Your adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, are responsible for the "fight or flight" response during an emergency. This is caused by the hormone adrenaline, also called epinephrine. The adrenal cortex is the outer portion of your adrenal gland responsible for making two steroid hormones. Cortisol and aldosterone affect your blood pressure and response to stress. Sometimes the adrenal glands make insufficient levels of cortisol. Certain vitamins can have an impact on the symptoms of this condition. The adrenocorticotropic hormone is produced in your pituitary gland. This hormone signals the release of cortisol. Low cortisol levels can occur from two causes, when there is insufficient adrenocorticotropic hormone or not enough cortisol. Addison's disease is an autoimmune disease that destroys the adrenal glands and leads to low cortisol levels. Chronic infections, adrenal cancer and other conditions can also cause low cortisol. Symptoms include fatigue, poor appetite, low blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, darkened skin and muscle spasms.
When cortisol is released in response to stress, inflammation occurs. High cortisol levels are associated with high homocysteine levels, a marker of inflammation. Vitamin B-12 helps control inflammation by converting homocysteine to methionine, an amino acid. A 2006 study in "Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine" found that when subjects were supplemented with adrenocorticotropic hormone or cortisol, their homocysteine levels stayed the same. Serum B-12 concentrations became depleted, however, suggesting that the effects of high cortisol on inflammation can be buffered by vitamin B-12. This process will eventually deplete your levels if you do not replenish B-12. Because vitamin B-12 helps reduce the effects of cortisol, low cortisol levels will likely require less vitamin B-12 from your body for this purpose. The benefits of adequate vitamin B-12 may help with some of the other symptoms with low cortisol. Vitamin B-12 is responsible for forming healthy red blood cells. Low cortisol decreases circulation by causing your blood pressure to drop, so it is important to avoid anemia, as not to impair blood cell functioning.
Vitamin B-12 can also help reduce fatigue, another common symptom of low cortisol levels. If you have low adrenal cortisol levels, you are at greater risk for malnutrition because your appetite is affected. While vitamin B-12 can be beneficial for high cortisol, it may also help with some of the symptoms of low cortisol levels. If you take too much supplemental B-12, you may mask a folate deficiency. The recommended dietary allowance is 2.4 micrograms per day. Rather than only supplementing with vitamin B-12, take a multivitamin to boost your overall nutritional status. Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits of dietary supplements with low cortisol levels. Blood Tests for Adrenal Gland Function What Are the Effects of Low Cortisol Levels? How to Fast Before Test for Cortisol Levels What Drugs Lower High Cortisol Levels? Adrenal Glands & Testosterone What Are the Treatments for High Cortisol? Does Low Sodium & High Potassium Have Anything to Do With Addison Disease?
What Are Symptoms of Too Much Cortisol in the Body? Caffeine Effects on the Adrenal Function Symptoms Of Adrenal Hypofunction Herbs to Support Adrenal Glands The Side Effects of Adrenal Supplements About Addison's Disease and Skin Pigment Low Cortisol in Babies Causes of Low Cortisol How to Restore Adrenal Health What Are the Causes of an Enlarged Adrenal Gland?Like what you're reading? Get blog updates plus my FREE 7 Day Paleo Quick Start email courseA bit of a happy dance for me today! Last year was incredibly hairy. I actually did a bit of a number on myself and hit total burn out. Not fun, at all. The positive is, that after a fair bit of work, the adrenal fatigue I was diagnosed with is now a thing of the past. I thought I would share some of what I did to get on top of things. First of all, adrenal fatigue is the curse of the A-type personality. The perfectionist who seems to think they can do it all, always stressed, always full of (borrowed) energy, until eventually, things catch up, and you crash and burn.
Your body simply can’t sustain the long-term stress and the adrenals start to protest. Cue a whole host of awful symptoms: So, the first thing I did was partner with a great Integrative Doctor who also worked with herbs, and got a whole heap of blood tests to confirm where I was at. From there, we made a plan, involving dietary and lifestyle changes, herbal support, supplements, and a short course of hormones. I did a lot of things, because I was quite severely burnt out. These were given via a drip in the arm, and contained a concentrated mixture of vitamin C, magnesium, the B vitamin group, and glutathione (an antioxidant). Vitamin C is extremely nourishing to the adrenals, and stimulates the immune system. When it is given intravenously, you can receive a much higher does than if you take it orally. The B group vitamins are important for energy production. Magnesium ignites your adrenals, and is essential for enzyme and energy production.B12 injections are absorbed straight into the bloodstream for an energy boost.
I took a three month course of herbs specially formulated to heal the adrenals. The group of herbs that nourish the adrenals and help the body adapt to stress are called adaptogens or tonic herbs. A few of the herbs I took included: Siberian ginseng: physical strength, endurance, promote healing, ability to adapt to stress, immune modulator, regulate metabolism. Panax ginseng: anti-fatigue, supports the adrenals Licorice root: the ‘Great Harmoniser’, increases vital energy, digestive and metabolic support Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera): an Ayurvedic herb to help recover from stress and insomnia, restore libido, increase energy and stamina, normalise cortisol levels Rhodiola: improve energy, support the immune system, strengthen the nervous system A big part of burnout (and the resulting adrenal fatigue) is not getting enough sleep. I was tired, but wired, and spent hours tossing and turning throughout the night, only to drag myself out of bed in the mornings feeling like the tank was empty.
Getting quality sleep is essential as this is the time when your body repairs itself. There are a few things I did to get a good sleep pattern back. The first, was take some beautiful herbs to quieten the nervous system and allow the mind to shush before bed. Bupleurum: helps to harmonise the body and stabilise the emotions, detoxifying Chinese peony: anti-inflammatory, helps promote sleep Dong quai: the ultimate herb for women, relaxes muscles, promotes sleep The other thing I did to get my sleep groove back, was to create a new sleep ritual. It went like this: This was an important step. I am usually quite comfortable with a green smoothie in the mornings, but including some protein with breakfast helped to balance the blood sugars and prevent the tiredness. I added raw, sprouted brown rice protein to my smoothies when I had them, and other days, mixed the protein into a bowl of organic overnight oats (which are fabulous for the nervous system). I replaced the exhaustive running and dance classes with some leisurely walking in fresh air.
I made a conscious effort to cut back on sugars, even fruit sugars. I cut out all caffeine, and increased the amount of plant based protein in my diet. The blood tests were quite revealing. Very low progesterone (sex hormone), DHEA, and hydrocortisol. I took a low dose, short course (three months) of these to kick-start the healing, but not until I had tried a month of the herbs and supplements. I always like to try and treat things as naturally as possible, first. I started a practice of self-love. Something I had deprived myself of all year, because I was so preoccupied with study and business-brainstorming. Self-love puts gas in the tank. For me, it was simply setting aside one whole day to myself a week, to do whatever it is I felt like, without feeling guilty. Beach walks, reading non-work or study related books, and getting the odd massage. I know I was a monster for a few months there, but, thank you…couldn’t have done it without you! Adrenal fatigue and burnout are not something you can recover from overnight.
After four months of diligently following the programme above, I am finally feeling normal again. I still have my moments of not sleeping, but this has been a bit of a thing for me even before adrenal fatigue. There is nothing worse then that total feeling of overwhelm, and that nothing you do is working or getting you better. But hopefully by sharing some of this, you may be able to get your own groove back, too, if you are going through something similar. Adrenal Fatigue, The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, by James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D. Rushing Woman’s Syndrome, Dr Libby Weaver. A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson. (If you are stressed and anxious – this a good place to start, it will help you see things from a new perspective). for all things self-love. A good few years have past since having this adrenal fatigue, and I’m now almost qualified myself as a Naturopath and Medical Herbalist. Knowing what I do now, I still believe the protocol above to be sound.
Just a note on the hormones however – I did not just have low adrenal function, but quite severe adrenal fatigue. Hormone therapy is not something you rush into. Though it seemed to serve me well at the time, if I was in the same position again, I would work with the herbs more even though they are slower to get the results. I like the gentle way in which they nudge the body back into balance. I also want to add that whilst the vitamin C infusions were helpful, you could get also get a great result with the lypo-spheric vitamin C sachets – they are incredibly well absorbed and assimilated. Above all else, I have come to see the importance of self-care and stress management in healing. In fact, when I looked up ‘adrenal problems’ in Louise L. Hay’s book, ‘Heal Your Body’, I had a chuckle to myself as I read out the probable cause behind the physical manifestation of this condition – ‘Defeatism. No longer caring for the self. The body is constantly sending us messages – many of which are incredibly literal – if only we could slow down enough to listen.