Anyone using adrenal glandulars?

I'm curious is anyone is using any adrenal glandular products, and if so which ones, and how the results have been.

I just ordered some Nutricology Adrenal Cortex http://www.nutricology.com/Adrenal-Cortex-Natural-Glandular-100-Caps-p-16418.html

I figure it should be less stimulating than the whole adrenal gland, as I'm not getting the adrenal medulla where Epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced. It is a fine line with fatigued adrenals, trying to reduce anxiety (calming) and get them producing hormones adequately again (stimulating). I may use a stronger product if I need to in the future.

I am on adrenal cortex extract. My understanding is that the full glandulars contain the hormnoes whereas the cortext extract will only have the tissue material extracts and not the hormones. My research suggest that it is better to stay with the cortex itself compared to the whole adrenal glandular.

I have been on this for roughly 2 weeks. So far so good, but I know this is a long journey. I am hoping that may be on a 3 month mark, I should be able to experience some benefit.

As we have reference this topic many times before - thyroids and adrenals go hand in hand. Unfortunately for adrenals to heal you need plenty of sleep - for some hypothyroid intereferes with quality of sleep, not giving chance to adrenals to heal/recover. So a little bit of thyroid help/support makes sense when you are attending the adrenals.

1. No sugar, no Caffeine
2. Plenty of Vit C
3. Panthetine (900 or so mg)
4. Adrenal Corext Extract
5. Adaptogens (ashwaghandha, rhodiola, gineseng - eluthero kind, nettle seeds)
6. If you are low on blood pressure (I am) - then take some sea salt water drinks
7. Mg + Taurine + Gaba for anti-anxiety and for proper sleep (remember adrenals needs sleep for recovery)

Hope this helps....

Thanks Lund,

Let me know how the cortex goes for you. Have you noticed anything from it yet; which one do you take?

I am running into a problem with so many capsules/tablets, and I'm spending a ton of money on them all. I just ran out of ashwaghanda and didn't order more. I am trying to cut out some things. I am still traking 1,000mg of C 3 times a day, as well as magnesium, taurine, b6, and zinc.

You are right about the sleep. I'm finding I am sleeping over 8 hours and finding it VERY hard to wake up. Dreams have been crazy so I don't know if I am getting the deepest delta sleep, but plenty of REM.

I tend to get extremely tired (almost debilitating) between 2-6pm. I'm hoping to try and get some sustained energy through the day from the adrenal cortex.

I have been off caffeine and refined sugar, and on a gluten-free diet for almost 2 months.

thanks

i use 20mg Cortef (5mg 4x aday) for my adrenals...
and armour thyroid + t3

Do not be $%^&, have your cortisol checked and optimize your supps. If you are low on cortisol during the 2-4PM time, then you will need to take specific stuff. However; if your cortisol levels are high (at other times) you will need to manage the cortisol levels differently.

In other words, you be low - may be high, may be low and high at wrong times. Not every one has the same cycle defects. If you do your 4x saliva test you will know what is going on, hopefully then you can fly with your eyes open vs blindly as you may be today.

My DO put me on cortex extract - so far I have not noticed a huge difference. however, it has only been less than 2 weeks.

I have 2 issues:

1. waking up around 4-5AM, NO problems falling sleep - I just wake up at 4AM-ish and cannot fall sleep again easily.

2. When I bend down for long and suddenly stand back up, I feel somewhat dizzy for a little bit.

I know what is going on with me. So adrenals need to heal - as such I am on the protocol listed above. He has asked me to start on Westhroid for subclinical hypo-thyroid condition as well (m y t3 came out Low). I was resisting thyroid med as I wanted to heal my adrenals first, but he said that in order to sleep better, you need to have your thyroid supported as well and for Adrenals to heal, sound sleep is absolutely necessary. So I am currently on 1/2 grain Westhroid / day.

So far both of my conditions are there - marginal improvements, but nothing to write home about. I am taking some adrenal cortex extract that the DO sells. It is not available in the open market as what I understand. But it is a plain "Adrenal Cortex Extract" liquid bottle.

Both Hypothyroid and AF take time to recover. I certainly do have more energy these days compared to what I had before. So I am cautiously optimistic, at least I know what I am dealing with.

Lund-

Thanks for the info. I did have my 4x salivary test done, and my cortisol is barely normal in the AM, then low the next two, and comes to normal again at 12:00am. I wonder when I should take the cortex when I get it. I was planning on just once in the AM.

My thyroid came back all in mid normal range, except the one labeled "t3 uptake" was a bit high. This wasn't "t3" but a separate test called "t3 uptake". My ND didn't seem concerned about it, and I have yet to remember to ask what it indicates. I've been meaning to Google it too.

BJ- I'm not familiar with cortef. I'll have to google that one tomorrow as well. How's it working for you?

I'm using a thymus formula by Soloray:
http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/product_info.php?products_id=168
However, I got it for immune support. In line with that, I must say, I haven't felt this good in a long time. The supplement coincided with my getting two dehumidifiers. Still, I am inclined to think the supplement is playing a role. I feel like I'm on vacation.

The goal is to try mimic the natural cortisol pattern. Highest in the AM and then going down thru out the day and lowest in the evening. You seem to be in the same boat as I am - low cortisol in the morning and at noon. I was told to take ACE in the AM and then @ 2-3PM.

I may experiment with Licorice root as well ( I do have BP on the lower side hence orthostatic hypotension ) - have not done so as I want to give enough time for ACE to work. Once I stop ACE I most likely try Licorice in the morning and noon.