Guest Author - Jim Lowrance

What treatments help patients with adrenal fatigue? The more basic treatments, are those the patient can do with some self-effort involving their own lifestyle. Getting more rest and sleep can be tremendously helpful, Cutting back and even eliminating stimulants from the diet, such as too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, can also help greatly. Reducing stress, through relaxation and pursuit of enjoyable activities that allow for stress reduction, can help as well. Exercising to your tolerance level, can also help build up the adrenals and the body in general but exercise must not be overdone but increased gradually at a safe and helpful pace.

Supplements that can also be very helpful, in building up adrenal function, include good multivitamins, the “B” vitamins (especially B-12), vitamin C, magnesium and zinc. You can also take short-term over-the-counter supplements to add to your vitamins, such as DHEA, which is another adrenal hormone, that will convert into other needed hormones including the sex ones. Adrenal glandular, which is animal based adrenal extract, containing adrenal gland tissue and licorice root extract, can help the body produce higher levels of cortical (cortisol). I would strongly caution however, that you take such supplements as recommended by the manufacturers of them, following all of their warnings and directions. Also let your doctor know what supplements you decide to take, to make sure he doesn't feel they will interact adversely with any treatments you are already taking.

I the author, have experienced adrenal fatigue and it became more severe when I also experienced the onset of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s), that caused me hypothyroidism. My adrenal fatigue over time and together with the thyroid disease, caused me to also experience Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Even with thyroid medication treatment, I have had to work on my adrenals. Repeated tests I had done to check my adrenal hormone levels, revealed very low cortical levels, for over a year period, in fact some of these readings were clinically low. I did however, pass an ACTH Stimulation test, ruling out adrenal insufficiency. Even Medical Doctors looking at these test results, admitted that my cortical was very low but usually told me there was no treatment available for this.

I began using the treatments I have listed above and began to see significant improvement, which I maintain to this day. I now only take a good multi-vitamin, having weaned off the other adrenal supplements, plus I do take medication for thyroid. I still have to be cautious because overwork, too much stress and inadequate rest/sleep, can result in set backs for me but I seldom experience them as severely and not nearly as often, as I did before understanding the cause and implementing the treatments. I also believe my needing to take more care in this area, is due to the thyroid disease, which I also take treatment for; Armour Thyroid natural hormone replacement medication (Dr.-prescription).

If you feel you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue, talk to your Doctor about it. You might even consider seeing a Holistic MD or an Osteopath Doctor, because these types of physicians, more often recognize this stress-related syndrome.