Adrenal fatigue is often diagnosed in the natural health community based on a specific pattern of symptoms, but often ignored by many doctors and the mainstream medical community. Like thyroid disease, the symptoms are very real to those who have it, but difficult for others to see, so many of those suffering from adrenal fatigue are told that they are just depressed, tired, or making it up.
The adrenal glands are walnut-sized organs that sit on top of the kidneys. Though small, the adrenals are responsible for many important functions in the body. They are vital to cortisol regulation, metabolism, keeping inflammation at bay, and energy levels.
The adrenals secrete stress hormones in fight-or-flight situations when the body needs these increased hormones to survive, but our modern lifestyle can cause the adrenals to over-secrete these hormones and eventually become “fatigued” or “exhausted” from this constant over-firing.
In short, adrenal fatigue is a state where the adrenal glands do not make the correct amount or type of adrenal hormones at the correct time of day. Some sources estimate that over 80% of adults struggle with adrenal fatigue in some form.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
My doctor explains that there are several stages of adrenal fatigue:
- Stage 1- Wired and Tired: Cortisol levels should be naturally elevated in the morning. The first stage of adrenal fatigue is often characterized by elevated cortisol at night (when it should be low), leading to a “wired” feeling at night and difficulty sleeping. People in this stage may also regularly feel “on edge”.
- Stage 2- Stressed and Tired: The second stage shows more severe cortisol disruption. People in this stage may have higher cortisol in the morning but it tends to fall quickly after lunch, leading to afternoon fog and tiredness. They may get a second wind at night, but most often wake in the middle of the night and are unable to fall back asleep.
- Stage 3- Full Burnout: This stage resembles how a person feels in early pregnancy or with a new baby at home- exhausted all the time no matter how much he/she has slept and completely burned out. Cortisol patterns in stage 3 are completely disrupted or even completely flat and this is especially risky because this stage is associated with higher risk of thyroid disease and autoimmune disease, as well as gut problems.
Adrenal fatigue vs. Addison’s Disease
Though adrenal fatigue is not officially recognized by the mainstream medical community, there is a severe condition called Addison’s disease that is a conventional diagnosis.
Adrenal insufficiency can be primary or secondary. Addison’s disease, the common term for primary adrenal insufficiency, occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and cannot produce enough of the adrenal hormone cortisol. The adrenal hormone aldosterone may also be lacking. Addison’s disease affects 110 to 144 of every 1 million people in developed countries.1
Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland—a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain—fails to produce enough adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the hormone cortisol. If ACTH output is too low, cortisol production drops. Eventually, the adrenal glands can shrink due to lack of ACTH stimulation. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is much more common than Addison’s disease. (source)
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is often diagnosed based on symptoms. It can also be diagnosed using a salivary cortisol test that measures cortisol at different times of the day to see if the correct cortisol pattern is happening.
Symptoms commonly associated with the various stages of adrenal fatigue are:
- The need for stimulants like caffeine to get going in the morning
- Tiredness when you wake up, no matter how much sleep you got
- Difficulty falling asleep or waking up
- Reduced ability to handle stress or feeling stressed more often
- Decreased sex drive
- Blood sugar or digestive problems
- Reduced memory or ability to concentrate
- Dizziness when standing up too quickly
- Thyroid problems or low thyroid hormone production
- Food cravings- especially salt and sugar
- Decreased immune function- getting sick more often
- High stress levels or always feeling like there is too much to do (this is also associated with an incurable condition called motherhood 🙂
- Body aches
- Depression
- Irritability
What Leads to Adrenal Fatigue?
In short… a modern lifestyle.
Long answer- there are a lot of things that can lead to adrenal fatigue and our modern lifestyle just happens to include many of them. Emotional stress and trauma can lead to adrenal fatigue, especially if this stress continues over long periods of time.
Other less well-known factors include:
- Artificial light exposure at night (why I use orange glasses at night)
- Overuse of caffeine and stimulants
- Poor sleep patterns
- A nutrient depleted diet that contains a lot of processed food
- Environmental pollution exposure (in air, water, home environment, etc)
- Extended low-level stress from work or family problems
It’s Not a Quick Fix
Unfortunately, adrenal fatigue is not a condition you can take a pill and reverse over night. In fact, because it is typically caused by years of adrenal-depleting factors, it often takes at least six months (and often years) to reverse, and it must be done by nurturing the body rather than fighting it.
The good news is that even if you aren’t sure that you have adrenal fatigue, the things that help the body recover are generally just good common sense and great for your body anyway, so they are worth a try. Even if you don’t have a medical professional who understands adrenal health near you, you can try the diet and lifestyle factors and see if you notice any improvement.
Since estimates are that 80+% of American adults struggle with adrenal fatigue in some form, it wouldn’t hurt to try:
Adrenal Support Diet
A diet rich in processed grains, sugars and vegetable oils can stress the adrenals, but a careful nutrient-rich diet can go a long way toward supporting adrenal health.
In particular, these foods are considered especially supportive to the adrenals:
- Healthy fats like coconut oil, ghee, grass fed butter, olives, fatty fish and grass fed meats
- Natural Salt (and lots of it)- those with adrenal fatigue need the extra salt to help the adrenals recover and natural salts also contain beneficial trace minerals. Since adrenal fatigue reduces the hormone aldosterone, which is responsible for salt regulation in the body, many people feel better when consuming adequate levels of real salt.
- Protein in the morning– Dr. Kalish recommends 40 grams of protein in the morning to support the adrenals throughout the day
- Green and Brightly Colored Veggies– Eating lots of green and brightly colored vegetables will provide an array of necessary nutrients and help nourish the adrenals (and the rest of the body)
- Eating Regular Meals– Those with adrenal fatigue should eat small meals throughout the day and not fast, as this can further stress the adrenals
- Vitamin C Rich Foods– Vitamin C is vital for adrenal health and many of us do not get enough.
Lifestyle for Adrenal Health
In cases of adrenal problems, lifestyle can be just as important as diet. In fact, it can sometimes be more important!
These steps are typically recommended:
- Getting enough sleep each night and being in bed by 10pm each night– Staying up past 10:30 PM will typically cause the adrenals to give you a “second wind” and make it more difficult to sleep. Those struggling with adrenal fatigue need at least 8-10 hours of sleep per night and should also nap when tired if possible.
- Address Stress and find a way to reduce the factors that are leading to emotional or mental stress.
- Counseling– If stress is caused by emotional trauma in the past, counseling can be helpful.
- Hydrate Carefully– Those with adrenal struggles may have depleted minerals and may be mildly dehydrated. To help replenish the body, it can be helpful to add a pinch of salt to water before drinking it.
- Don’t Exercise– Sounds counter-intuitive, but those with adrenal struggles can actually do more harm than good by exercising. Of course, mild things like walking or leisure swimming are fine, but most experts recommend avoiding high intensity exercise during the first month or two of recovery. If you’ve ever had trouble losing weight, even when exercising regularly, this might be a problem for you, so you should consider resting for a month or two to see if it helps.
Adrenal Supplements
I took certain supplements under the care of a doctor when I was struggling with adrenal fatigue. Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional before taking any supplements, especially if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Vitamin C– I already mentioned the importance of Vitamin C, and I needed supplemental Vitamin C to get enough to help my adrenals. I was taking up to 5,000 mg of natural vitamin c each day during my recovery.
B- Vitamins – B-vitamins are also important for adrenal health, especially B5 and B6 as well as B12 and folate.
Vitamin D– Also important for adrenal health. This post has some good information about Vitamin D.
Zinc– The adrenals depend on adequate levels of zinc in the body and many of us are deficient. I focused on eating zinc containing foods like oysters and also took a natural zinc supplement.
Ashwagandha– An adaptogenic herb that is known to help balance the adrenals. I took this during my recovery, but it isn’t recommended during pregnancy or nursing, so check with a doctor first.
Magnesium– Experts estimate that 95% or more of us are magnesium deficient due to depleted soil levels and increased stress. The body uses extra magnesium during times of stress and especially needs added magnesium during times of adrenal fatigue. Since adrenal problems often go hand-in-hand with digestive troubles, I found that topical magnesium spray was much more effective for me than internal magnesium supplements.
Probiotics– Because of the gut and digestive connection, I also benefitted from taking Probiotics (and still take this daily)
If you think you might be suffering from a fatigued adrenal system, give these suggestions a try.
Do you suffer from adrenal fatigue? Have any additional suggestions or recommendations that have helped you?
Shaved Carrot Salad Recipe
Rhodiola, Holy Basil, both good herbs for regulating cortisol. Gaia’s stress response blend is good, or a supplement called Cortisol calm. I take one in the morning and one before bed, after my (wonderful) Dr. confirmed that she believed I had adrenal fatigue. After also taking all the supplements you mentioned, I am beginning to feel a little better. She also has had me cut out caffeine completely and sugars as much as possible, as adrenal fatigue has caused my blood sugar to be out of whack and hypoglycemic. Thanks!
Hi, Holy Basil may help Lyme and Lyme/coinfections may burn out adrenals. Rhodiola raises oxygen..may help stress which uses up B vitamins and zinc and makes cortisol which blocks thyriod. Yes..low/no sugar may help since blood sugar going up and down may stress out adrenals. I drink tea at the Chinese restaurant..so far ok, but too much caffeine close to bed time may hurt sleep which may raise cortisol. LDN helps my adrenals and Celiac diet..no gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…vitamins/good oils, detoxing. A daily walk in the sunlight may help stress. Orthomolecular- Adren-all may help adrenals and Vit C and sea salt. Thanks for your ideas/help! Happiness…
Well I have to say thankyou I’ve read it all I have well suffering from anemia the doc gave me iron tabs waste of time I have problems sleeping don’t go till early hours an then I can’t get up in morning I’m taking magnesium an I have that before bed does anyone know or suffer like me its ruinning my life I’d be grateful for any advice thankyou to all
Hi, Iron bisglycinate “soft iron” may not cause constipation. Vit C with iron may help it absorb. Iron from meat may absorb better. Meat also has B vitamins and zinc. Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot or under the tongue kind or spray or cream may help sleep/stress. Stress uses up B vitamins and zinc. Valerian/Osteoprocare before bed may help sleep. Things that raise oxygen..exercise/Vit A 10,000IU, zinc, B vitamins and more may help sleep. B vitamins may help dreams be more happy. Mg citrate 400mg may help. Mg may help 350 chemical reactions in the body. Mg helps potassium absorb. Taking vitamins with food may help…protein. When adrenals are burned out days and nights maybe backwards. People need iron to convert T4 into T3 and get T3 for thyroid into cells. Celiac help may help more nutrients absorb in intestines and help lower inflammation and help sleep. Best wishes.
Short form of what I do for Celiac:
No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and vitamins/good oils, LDN and detoxing help me. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc 50mg if detoxing, fish oil 2000mg, 20000mg of evening primrose oil. 2000 mg of lecithin, Phosphatidylserine/DMAE or krill oil, Coenzyme Q10, Rhodiola, Mg citrate 400mg, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body/thyroid/ and more health issues. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid.
Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food….. no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Certified gluten free food may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them).
EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, zeolites, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support, Far Infrared Sauna and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain.
LDN may help block hidden gluten/heal the gut lining and help the immune system, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten..no hidden or microscopic gluten may help. Cutting back on gluten or cheating by eating gluten hurts the immune system. It may take 1 1/2 months to heal the gut lining after getting hidden gluten.
Amour thyroid has some T3 and Calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4..may not convert to T3. Zn/Se/enough iron/strong probiotic may help convert T4 to T3 for thyroid.
I love this article! I suffered from adrenal fatigue a few times over the past 5 years or so, with the stress of my insanely fast paced post-grad finance job, and then with working out too hard and being “super fit”. I had no idea it was happening, and it was articles like this that enlightened me. I take a kelp (iodine) and selenium supplement, in addition to magnesium and potassium because my thyroxine was a little low. You have to be careful with how much potassium/iodine you supplement, but with a plant based diet I’ve found the minimum dose isn’t dangerous for me and it’s making me feel much better mentally and physically!
Hi Doug, Adrenals may burn out due to ticks/coinfections. Medicine with F may block thyroid. Anesthesia may destroy Vit B12. Harder to wake up after surgery can be due to low thyroid and adrenals. Steriods may hurt the liver. Gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO may hurt. Gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid. Hidden gluten maybe a problem. LDN may help adrenal and help heal the gut lining and block hidden gluten and help the immune system. Panic attacks can be due to low oxygen…due to low thyroid/heavy metals which can block thyroid/gluten/medicine. Antibiotics may lower Mg and good bacteria in the large intestines. Zinc/Se/enough iron/probiotic may help T4 change to T3. POTs can be due to adrenals/thyroid being low and ticks. Mold may also hurt people. Vitamins/good oils/minerals may help. Far Infrared Sauna may help detox people. Do not go by TSH, but free T4, free T3/reverse T3 for thyroid. She still may not have enough thyroid medicine if heavy metals/Lyme/medicine etc is affecting it. Alternative doctors/chiropractors may help. Hair tests show good minerals/heavy metals. Best wishes.
Ashwagandha? Can you recommend a brand?
Organic India sells great herbal supplements including Ashwagandha.
Dr. Mercola sells this product as well as some health food stores.
Hi. Thank you for your wonderful post. I have been suffering from adrenal fatigue for awhile now and it is so challenging. Can you explain how you use the powder vitamin c from radiant? All at once? In what amounts? 3 teaspoon fills in juice etc???
I use vitamin C several times a day, mixed into water (or the capsules)
My wife (and I ) are discovering how closely related the whole gland issues are related. Living with hypoThyroid for many years now, my wife’s TSH levels went from normal (around 1.2) to 25 in less than 6 months. A saliva test showed 3rd stage adrenal fatigue, but nearly every medical profession dismissed adrenal fatigue as a naturopathic invention that could not be validated by scientific tests that are consistently repeatable. Having looked back at my wife’s medical history during that time we discovered several things that could have contributed to not only the Thyroid levels going out of whack, but also the adrenal fatigue.
1st – several different medications given at different times for different reasons most likely contributed. Suffering from chronic sinusitis and a deviated septum, my wife had sinus surgery. The Dr prescribed Fluticasone Furoate nasal spray for pre and post operative care. Often used as seasonal allergy spray or a treatment for Asthma, this medication was reported in the World Health Organization (WHO Drug Information Vol. 17, No. 4, 2003) as having several reports worldwide of Adrenal Insufficiency. It would appear that some of those reports were due to long exposure at high doses. (What exactly is an imaginary ailment doing in an official WHO report? ? )
A cortical steroid cream was also prescribed for an entirely different reason at about the same time (which would start to explain the long exposure at high doses for my wife).
Then there was the surgery where the Dr’s reported a problem waking my wife up. Again a bit of research showed that if surgery is performed when a person is hypoThyroid, there are very serious implications during and after anethesia is used.
She has been suffering for several months now, even after getting her thyroid levels back to normal, with adrenal fatigue symptoms. There have been some GREAT days mixed with some real lousy days. Sudden unexplained panic attacks, pounding heart beats (although blood pressure and heart heart are well below normal), nausea, fainting spells upon standing, fatigue etc etc. Even something as simple as an application of Benedryll spray for some poison sumac brought on all of the symptoms at once (Thanks Wellness Mama for the Plantain Salve recipe 😉
I am writing this not as a complaint, but as another explanation of how the symptoms of adrenal fatigue can hit you over the head and hopefully as an encouragement to stick with a recovery program. Scrupuously examine the side effects of your medication, . . even over the counter meds, reduce stress (easier said than done), take time for yourself, eat well and regularly, get support. Good luck
HI, She may have Lyme or ticks besides Poison Sumac which can also burn out adrenals. Fluticasone Furoate has Fluorine in it which can block thyroid. Pounding heart/panic attacks etc maybe due to low oxygen in the brain. Low thyroid may cause lower oxygen in the cells. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…vitamins/good oils/minerals…probiotic…LDN..detoxing help me. Zinc/Se/enough iron/probiotic may help T4 convert to T3 for thyroid. Iodine/iodide may help push Fluorine out of the body. Best wishes.
I just turned 26 and have all the symptoms you mentioned: “Sudden unexplained panic attacks, pounding heart beats (although blood pressure and heart heart are well below normal), nausea, fainting spells upon standing, fatigue etc etc”. Along with that, severe depression as well. I’ve been going to a nutritionist and I see a lot of improvement, but it’s such a long healing process and I wonder if I’ll ever be normal again. But I am encouraged to know of others who are going through the same thing. So many people have AF, but not always to this extent so people often think you’re exaggerating. I hope your wife continues to get better each day and that the bad days become fewer and fewer for her!
Lyme/coinfections or gluten/GMO may affect adrenals. Gluten may make antibodies to the thyroid. You need to fix the root cause. I am eating oranges/protein which is helping my adrenals. Vit C/B vitamins and progesterone may help adrenals. Getting rid of Lyme with herbals may help adrenals. AL complex/Far Infrared Sauna/cryptolepis/LDN/eating no gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils/minerals…probiotic…LDN..detoxing help me. Hair tests show heavy metals/good minerals. Lyme may lower Fe/Mn/Mg. Gluten may lower all minerals and raise heavy metals since the liver may not detox well. The Far Infrared Sauna may help get rid of Lyme/yeast/bacteria and detox chemicals/heavy metals. Best wishes.
What I do. (short version):
No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO and vitamins/good oils, LDN and detoxing help me. Vit D3 5000IU, zinc 50mg if detoxing, 2000mg fish oil , 20000mg evening primrose oil. 2000 mg lecithin, Phosphatidylserine/DMAE, krill oil, CLA, Coenzyme Q10, Rhodiola, Mg citrate 400mg, Vit C, 5000mcg of biotin, Nature’s Plus- Source of life multiple, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free probiotic, Vit B12 methylcobalamin shot/spray/under the tongue kind/intrinsic factor kind, MTHF folate, coenyzme Q10, rhodiola, may help brain/body/thyroid/depression/immune system and more. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats may act like gluten with avenin. GMO corn/soy/canola oil may hurt. Amour thyroid maybe needed since gluten may made antibodies to the thyroid. Coenzymated B vitamins far from synthetic kind make make me calm.
Sunlight (helps the immune system and helps to heal the gut lining),exercise, organic food, good water..not tap water, cooking by scratch pure food….. no food in a box/bag/premade/label/restaurant which may help avoid hidden gluten. Certified gluten free food may have 20ppm of gluten…too much. Nuts not sold in the shell/meat basting/some spices may have hidden gluten and lotion/make up etc. One restaurant cooks special for me…rice/veg/tea/extra mushrooms (no meat since the woks may have MSG/gluten in them).
EDTA/DMPS IV chelations from an Alternative doctor, 600mg of cilantro, organic sulfur, Now brand- Detox support, Far Infrared Sauna and more may help detox. Hair tests show good minerals and heavy metals. Heavy metals can block thyroid and other chemical reactions in the body/brain.
LDN may help block hidden gluten/heal the gut lining and help the immune system, but the Celiac diet is still needed. 100% no gluten..no hidden or microscopic gluten may help. Cutting back on gluten or cheating by eating gluten hurts the immune system. It may take 1 1/2 months to heal the gut lining after getting hidden gluten.
Amour thyroid has some T3 and Calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4..may not convert to T3. Zn/Se/enough iron/strong probiotic may help convert T4 to T3 for thyroid.
Alternative doctors/chiropractors/acupuncturists and more may help with health/vitamins etc.
What specific brand of “natural salt”? The link goes to the home page for Thrive Market and not to a product page.
That is weird. Thanks for the catch. I use this one most often https://www.amazon.com/Real-Salt-Sea-Pouch-26-Ounce/dp/B000R5PKD0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=1b8c49d9b9ab92a92c7961c6b6f8d5e5&language=en_US
How does one get 40 grams of protein at breakfast? Also, how many capsules of Pure Radiance were you taking at a time and how often?
I just love you and your blogs. You give me hope that I can get well and feel better.
I use a gelatin based protein powder and usually a stir fry with vegetables and protein
When doing the castor oil pac, how often should I do it? My first experience was great. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
I do it a couple times a week.
Thank you. I am going to do a castor oil pac today.
I have been doing the OCM for the last few weeks. I have been researching other ingridents for issues I have. What do you think of mixing other essential oils? I have been using the following list on my face and neck.
Half Castor Oil
Half Olive Oil
Then I add several drops each of
Thyme Oil (anti-inflammatory, tone aged skin, prevent break outs)
Emu Oil
Vitamin E Oil
Hyluronic Acid ( one capsule) to help tighten skin)
Vitamin C powder (1 tesp)
I have been using this for 3 days and it seams to be helping my wrinkles around my eyes and saging eye lids. Puffiness under my eyes is also a problem. My mother and older sister also have this issue.
Am I doing the right thing by mixing?
Again, thank you again for sharing and inspiring my path to health.
Respectfully,
Marlene