What Are the Treatments for Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenal glands are small glands, located over the kidneys. Their job is to release many different hormones necessary for body functions. Two major hormones produced by the adrenal glands are adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones that work with other hormones the glands produce. When the adrenals endure prolonged stress, they cannot keep up with the body's stress hormone requirement, causing adrenal fatigue. This is not a condition your doctor can prescribe a pill to cure, but there are steps you can take to restore adrenal function.

Stress Reduction

Since the adrenal glands are in constant production mode when you are under stress, the first step to take to help treat adrenal fatigue is to reduce or eliminate stress from your life. Since it is impossible to eliminate all stress, such as a traffic jam or sick child, you must find a way to effectively cope with the stress. According to a report from the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education (Project AWARE), effective coping includes relaxation breaks, exercise and laughter. Laughter stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the system that restores rest to the adrenal glands. There are many other ways to relax and reduce stress as well, such as yoga, meditation, prayer, keeping a journal or lighting a candle and listening to music. Find a way that works for you and practice it daily.

Dietary Changes

There are dietary changes you can make to help treat adrenal fatigue. The National Integrated Health Associates in Washington, D.C., recommends you consume higher amounts of protein and healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocados and omega-3s, which are found in cold water fish and nuts. Fresh and organic fruits and vegetables are also recommended. A healthy diet also involves limiting certain products. Foods you should reduced, and preferably eliminate, are refined sugars and flour, caffeine and alcohol. You may also try eliminating certain allergy producing foods, such as wheat and dairy. To do this, stop eating foods containing wheat or dairy for three weeks, then add the foods back into your diet (one at a time) and take note of how your body reacts. If you find yourself having a negative reaction to the food, such as increased fatigue, then your body may be sensitive to it and you should eliminate it. Project AWARE recommends that you add a little sea salt to the diet, and eat regular meals throughout the day.

Supplementation

There are many supplements that can give much-needed support to overworked adrenal glands. One that is often recommended is licorice, which can be taken as an extract or as tea. According to "American Chronicle," an online news magazine, licorice helps the adrenal glands by increasing the body's levels of hydrocortisone, which tells the pituitary gland to decrease the production of a hormone called ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone). ACTH's primary function is to stimulate the adrenal glands to produce steroids and other stress hormones, so the reduction of ACTH allows the adrenal glands to take a break. Other recommended supplements, as listed by Project AWARE, are vitamin C in the amount of 2,000 to 4,000mg per day; vitamin E in the amount of 800 IU per day; B complex vitamins; magnesium citrate in the amount of 400 to 1200mg per day; and a liquid trace mineral supplement that includes selenium, zinc, manganese, chromium, iodine, copper and molybdenum. Along with the B complex vitamins, the National Institutes of Health published a report that recommends taking the amino acid tyrosine to help counter the effects of stress, as it plays a role in adrenal gland function.