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Natural Cure for a Tumor in the Adrenal Gland

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, adenoma is the most common type of adrenal gland tumor, making up 99 percent of all adrenal gland tumors. Adenomas are benign, and if small, usually require no treatment. Some tumors may result in painful symptoms, and when traditional medicine is not effective, natural therapy may be the next step. There is no cure.

  1. Function of Healthy Adrenal Glands

    • The two thumb-sized adrenal glands are located above each kidney. Adrenal glands produce hormones that help control blood pressure, blood sugar and water usage in the body. The adrenals regulate potassium and sodium balance, which provide our energy source, and the inner part of the adrenals--called the medulla--sends out the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which help with stress control.

    Causes

    • New cells generally grow and divide to replace old or damaged cells in a highly regulated process. Once the process is complete, normal cells stop dividing. Tumors occur when cells continue to grow uncontrollably. If the tumor is benign, it won't spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors may damage body tissue around them and can spread to other parts of the body.

    Symptoms

    • Untreated tumors can cause severe hormonal imbalances. Symptoms may include high blood pressure, low potassium, heart palpitations, nervousness and anxiety.

    Diagnosis

    • At the request of your physician, you'll collect a 24-hour urine sample and bring the sample to the lab. Your urine sample will be analyzed to see how fast hormones in the body are producing. If necessary, an MRI, blood tests or a CT scan may be performed.

    Traditional Treatment

    • If medications that suppress adrenal gland functions don't control tumor symptoms, surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland may be recommended.

    Natural Diet

    • A diet of whole organic foods can strengthen the adrenals. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, caffeine and alcohol should be eliminated from the diet. Eat steamed vegetables, which include mineral-containing juices, to fight fatigue. To restore adrenal gland function, eat potassium-rich foods such as yams, spinach, beans and potatoes with the skin. Eat high-potassium snacks such as raisins, Brazil nuts, peanuts, figs and bananas. Aim for a potassium intake of 3 to 5 g a day. High-sodium foods such as canned soup, chili, potato chips, pizza, and frozen dinners should be avoided.

    Herbal Remedies

    • Drink teas made from licorice root, Hawthorne and gotu kola to help restore adrenal function. If you have high blood pressure avoid licorice root, as it causes sodium retention in the body. Echinacea root, astragalus root and milk thistle seed are beneficial extracts. Siberian ginseng increases the body's ability to fight stress, fatigue and disease, and helps boost the immune system. Doses of 2 to 4 g daily for up to 60 days are generally well-tolerated by the body.

    Vitamins

    • Take vitamin C, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium to promote healthy adrenal gland function. Take a minimum of 100 mg a day of pantothenic acid to keep adrenal glands from wasting or decreasing in size. Eat pantothenic-rich foods such as whole grains, peas and beans, cauliflower, broccoli, salmon, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.

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