posted
Yesterday, I got a little good news in the mail when I received the results of the adrenal tests I did a week or so ago�.The Cortisol levels, DHEA and DHEA Cortisol ratio are all now in NORMAL range which means that my Adrenals are back functioning�..this after a 2 year battle and treating. Two years ago when I had my first Lyme tests the Dr also recommended my adrenals be tested and when the results came back everything was abnormal and I was producing almost no cortisol and in total adrenal fatigue�This is a major complication of Lyme Disease as the spirochetes get in every organ and wreak havoc�..I have been working to get them functioning again so I can get my thyroid working�My thyroid is also not working and it can be very dangerous even fatal to treat your Thyroid when adrenals are not working�getting the thyroid functioning is still an ongoing process. I had the 4 part sputum test by Genova Diagnostics this time. My treatment for the past two years has been Licorice tea then later licorice extract drops day 1 to 24 each month then 1 week off. Adaptogen capsules from Dr Wilson (WTS meds) and a couple of months into treatment I added desiccated adrenal tablets from nutri-meds. I recently switched from the licorice drops to licorice chewable tabs. From Vitacost. Good news fellow Lymies persistence pays off and these natural methods do work.
-------------------- I am not a Doctor and I never played one on TV, I'm just a lab rat with Lyme trying to rid myself of this horrible disease. Posts: 88 | From Florida | Registered: Apr 2010
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
Thank you for this info. This is something I have to work on. My last doc mentioned licorice, though I don't remember it being in relation to adrenal.
Can you give me some more info:
- licorice tea--is this something just from a health food store or similar place?
- licorice extract drops, what brand did you use and where did you purchase?
- do you mean you took licorice tea early in the day and drops later in the day, or that for a while you were using the tea and then you later switched to the drops some time into your treatment?
- what is the reasoning between 1 week off a month?
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
Licorice can cause high blood pressure and fluid retention....so you should research it first.
Licoric stimulates the production of cortisol which I was not producing much of.
The ND I went to 2009 recommended it. It was 10:1 powdered extract made by People's Herbs Inc and I got it from his office. I took it as a tea in the morning and as far as the taking a break, I am sure he told me why but I was so sick back then that very little I was told stuck with me. It was on his instruction sheet, I posted it on my refrigerator and just how I have continued to do it.
Reading about Licorice it says to not take more than 4-6 wks without taking a break of couple wks.
For convenience I later switched to drops by Eclectic Institute, I got these at a Health Food Store and took only 3-4 drops each morning, again with a l wk break.
Recently, I switched to the chewable tablets from vitacost, for no particular reason.
Hope this helps.
-------------------- I am not a Doctor and I never played one on TV, I'm just a lab rat with Lyme trying to rid myself of this horrible disease. Posts: 88 | From Florida | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I would also recommend vit C. I remember reading how C is used up almost like fuel when producing cortisol. My adrenals were terribly shot at one point where I could hardly tolerate any type of stress and this seemed to help in the long run.
Posts: 37 | From Tampa, Fl | Registered: Feb 2011
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
My husband was taking up to 20,000 mgs of vitamin c per day for awhile because of adrenal exhaustion.
He spaced it out and took vit C all day long. He could tell a difference in a short time when he began increasing vit C.
Currently he's taking around 14,000 mgs of C per day.
He's also taking James Wilson's adrenal supplements.
Posts: 2252 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
If you scroll down on this link there is a good list of helpful supplements "Dietary Supplements: Herbs, Stress and Adrenal Fatigue".
But first you must know if your cortisol is too low or too high. Adaptogens will work in either situation.
And yes I agree with abxnomore you need to be tested first to see what state your adrenals are in.
I have no financial connection with any supplement I take except to be a customer.
-------------------- I am not a Doctor and I never played one on TV, I'm just a lab rat with Lyme trying to rid myself of this horrible disease. Posts: 88 | From Florida | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I don't think that licorice stimulates the adrenals to make more cortisol. It prevents its degradation so that it 'sticks' around longer. What I've never managed to establish is whether it actually results in adrenal suppresssion via the feedback mechanism, like Cortef does. Sue
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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I have heard that you need to be careful when taking a supplement with adrenal glandulars. I guess there can be crazy withdrawals when using these for extended period of times
Fuel
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
Thanks, I am going to give some of this a try.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
The concern with glandulars in the past was mad cow disease. Many integrative doctors stopped using them, even Isocort has been reformulated to exclude them.
Here is a good link explaining how licorice helps the adrenals:
posted
Abxnomore -good article about how licorice works.
Fuel1212 - Yes at some point I will start reducing the glandular but very, very slowly...do not want to fall back. Will continue the licorice and adaptogen to keep supporting my adrenals.
I have learned and maybe this is due to Lyme that I need start and stop any medications/supplements slowly...sometimes only 1/4 tab/capsule at a time
whitmore - Thanks, that seems to be what the above article says also.
-------------------- I am not a Doctor and I never played one on TV, I'm just a lab rat with Lyme trying to rid myself of this horrible disease. Posts: 88 | From Florida | Registered: Apr 2010
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