Adrenal glands are small glands located on the upper pole of each kidney.   There are two main areas of the adrenals.  The cortex produces sex hormones, stress hormones and other hormones respon-sible for water &sugar balance.  The medulla produces the stress hormones adrenaline and nor adrenaline.  Diseases of the adrenal gland are Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome. Addison’s disease occurs when the body attacks the adrenal gland and may be concurrent with other autoimmune disorders.

Cushing’s syndrome is an over production of a stress hormone called cortisol.  People with Cushing’s syndrome have truncal obesity and a moon face.  Both require treatment by an endocrinologist.  Conventional treatment with high dose or long-term use of corticosteroids, commonly prescribed for asthma and arthritis, can lead to a shrinking of the adrenal glands.

Although frank adrenal failure is uncommon, our high stress lifestyles, poor diet and abuse of drugs or alcohol often lead to adrenal depletion.  Signs of low adrenal function can be similar to signs of being “stressed out” such as lethargy, dizziness, headaches, memory problems, food cravings and blood sugar imbalances.  As the dysfunction gets more serious fainting, diarrhea, depression, moodiness, feeling cold, discolouration of the skin, swelling and loss of body hair can occur.

The most important way to avoid adrenal burnout is to deal with stress in a healthy way.  Regular exercise both stimulates the adrenal glands and relieves stress.

Nutritional supplements can also help with adrenal exhaustion -  vitamins C and B-5 (pantothenic acid) are needed by the adrenal glands to produce optimum levels of epinehphrine, an energy boosting, stress busting hormone. The herb licorice contains adrenal like hormones which can give someone with low adrenal function a big increase in energy.  Adrenal gland extract (New Zealand source) contains proteins that can help optimize your adrenal functioning in the same way that thyroid extracts can help that gland.

Decreasing the use of substances that harm the adrenal gland such as alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, corticosteroids, fried foods, pork products, red meat, processed foods, sugar and white flour will also reduce adrenal strain.  Increasing foods containing high amounts of vitamins and minerals, like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, garlic, onions and olive oil will support the adrenal gland.  The essential fatty acids found in wild-caught ocean going fish also support the adrenal gland.

The following list of supplements can be used to support and replenish the adrenal gland.  Adult doses are given.  (CLICK SUPPLEMENT NAME FOR PRODUCTS).