Adrenal exhaustion or fatigue are terms used in alternative medicine to describe a collection of symptoms thought to be related to chronic adrenal gland malfunction and reduced hormone output, particularly cortisol. It is claimed to be caused by excessive stress, but its pathology is not advanced enough to be labeled adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease. Milk thistle is an herbal remedy normally used to stimulate and heal your liver, and may indirectly help your adrenals by reducing toxins that contribute to chemical stress. Consult with your doctor if you are experiencing chronic exhaustion not relieved by a good night's sleep.
Adrenal Exhaustion
Adrenal exhaustion is often applied to a collection of non-specific unexplained symptoms, such as profound fatigue, muscle aches, weight loss, sleep disturbance and low blood pressure, but it is not a medically recognized diagnosis, according to the "Professional Guide to Diseases." Adrenal disease is either called adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease and is supported by blood tests that measure adrenal hormone output. Some alternative medical practitioners claim that adrenal exhaustion is the early stage of adrenal disease, but the reduced hormonal output is not enough to be picked up on standard blood tests.
Causes of Adrenal Exhaustion
Your adrenal glands perch on the kidneys and produce a variety of hormones in response to stress, such as cortisol, cortisone, adrenaline, noradrenalin and aldosterone. These "stress hormones" prepare your body for "flight or fight" responses, so they are involved in metabolism, energy production, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure and mood. Proponents of adrenal exhaustion claim that many stressors stimulate the adrenals to produce hormones constantly, which deplete or exhaust the glands. As a result, they can't produce enough hormones to make you feel good, let alone enough to deal with additionally stressful situations. Stress can take the form of emotional, physical or chemical stressors. Milk thistle may be of help with chemical stressors.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a flowering plant covered in thorns, or thistles. The seeds of the plant have been used medicinally for at least 2,000 years, especially to treat liver conditions. Extracts made from milk thistle seeds are rich in silymarin and linoleic acid, the main biologically active components. Silymarin displays strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and laxative properties and has been used to treat liver cirrhosis, liver congestion, chronic hepatitis, toxin-induced liver damage and gallbladder disorders, as cited in "Medical Herbalism." In short, milk thistle may remove or disable toxins within the liver.
Milk Thistle and the Adrenals
Milk thistle is not known to act on your adrenal glands directly, but by removing or deactivating toxins from your liver it allows the liver to function more efficiently as a filter and remove compounds from your bloodstream that are causing "chemical stress" within your body. With fewer toxins to deal with, your immune system is not as taxed and your adrenal glands are not as frequently stimulated to produce and release hormones, according to "The New Healing Herbs." Of course, toxic metals and chemicals are not the only stressors to be aware of, as relationship and money problems are probably the biggest causes of emotional stress, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies are primary physical stressors. Ultimately, all stressors in your life have to be identified and reduced for your adrenal glands to recuperate, although milk thistle may help reduce the impact of toxins.
References
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- "Textbook of Medical Physiology -- Tenth Edition"; Arthur C. Guyton et al; 2000
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
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