The Endocrine System / The Adrenal Glands	Navigate This Article What are the Adrenal Glands? The Adrenal Medulla Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Dysfunction Conditions That Suggest Low Adrenal Function Risk Factors for Low Adrenal Function Adrenal Insufficiency Suggests This Low Metabolic Energy
submitted by Dr. Gary Farr - Contact the author here. Last Updated December, 7, 2011	Save Money! Check out our special offers here.

Due to our modern society with the many physical and emotional stresses, probably half the population possess varying degrees of adrenal malfunction.

Adrenal Insufficiency suggests the following may be present:
Hormones	Hypopituitarism / Empty Sella Syndrome
Immunity	AIDS / Risk     Adrenal insufficiency is considerably less common than hypogonadism in people with HIV, but its incidence increases in advanced cases.
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Adrenal Insufficiency can lead to:
Autoimmune	Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis)     Lupus is one of the auto-immune diseases, caused by a hyperactive ("hypervigilant") immune system that attacks a person's own protein as if it were foreign matter. One reason for this is poor adrenal function. Adrenal steroids modulate (slow down) the immune system: when there is not enough of these steroids the immune system goes berserk.
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Recommendations for Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency:
Animal-based	Urine Therapy Glandular / Live Cell Therapy
Botanical	Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)     If cortisol levels are low, one of the ways to sustain more normal levels is to slow or inhibit its breakdown. This can be accomplished naturally. The only known readily available inhibitors of the enzyme that deactivates cortisol (11 beta-HSD) are glycyrrhizic acid (found in licorice root extract), progesterone, and flavonoids (in grapefruit). The concept of extending cortisol bioactivity via 11 beta-HSD inhibition is well established, but the manner in which progesterone alters 11 beta-HSD is not currently clear. You could eat 10 to 15 grapefruits or take licorice root extract to sustain cortisol levels. However, licorice root used regularly in large doses can produce high blood pressure, water retention, potassium wasting, and breast enlargement in men. A Naturopathic Doctor should be able to guide you in using licorice root alone or in combination with other adrenal agents. Ginseng, Korean - Chinese (Panax ginseng)   Both Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) are known to exert beneficial effects on adrenal function and enhance resistance to stress. Ginseng may prove especially effective for the restoration of normal adrenal function and prevention of adrenal atrophy associated with corticosteroid administration. In rats, ginseng has been found to inhibit cortisone-induced adrenal and thymic atrophy. Ginseng could be combined with other botanicals with adrenal enhancing activity in the treatment of adrenal atrophy.
Diet	Caffeine/Coffee Avoidance     Caffeine raises adrenaline levels and heavy coffee consumption can lead to a state of adrenal gland exhaustion, where the adrenal glands are no longer able to adequately respond to stress by releasing enough adrenaline.
Hormone	Hydrocortisone
Lab Tests/Rule-Outs	Test Adrenal Function     Adrenal function can be evaluated in several ways by blood, saliva, and/or urine testing. Your doctor should know the best test to use depending on the suspected severity of the condition.
Mineral	Increased Salt Consumption     Sea salt should be included in the diet, unless contraindicated for other reasons, as it benefits adrenal gland function. When seasoning foods, use as much salt as tastes good to you. Magnesium Lactate Zinc Liver Chelate
Nutrient	TMG (Tri-methyl-glycine)     The adrenal gland uses nutrients such as TMG (betaine), tyrosine, vitamins B5, B6 and C to maintain function and produce its hormones. Phosphatidylserine   When midnight cortisol levels are elevated, supplementation of an additional nutrient is indicated. High midnight cortisol levels denote stress maladaptation - the loss of the negative feedback inhibition whereby the brain and pituitary gland down-regulate inappropriately elevated cortisol. Supplements of phosphatidylserine have been found to result in reduction of midnight cortisol levels. Incorporation of phosphatidylserine into the membranes of brain cells apparently restores sensitivity to cortisol receptors.
Supplements	Allerplex®     Allerplex is a special combination formula containing a wide variety of nutrients derived from its principle ingredients Of Tillandsia Powder, Allerplex is one of many products Dr. Lee developed to assist the body in defending itself naturally during seasonal allergies such as pollen, grasses and trees.* B6-Naicinamide   B6 - Niacinamide supports protein & fat metabolism and is an adrenal hormone precursor. It contains coenzymes essential to cell respiration, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism, and lipid synthesis throughout the body. B6-Niacinamide helps the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, circulatory, and central nervous systems at the cellular level. Cataplex® B   Cataplex B Contains Important B Complex Vitamins - B1, B3, and B6 The members of the B complex family of vitamins work collectively to metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. They are each singularly responsible for many important physiological processes concerned with both physical and mental health and well-being. Cataplex® C   Standard Process's Cataplex C is made by removing the water and fiber from raw, whole foods -- alfalfa, mushrooms, bone marrow and buckwheat leaf. This leaves a powder containing the nutrients from these foods. This powder is then put into tablets. Each tablet contains all the C complex factors -- the P factors, vitamin K, vitamin J, enzymes, and many more unknown factors. It is the presence of all these synergistic factors which gives our product its functional potency.* Drenamin®   Drenamin was formulated to help maintain the healthy functioning of the adrenal glands by supplying bovine adrenal tissue proteins and bovine adrenal PMG™ extract. These organ tissue proteins provide nutritional "stimulative" support to the corresponding organs in humans, while supplying nutrients such as vitamin and mineral complexes. In addition, the adrenal tissue proteins contain a diverse number of valuable trace elements, and a variety of amino acids.* Nutrimere®   This is a very high quality product, made from fresh, raw sea conch, caught around the Bahamas. The meat from the conch is vacuum dried, powdered and put in capsules. This is a whole protein product, as opposed to an extract, so people who need it need more than three a day -- probably six to twelve a day. Organically Bound Minerals (formerly known as Organic Minerals™)   This is an extract of the water-soluble factors from alfalfa and kelp. The water-soluble factors contain all of the alkaline ash minerals, the predominant ones being potassium and magnesium. In our product line Organic Minerals is the best source of potassium. You can get chemical potassium from salts, but this is a much better source of potassium. Prostate PMG ®   Here is a product for helping people with their protein metabolism. Protefood contains the essential amino acids. There are some 22 amino acids in all, and eight of these are called "essential," although some authorities feel there are ten essential amino acids. At any rate, if you're getting the essential amino acids in your food, your body can make the others. Also, what amino acids you are getting in your food can only be utilized if the essential amino acids are all present. St John's Wort-IMT™   St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) enjoys a rich and ancient history as a natural tonic to support mood and mental wellbeing. The ancient Greeks, Hippocrates and Discorides, documented its many health giving uses. While St. John's wort and other herbs kept a low profile in the late 19th century, the herb and its supportive effect on emotional balance resurfaced when it was recognized and used in Europe for its mood enhancing properties. Since that time, St. John's wort has been studied in numerous trials in Europe and some here in the United States. It is presently being studied in trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). St. John's wort contains many beneficial substances, including hypericin, pseudohypericin, essential oils, glycosides, resins, rutin, flavonoids, and tannins. St. John's wort can cause skin sensitivity to sun for some people, but appears to be quite safe when taken as directed. The inositol and kelp contained in Standard Process' St. John’s Wort-IMT complement the herb's natural strength and ability to induce a calming effect and promote harmony among the different parts of the nervous system.* Whole Dessicated Adrenal   The adrenal glands are fundamental components of the endocrine system and are involved in innumerable physiological functions throughout the body. Desiccated adrenal contains nutritional components of the bovine adrenal gland for short-term application. This product will allow the adrenals to rest prior to using adrenal PMG™ for repair. It has been effective in long-standing cases of hypoadrenia; however, we suggest that it be used for only a short period of time (30 days) and not to exceed 3 per day given with food.
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An excellent test for determining adrenal function is the Adrenocortex Stress Profile. Read more about the test by clicking the box: