Adrenal Fatigue Treatments [Anti Aging Serives]

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of your kidneys. They are responsible for the production of adrenaline, epinephrine, and corisol in response to stressors in your environment. When confronted with a stressor, you release these hormones allowing you to see better, run faster, and clamp off your arteries in case of physical harm. In western society, we are faced with stressors on a consistent basis. Some examples of stressors include death of a loved one, divorce, personal injury or loss, financial, work, poor health, sexual difficulties, perceived threats from local or global politics, conflict or tension with family friends or co-workers, driving in traffic and changes in residences. Cumulative stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, which occurs in three stages.
To diagnose and assess a patient’s level of adrenal fatigue, we utilize a saliva test that measures the level of cortisol and DHEA.

Stage 1- Alarm Reaction

Acute adrenal stress is defined as a prolonged increased excitatory stimulus to the adrenals having resulted in an increased cortisol output, usually with a prolonged decrease in DHEA. As a compensatory mechanism there is a stealing of pregnenolone from the DHEA/sex hormone pathway to the progesterone/cortisol pathway. In this steal, there is a compensatory mild decrease in DHEA, which leads to a mild decrease in the production of sex hormones. Despite elevated cortisol, pregnenolone steal reliably indicates that chronic stress has begun to exceed the body’s ability to respond. It is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, ruminating thoughts, hyperexcitability, anxiety, and immune suppression. After assessing lifestyle and reviewing a patient’s medical history and saliva test, supportive nutrients and supplements designed to decrease the cortisol response may be prescribed. Nouveau patients feel less stress and begin to relax.

Stage 2-Stage of Resistance

Mild adrenal fatigue is a transitional phase. It signifies a continuing decline in cortisol output from levels above normal to those below normal due to a decreased ability of the adrenal glands to respond to continual stress. Pregnenolone steal is usually increased with lower DHEA and sex hormone production. At this stage, patients will begin to complain that they are developing night sweats or hot flashes, that they are worn out or tired, and continue to have sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunction. We prescribe adaptogenic herbs along with licorice root may be helpful.

Stage 3-Stage of Exhaustion

Severe adrenal fatigue is the final stage of adrenal fatigue. This stage indicates that the demands on the patient’s body are more than the patients system can handle. It is characterized by severely depleted cortisol, pregnenolone, and sex hormones and may be accompanied by electrolyte disturbances and severe exhaustion. Patients complain of severe exhaustion, foggy thinking, lack of motivation, and overall listlessness. Treatments available at Nouveau include assessing stressful situation and prescribing herbs, adrenal concentrates and assuring the patient has a proper hydration level.