Adrenal Fatigue and its Homeopathic Restore

A Guest Post by Dr. Neha Vijayakar (The Author)

               Stress and Cortisol

STRESS

Stress (or distress) comes stealthily in our life and creates great havoc in our body and mind. For some, stress means combating everyday traffic to get to work, for others it signifies getting the kids ready in time for school. The worst part is that we accept stress so easily and nurture it so carefully that it takes days, weeks and many times, years to realise that this seemingly “temporary” condition has been responsible for the biggest health issues in our lives.

EFFECT OF STRESS ON ADRENAL GLANDS

Because Stress is so mean (and also extremely smart), it directly attacks that part of your system which monitors the harmony of our physiology- the Neuro-Endocrine Axis. To explain simply, your Hypothalamus and all the Endocrine Glands are at the mercy of its unforgiving ways [5].

To set the ball rolling, Stress makes its presence felt first in the two tiny, deceptively less-important glands called the Adrenals. The adrenal glands sit at the top of the kidneys. In Chinese medicine, adrenal glands and kidneys are considered as one unit. The problem with one affects the other. Adrenal glands are “stress supervisors“. They release anti-stress hormone like Cortisol and other hormones. Cortisol suppresses the release of the body’s “feel good” hormone Serotonin, amplifying the anxiety and sometimes, also augmenting depression, as well as Melatonin, the hormone related to sleep. Adrenal glands are responsible for the “fright, fight & flight” response of our bodies [click to tweet]. It is these glands which feel the maximum punch of nervous tension.

ADRENAL FATIGUE:

Adrenal fatigue is a collection of symptoms such as body ache, fatigue (not relieved by any means, not even by sleep), nervousness, sleeplessness and digestive problems.

It is so because adrenal glands become underactive i.e. functions performed by adrenal glands are below the necessary level. It can be due to intense or prolong (chronic) stress or infection.

STAGES OF ADRENAL FATIGUE

Stage	Response	Reaction
I: ALARM	The adrenals get alerted about stressors and,  in an initial bid, step up the secretion of Cortisol. Insulin- secreting cells of Pancreas also get  affected resulting in fluctuations in blood sugar levels. THE BODY IS SUCCESSFUL IN COMPENSATING FOR THE  INCREASED REQUIREMENT OF GLUCOSE.	Craving for foods high in carbs & fats  like burgers, pizza, doughnuts and aerated drinks having high sugar content. Insomnia and irritability set in. (Cause): Overcompensation by consuming external stimulants like coffee, alcohol and by smoking
II: RESISTANCE	If Stressors persist, the Adrenals begin to feel the strain of working overtime. This time, it is extremely difficult to compensate for the demand of cortisol. The thyroid glands start misbehaving. In women, the ovaries begin to malfunction.	Insomnia, difficulty in falling asleep and irritability set in rapidly intensifying stress. Digestion is hampered. Stamina takes a beating and sluggishness and  weight gain begins to seep in. Women suffer from menstrual irregularities and PMS. Men suffer from mood swings.
III: EXHAUSTION (ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY)	The Adrenals now start giving up as they bow further down to pressure. Cortisol levels start declining. The body, in a desperate bid for energy, starts breaking down its own muscles for protein.	The aim is now to survive using the body’s rapidly depleting resources. Blood pressure begins to fluctuate, digestion slows down and sexual drive diminishes.

HOMEOPATHIC RESTORATION

It is no wonder that Homeopathy works, with uncanny instinct, to restore this miserably imbalanced state of affairs. Because, what is needed here is cleaning right from the basic level and eradication of the problem from its core (origin).

It is fascinating to note that Adrenal Exhaustion relates the exact textbook picture of one particular homeopathic remedy called NUX VOMICA. Nux Vomica meticulously covers not only insomnia, digestive disturbances and irritability of the condition, but also accounts for the inordinate craving for stimulants and piquant foods.

It is a matter of clinical deduction that Nux Vomica works to combat Stress and restore the optimum functioning of the Adrenals, and in turn the entire chain of Endocrine glands.

Remedies for adrenal fatigue include Argenticum nitricum, Arsenicum Album, Gelsemium, phosphorous, etc

However, a word of caution. This does not mean that Nux Vomica or any other homeopathic medicine should be taken on a routine basis by anyone manifesting the symptoms of Adrenal Exhaustion/Fatigue. Homeopathy is a highly individualistic discipline of Medicine, with each individual calling for a different remedy based on a holistic constitutional make-up and calls for the skilled professional services of a qualified homeopathic physician for complete cure.

Other than that, one needs to get involved in yoga and meditation to get relieved of stress.

References:

1. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th Edition.

2. Oxford Textbook of Medicine 

3. Introduction to Psychology 

4. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. William Boericke

1. Response to stress by adrenal harmones

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About the Author: Dr. Neha Vijayakar

Dr. Neha Vijayakar

Dr. Neha Rajiv Vijayakar studied Homeopathy at Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Homeopathic Medical College, Mumbai, India and graduated (BHMS) with first-class honors in 2009. Besides studying, she excelled in extra-curricular pursuits making her the General Secretary of the Students’ Council for the year 2008-2009. She was also the Co-editor of the Annual College Magazine, Ethos.

Because of a keen interest in Psychology, she took up and successfully completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling. She also topped the State-Level Entrance Test for M.D. (Homeopathy) in the year 2011.

Today, she is a practicing homeopathic physician and counseling psychologist and is in her final year towards receiving an M.D. (Homeopathy) with specialization in Practice of Medicine. She also consults patients online and an avid medical writer. You can write to her at dr.neharv@gmail.com

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The above post was originally published by the author in July 2013 on her blog Happiness Unplugged! and is republished here after modifications with her explicit permission. The Copyright is reserved with the author (Dr. Neha Vijayakar). All opinions are that of the author.

The above Guest Post is the twenty-first in the GUEST BLOG SERIES. For reading previous Guest Posts check out https://drnancymalik.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/guest-blog-series

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