Addressing adrenal fatigue
C ould your exhaustion be adrenal fatigue? Enhancing your endocrine system may be the key to having more energy. Ann is a 42-year-old flight attendant, and she is typical of patients I consult - depleted from decades of working long hours, raising kids solo and experiencing devastating relationships. Ann complained of constant colds, fatigue even after long sleeps, hair loss, headaches, frequent urination, low libido, irritability, irregular periods, memory loss, apathy, anxiety, poor circulation and weight loss. Her blood pressure was also very low, she experienced dizziness with palpitations, and she ate erratically, craving caffeine and sugar. All of Ann’s symptoms suggested adrenal fatigue, a term coined in 1998 by James Wilson, a naturopath and chiropractor. Although allopathic medicine does not consider adrenal fatigue to be a disease, many health practitioners do recognise it as subclinical hypoadrenia, which is distinct from other serious conditions affecting adrenal hormones, such as Addison’s Disease.
Her results came back as ‘normal’, which was not surprising because adrenal fatigue is often undetected. However, a 24-hour, four-sample saliva test (www. i-screen.com.au/tests/adrenal-fatigue-test) revealed Ann’s cortisol levels were on the low range of normal when they should have been high in the morning, and in the high range of normal when they should have been low in the evening. By understanding the underlying causes and undertaking the appropriate treatment, When the body reacts to stress, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands trigger the adrenal glands to release the hormones cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. In the short term, these hormones create the ‘fight or flight’ response that enables us to act swiftly and efficiently in response to stress or danger by triggering hundreds of metabolic, physical and mental actions, such as increasing heart rate. However, over-secretion of these hormones in response to sustained stress may result in adrenal fatigue. Dr Michael Lam lists 75 signs of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (www.drlamcoaching.com.) Ann improved significantly. What can go wrong Adrenal fatigue can be worsened by psychological and physical factors,
A definitive diagnosis Given that Ann’s symptoms could have many causes, including anaemia, diabetes, depression or perimenopause, a definitive diagnosis was required. I referred Ann to have her oestrogen, cortisol/DHEA
A customised Bush Flower or Bach Flower blend can ease adrenal fatigue.
ratio, iron, ferritin, FSH, methylation and thyroid-stimulating hormones all checked, along with ACTH stimulation and blood work. The doctor Ann consulted conducted a CT scan to check her adrenals.
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ISSUE 60 • 2021
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