System Remedy

There are two Adrenal glands, one on each side of the body sitting right on top of the kidneys. Weighing in at less than 2 ounces, the small glands help the body cope with trauma, stress or threatening situations. The Adrenals are often referred to as your "Fight or Flight" glands, or sometimes as your Stress Gland. Our 'fight or flight' response is designed to protect us from the proverbial saber tooth tigers that once lurked in the woods and fields, threatening our physical survival. When activated, the 'fight or flight' response causes a surge of adrenaline and other stress hormones to pump through our body. This surge is the force responsible for mothers lifting cars off their trapped children and for firemen heroically running into blazing houses to save endangered victims. The surge of adrenaline fills us with heroism and courage.

Today's saber tooth tigers consist of rush hour traffic, missing a deadline, bouncing a check or having an argument with your boss or spouse. There is rarely a physical threat that requires the need for that adrenaline rush, thereby satisfying the hormone signals. This makes modern day 'fight or flight' less physical and more psychological in nature, which makes us ignore, suppress, shut down or run away from the stresses we experience. This psychological effort makes the Adrenal gland an overwhelmed and depleted system for almost everyone living in the modern world.

Fun Facts

• When we are born, the adrenals are the same size as the kidney! Studies show that it slowly begins to shrink and can be as small as the size of a pea by the time we are elderly. Since the adrenals are responsible for handling stress, keeping hormones balanced and helping prevent aging, it is important to take extra care of them so they do not atrophy (shrink) from overuse and exhaustion.
• The adrenals utilize a lot of Vitamin C to make certain natural steroids.

Health Conditions

1. This Adrenal Remedy is for overly stressed, often referred to as, exhausted adrenals. Symptoms can include: lethargy (lack of energy; difficulty getting up in the morning; chronic fatigue; difficulty performing daily tasks; decreased sex drive; salt cravings; sweaty hands and feet; light headed when standing quickly; mild depression; loss of motivation & enjoyment; increased PMS; slow, fuzzy cognition; and less tolerant attitude. The effects of adrenal exhaustion include: blood sugar irregularity; diminished anti-inflammatory and anti-aging (DHA/DHEA) responses; immune system dysfunction; hyperdilation of heart and blood vessels; unbalanced estrogen/progesterone and testosterone levels; inability to utilize antioxidants; tissue cannot repair; and the central nervous system becomes over stimulated.
2. Hyperaldosteronism (too much aldosterone) causes excessive retention of salt and water in the body, resulting in edema and high blood pressure.
3. Hypoaldosteronism (insufficient aldosterone) is a loss of water and salt which causes a fall in blood pressure, heart and kidney abnormalities, and general weakness.
4. Cushing's syndrome (cortisol excess) is one of the causes of obesity and stretch marks around the abdomen. Symptoms include: a round, rosy face; hypertension; muscle weakness; diabetes; and increased hair growth on the face and body (this can also be a sign of a tumor on anterior pituitary).
5. Addison's disease causes a loss of secretion of both cortisol and aldosterone. If there is destruction of the adrenal glands (generally tumor or infection) the following symptoms result: feeling ill, tired, vomiting, nausea, and weight loss. A person in this condition is unable to cope with stress and often collapses with relatively minor injury or insult.

NOTE: Corticosteroid therapy has become an invaluable modern treatment in controlling inflammatory and allergic conditions, especially rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and some skin diseases. There are enormous health risks in using medical steroids for a prolonged time. ACTH from the Pituitary can drop to dangerous levels and the immune system can reach a point of devastation that is almost impossible to recover from

Suggestions To Strengthen

• Continual stress slowly depletes the adrenals. If there are areas of stress in your life that are not resolved, find a solution or change your perspective about the issue so it will no longer cause stress. In today's world of high stress, changing your perspective about an issue may be more effective than trying to change the issue itself.
• Work and play should be in balance, so work as hard as you play and play as hard as you work. If you tend to be a "on the go all the time" personality, take time to meditate and try yoga, tai chi, or any mind-body form of exercise. If you have a desk job or spend all day in front of computers, take time for physical activities you enjoy, preferably something that gets your heart rate up.
• Set consistent sleep patterns, go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time daily.
• Reduce your intake of stimulants (caffeine) and junk foods like sodium, refined sugars, bad fats and refined flours. Eat a healthy diet.
• Take time to connect to God, the Universe, and your Higher Power. Believing in a Higher Power is proven to increase longevity and relieve many forms of stress.

Interesting Tidbit

Laughter, Sex & Physical Activity naturally increase the production of the hormones needed to help balance the Adrenal gland.