Naturopathic Medicine for Adrenal Fatigue
Over the years, many patients have come through the doors of my New York City naturopathic office with adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is either the condition which they wish to address or the underlying cause of symptoms that were bothering them. In our fast past always on the go world, adrenal fatigue can be fairly common. But what exactly is adrenal fatigue and how can a naturopathic doctor help.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
You’ve probably heard about adrenal fatigue, but maybe you don’t fully understand exactly what it’s all about. Over the years, many patients have come through the doors of my New York City naturopathic office with adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is either the condition which they wish to address or the underlying cause of symptoms that were bothering them in the first place. In our fast-paced, always on-the-go world, adrenal fatigue can be fairly common. But what exactly is adrenal fatigue? And how can a naturopathic doctor help?
What causes Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is when we're constantly under stress, and consequently the body does not cope well with that stress, either because the stress is constantly present or there is a lack of coping mechanisms to deal with that stress. The adrenal glands are then kicked into overdrive to help manage. But since the adrenals can only handle so much stress, you actually can see the opposite of the norm: an eventual reduction in cortisol production rather than an increase, because the adrenals have become so fatigued.
What are Adrenals?
Adrenals or adrenal glands are glands that sit directly above the kidneys and have a lot of responsibility, specifically when it comes to the processing of stress and the production of stress hormones. During particular times of stress, our adrenal glands produce cortisol and catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine).
So how does the stress response work? It all starts in the brain at the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus talks to the pituitary glands which then secrete a hormone that tells the adrenal glands to kick-start and produce a lot of cortisol. Back in prehistoric times, this response would help us become safe from a saber tooth tiger, for example. This is what’s called the “fight-or-flight” response. But nowadays we are releasing cortisol—or experiencing this same stress response—even in regards to situations like high traffic or a crazy email from our boss.
If a stressor persists or we don’t have stress management in place to handle the stress, we then transition to the resistance reaction phase in which our body continues to pump out cortisol, but this time the cortisol starts to cause damage, such as increasing blood pressure, promoting diabetes and abdominal fat. Eventually our adrenal glands give out, dramatically reduce their cortisol production, and the result is adrenal fatigue.
But processing stress is not all that the adrenals do. Our adrenal glands also regulate our fluid balance and produce androgens (male hormones) such as testosterone and DHEA. These adrenal androgens are largely responsible for acne and hair loss issues with women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Most people with adrenal fatigue have a long history of mismanaged stress prior to the onset of symptoms. Here are just a few of the common adrenal fatigue symptoms:
Low energy
Sleep issues (especially the classic wired but tired); some patients will see a lot of sleep disturbances, specifically difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
Low blood pressure; the adrenals also produce hormones associated with blood pressure regulation
Asthma, commonly at night
Allergies; many patients with adrenal fatigue will also complain of waking up in the middle of the night with asthma or allergy attacks
Poor blood sugar regulation
Abnormal daily cortisol patterns; unusually low or fluctuating cortisol levels throughout the day
Extremely low DHEA levels
Inflammation, due to lower than normal cortisol levels
Adrenal dysregulation can also impact other endocrine systems such as the reproductive, thyroid, and metabolic systems. For female patients, adrenal fatigue can also lead to menstrual irregularities and sometimes even fertility issues. And for some patients who have different types of autoimmune conditions such as hypothyroidism or rheumatoid arthritis, these could actually be linked to adrenal fatigue and a reduction in cortisol levels.
Testing/Diagnosing Adrenal Fatigue
If you are looking to determine if you definitely have adrenal fatigue, you would typically start with some routine blood work, using what is called a complete metabolic panel. Some of the levels tested on this panel include sodium and potassium, as a very low sodium-to-potassium ratio is typically a sign of adrenal fatigue. Additionally, if you demonstrate any of the telltale adrenal fatigue symptoms, talk to your provider to determine if you might have adrenal fatigue.
From a naturopathic standpoint specifically, I often request additional nutrient and hormonal labs to fully assess a patient’s adrenal fatigue and give a precise comprehensive plan going forward.
Adrenal Fatigue Naturopathic Treatment
Naturopathic doctors are probably the best at supporting healthy adrenal function over other practitioners. From a detailed health history, we are often able to design an appropriate protocol for our patients’ adrenal fatigue. Then using results from the nutrient and hormonal labs we order, we offer a comprehensive plan that may or may not include adrenal supportive nutrients. These adrenal supportive nutrients—often used in place of prescription medications—include Vitamin C, B Vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. We will also recommend a combination of adaptogenic herbs, which are herbs that support the adrenal glands. My personal favorites in my practice are rhodiola, ashwagandha, eleuthrococcus, and licorice. Additionally, I really like siberian ginseng, which is helpful for both immune function and allergies.
Diet, lifestyle, and stress management also play an important role in supporting healthy adrenal function. I advise clients to also eat a wide variety of healthy fruits and vegetables, stay hydrated with adequate water, and replenish their electrolytes with sufficient potassium and sodium intake. Additionally, avoiding too many refined carbohydrates, sugars, and alcohol is advised. All of these things will help to support the adrenal glands—now and in the future.
All of my recommended supplements for adrenal can be accessed through my online dispensary FullScript by clicking here.
To purchase physician-grade supplements, click here to create an account or login to access my online supplements shop and purchase them directly.
Adrenal Fatigue Recovery
So how do you know if you are overcoming your adrenal fatigue? Depending on the severity of the initial fatigue, patients typically will experience improved and increased energy levels. Another obvious and noticeable change is an improvement in cognition; adrenal fatigue can cause brain fog or difficulty focusing, so an improvement in the adrenal fatigue helps patients to have better focus and cognition. Other improvements include improved sleep, fewer colds, fewer muscle aches and pains, and an overall better quality of life.
Book an Appointment
At Simplicity Health Associates in New York City, we help many patients with adrenal fatigue and the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
Click here to book an appointment online or call (646) 470-8458. You can also email us here.