Adrenal fatigue is a term used to describe supposed symptoms like tiredness, body aches, and difficulties dealing with stress. The term suggests that the adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones like cortisol to meet the body's needs.
However, adrenal fatigue is not an accepted medical diagnosis. There is little scientific evidence to support the concept. Still, some healthcare providers promote treatments like dietary changes and supplements to help with presumed adrenal fatigue symptoms.
What causes adrenal fatigue?
Some complementary medicine practitioners blame factors like:
- Chronic stress
- Infections
- Hormone imbalances
They suggest these issues tax the adrenal glands and deplete their capacity to make hormones. But again, there is little quality research supporting adrenal fatigue as a distinct disorder.
What are the symptoms of adrenal fatigue?
Described adrenal fatigue symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Difficulty dealing with stress
- Sleep problems
- Low sex drive
- Food cravings
However, these vague symptoms can have many potential causes. They are not necessarily tied to adrenal gland dysfunction.
How is adrenal fatigue treated?
Typical alternative treatments for adrenal fatigue include:
- Stress reduction techniques
- Dietary changes like avoiding sugar and gluten
- Supplements and herbal remedies
Our clinic,
Optimized Hormones, also offers saliva testing to assess cortisol and DHEA levels. We can provide customized
bioidentical hormone therapy to help resolve deficiency symptoms. Contact us today for a consultation.
In summary,
adrenal fatigue remains a controversial concept lacking definitive scientific support. Mainstream medicine does not recognize it as a real medical condition. Nonetheless, some patients do report relief from associated lifestyle changes and therapies. More research is still needed on this complex issue.