the other. The progesterone converts into cortisol and aldosterone while the DHEA converts into androstenedione, which in turn converts into the estrogens ( estrone, estradiol, and estriol) and testosterone. The following chart should help you understand the conversion process.

















Sometimes it is advantageous to utilize pregnenolone in a supplemental program, but using a blend can be even better. PR Labs has a cream with a small percentage of pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA that can enhance your hormone balance. Use on your face and it helps to tighten the skin and improve the skin’s texture, therefore giving a more youthful, renewed appearance while assisting hormonal balance – multiple benefits.

Sex hormones

Since it is necessary to address all hormones – thyroid, adrenals and sex hormones – when you seek harmony and healing, we need to talk about the sex hormones. Often this is the place doctors start with treatments, and they frequently prescribe synthetic hormones in an effort to restore balance. Synthetic hormones are NOT like your body in any way, and although they may sometimes seem to reduce or eliminate symptoms, they pose a high risk of creating serious side effects that are capable of even ending your life. Some medical practitioners offer bio-identical hormones as a solution to the unbalance. These may be a better choice and certainly are promoted as closer to what your body produces, but are not always a solution.

What I have discovered over and over again, is the importance of using natural progesterone cream since it not only supports the adrenals and thyroid, but also helps reduce the estrogen overload we are experiencing today. This overload is causing men to have breast growth as well as breast cancer, girls to begin menstruation way too early, many disorders to appear such as endometriosis, along with cancer of the breast, uterus, prostate, and much more. The imbalance of this estrogen overload is contributing to a greater imbalance of progesterone and testosterone in both women and men.

I believe that most women and probably most men, especially over 50, need to use a natural progesterone cream to help restore the balance between estrogen and progesterone. In addition, most men probably need a boost for their testosterone, and often women do too. The best way to do this I feel is to use a synergistic blend of plants that help your body produce the proper harmonious hormone balance. The most common complaints associated with a sex hormone imbalance at mid-life is weight gain, reduced libido (sex drive), energy reduction, thinning hair, and muscle weakness or pain. Sound familiar? You’re right – these same symptoms are found with adrenal fatigue and thyroid imbalance. So can you see how the hormones are so intrically woven together and why addressing all of them is essential when you are seeking harmony and vibrant health?

Pituitary gland

This gland, found in your brain, is considered to be the master gland – the director if you will. It sends the messages to the other glands to perform their jobs. In this gland we find HGH, commonly known as human growth hormone. This supports cell growth and enables a child to grow taller and stronger each year. Lack of enough HGH contributes to those who experience stunted growth.

The pituitary gland also produces testosterone and estrogen. Like all other hormones, HGH declines as we age. This hormone peaks somewhere between 22-30, so by the time you reach 45 or 50 you’ve lost approximately two thirds of this hormone. There are many approaches to assisting this hormones production, but beware. Although you may see positive results for anti-aging, there are risks and possible dangerous side effects as well. Again, I always promote using precursors to help your body produce what it needs rather than giving it a supplement that may inhibit your own hormones from producing what they need. There are some natural supplements that enhance your body’s production of HGH.

Traditional medicine versus holistic approaches

First understand this: Most medical professionals do not recognize the adrenals as part of the problem, yet it is the most common hormonal imbalance. Astonishing, isn’t it? I believe that anyone who has an illness has an adrenal problem, and that without giving nutrient support to the adrenals, it is harder to heal the illness, if not impossible. In addition, although doctors perform traditional thyroid blood tests, these often do not show a thyroid imbalance unless it is severe. It requires a holistic health practitioner or doctor to perform an expanded thyroid panel to show other aspects of how the thyroid hormones function, which are not shown in a traditional test. This happened to me. My thyroid produced plenty of its hormones, so with the traditional test it appeared I was fine. I did this test several times with the same results over a period of five years. However, with continued symptoms that indicated thyroid dysfunction, I sought a holistic doctor and had the expanded test performed. I hadn’t known of this expanded test until my research revealed it. The test report indicated that I did indeed produce adequate thyroid hormones, but I was not converting it into useable hormones within my body – an aha moment! So I began natural thyroid treatment.

However, that didn’t turn out to be the complete answer, and after more research I altered my course to address the adrenals. An ASI test proved my intuition was correct – my adrenals were indeed fatigued. My cortisol was high in the late afternoon and evening when it should be lower, and was low in the morning when it should be the highest. My body was in a reverse action mode. So I turned my attention to the adrenals and began a diligent program of supplements and stress reduction to alleviate the issue with my adrenals. But it still wasn’t enough. Then I got it! It is often necessary to work on all of the endocrine system at once, giving nutrients for the adrenals, thyroid and sex hormones altogether. Many times the adrenal depletion affects the thyroid and we refer to that as sub-clinical hypothyroidism, or under the main cause. Better results can often be achieved when addressing all the hormones at once.

The more I have studied this rather puzzling dilemma, the more I see how intricate the body is - how everything is connected and intertwined. So in addition to addressing the entire endocrine system, it is imperative to work on emotional issues, mental beliefs, and spiritual connections as well. We are so much more than our physical body, so balancing these other areas plays a significant role in healing. A person can take dozens of supplements for the adrenals and thyroid, but if their belief system includes mountains of daily stress, and that stress feeds into their heart so that they feel the stress, then a vicious cycle is created and healing the adrenals or achieving hormonal balance will be impossible.

Role of adrenals

Do you know the key role of the adrenals? It is threefold. Its first role is to maintain the fluid balance within the body. It is imperative to have enough moisture in the intestines for elimination as well as joint and connective tissue flexibility. Symptoms that often accompany adrenal fatigue are constipation, dry skin and hair, and both muscle pain and weakness. The second role the adrenals play is in helping to settle inflammation in the body when it is needed. Thus individuals with joint problems – arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular dystrophy – most likely need to heal the adrenals in order to heal their other health concern. The third role of the adrenals is to provide sufficient energy to get through each day. This is why fatigue, lethargy, impaired concentration, and sleep issues are part of the adrenal fatigue picture.

Something I have discovered in recent months is the importance of detoxing the kidneys when healing the adrenals. Remember that the adrenals are located right above the kidneys, so it makes sense to cleanse the kidneys of stagnant debris that has accumulated there. Of course the intestines and liver will probably need cleansing at some point since they, along with the kidneys, are the filter organs in our body. But when the adrenals are drained and not functioning optimally, to detox heavily can plummet the adrenals into deeper fatigue. What I have learned is that the best course of action in the beginning, especially if you are a sensitive person as I am, is to sit in a FAR infrared sauna or begin juicing veggie juices in a juicer. Both of these programs allow for gentle detox so that the adrenals are not further impaired.

Symptom review

Let’s quickly review the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. They are often:

♦ Fatigue
♦ Insomnia
♦ Weight gain, especially around the waist and abdomen
♦ Constipation
♦ Mild depression
♦ Morning sluggishness
♦ Dry skin and hair
♦ Anxiety and nervousness
♦ Arthritis
♦ Low body temperature
♦ Reduced sex drive
♦ Numerous other symptoms

Funny thing is that most of these symptoms mimic the symptoms of low thyroid function, known as hypothyroidism, making it a little tricky to find the underlying cause for many professionals. But again, I reiterate how all hormones inter-relate and often must be addressed simultaneously.

Go now to Part II.