drsandeepgupta.com Dr Sandeep Gupta's Nutritional Medicine Blog

Adrenal Exhaustion is a colloquial term for functional adrenal insufficiency, caused by prolonged internal or external stress. It has been described in the medical literature as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction.

Although not considered a conventional diagnosis by the medical world, common symptoms include:

1. Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
2. Fatigue – often worse with exercise
3. Fuzzy thinking and poor concentration
4. Poor quality sleep and lack of refreshment from sleep
5. Dizziness and craving for salt

Some tips that may help the adrenals rest and rebuild:

• Seek life-work balance and learn to schedule “me time” as part of your daily routine
• Eliminate refined carbohydrates and sugars so as to balance blood glucose
• Determine your metabolic type and eat in accordance with it: click here for the test
• Add a pinch of himalayan or celtic sea salt to all your water and aim for 2-3 litres per day
• Try to sleep before 10pm, avoid stimulants late at night and remove electric devices from near your bed.
• In severe cases, further testing and cortisol replacement may be necessary.

Healing adrenal exhaustion is an ongoing process, and it can be helpful to find a holistic practitioner to work with.