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Homeopathic Therapy for Adrenal Gland

Adrenal glands are endocrine glands that regulate the stress response by releasing cortisol and adrenaline. Many homeopathic practitioners offer treatment for suboptimal adrenal gland function, also called adrenal gland fatigue. Although adrenal gland diseases should be diagnosed and treated by a licensed physician, you may want to consult with him about the possibility of using complementary homeopathic therapy to promote adrenal gland health.

  1. Adrenal Gland Fatigue

    • Conventional medicine and homeopathic medicine are somewhat at odds over adrenal gland fatigue. Medical doctors acknowledge the existence of adrenal gland diseases–among them Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease–but do not always consider adrenal gland fatigue to be a legitimate medical diagnosis. Many alternative practitioners maintain that it is not only a legitimate condition but a common one, with symptoms of cravings for sugar, salt and caffeine, fatigue, forgetfulness, weakness, lethargy and digestive disturbances. Some people report relief of these symptoms after undergoing homeopathic therapies.

    Homeopathic Adrenal Therapy

    • If you visit a homeopathic practitioner for therapy to improve the functioning of your adrenal gland, he will probably start by recommending changes in lifestyle, including eliminating caffeine, reducing intake of white bread and sugar, eating more whole grains and fresh fruits, and beginning a natural stress-relieving program such as meditation. Your homeopath may also prescribe remedies according to your diagnosis and symptoms. These remedies are based on the homeopathic philosophy that "like cures like"; to treat illness, a homeopath will prescribe you miniscule amounts of substances that would cause the same symptoms in a healthy person. To battle the weakness and lethargy caused by adrenal gland fatigue, he may prescribe phosphoric acid, argentum nitricum–made from nitrate of silver–or kalium phosphoricum, a dilution of potassium phosphate. He may recommend mercurius vivus, made from elemental mercury, to relieve digestive disturbances, as well as nux vomica, made from the seeds of the poison-nut tree. He may also use nux vomica to help the mental fog and fuzzy thinking believed to result from adrenal gland fatigue, as well as magnesia phosphorica to restore emotional balance. To elevate mood, release tension and promote healing, he may use gelsemium, made from the root of the jessamine plant.

    Precautions

    • Do not stop or reduce any prescription medications without the permission of your physician. Although homeopathic medicine is generally considered safe because of the infinitesimal amounts used in the remedies, be aware that vitamins and supplements can have side effects and interfere with prescription medicine. Don't start any vitamin or herbal regimen without consulting your doctor.

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