Adrenal Health Protocol by Joseph J Collins, RN, ND
This protocol will guide you through the processes that will help you recover from “adrenal fatigue” and other fatigue disorders by restoring homeostasis to the various regulatory systems that are imbalanced when “adrenal fatigue” occurs. Before using this protocol, and to fully understand the concepts discussed in this protocol, it is best to have gone through the series of articles on Adrenal Health.
The symptoms associated with “adrenal fatigue” and loss of homeostasis can vary significantly from person to person based upon which of the regulatory systems is imbalanced and stuck out of homeostasis, and the severity of the imbalance. The HPA and SAS are commonly out of balance in patients suffering from fatigue and difficulty thinking clearly. Imbalance of other regulatory systems can result in increased inflammation and pain, blood sugar disorders, fluid retention, appetite changes, weight gain or weight loss, and sexual dysfunction. AdrenoMend™ addresses all of the homeostasis regulatory systems involved in “adrenal fatigue” and fatigue disorders.
Insights into the underlying causes of “adrenal fatigue” can be made through the use of questionnaires, and/or lab tests. A diagnosis can only be made by a licensed healthcare professional. The Hormone Health Guidelines provide a detailed description on how to the get the best results from protocols.
Foundations of Health
Foundations of hormone health include lifestyle and dietary choices that support optimal hormone function, a high grade multiple vitamin-mineral formulation, essential fatty acids rich in docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, and a high grade multiple species probiotic to support optimal health of digestive system and immune system. To learn more about the foundations of hormone health, please see the Hormone Health Guidelines series of articles.
Primary Hormone Health Formulations
The most important Hormone Specific Formulation™ for addressing “adrenal fatigue” and the loss of homeostasis is AdrenoMend™.
AdrenoMend™ is the only adaptogen formulation designed to restore normal adrenal function and support the normal homeostasis of multiple regulatory systems that become imbalanced with “adrenal fatigue” and other fatigue disorders. This formulation was developed so that the adaptogens work synergistically to increase the effectiveness of the formulation.
Dosage Guidelines for AdrenoMend™
AdrenoMend™ has very unique dosage guidelines on the label because adaptogens work best when started at a lower dosage, and then increased to the full dosage. This allows the body to be gently moved back into homeostasis. As a dietary supplement, adults can take 2 capsules of AdrenoMend™ each morning with food for 1 to 2 weeks or as directed by your healthcare professional. The dose may be increased to 4 capsules each morning with food for 2 to 4 months or as directed by your healthcare professional. After 2 to 4 months, may lower dose back down to 2 capsules each morning with food, or as directed by your healthcare professional. These unique dosage guidelines are referred to as Protocol 242™, and were developed specifically for the Hormone Specific™ Formulations by Dr Joseph J Collins, RN, ND.
Significant clinical improvement should occur within the first two months of using AdrenoMend™ when foundational therapies are used concurrently. Please review Customized Dosing Guidelines for the protocols on increasing dosages, weaning, and determining maintenance dosage. AdrenoMend™ should be taken at least two months after symptoms are under control before attempting to wean down to maintenance dosage. It is sometimes better to delay weaning in situations of extreme fatigue, or fatigue that has lasted for years.
In order to wean down to a maintenance dosage the stressors that cause the “adrenal fatigue” and loss of homeostasis must be eliminated.
Reducing or Eliminating Stressors
An important component of overcoming fatigue disorders is to reduce or eliminate stressors that can be reduced or eliminated. Not all stressors can be eliminated, such as the need to drive to work. However, by working on stressors that can be reduced or eliminated, we are better equipped to tolerate those stressors we cannot change.
Some examples of the most common stressors we are able to reduce or eliminate include overuse of caffeine and/or alcohol, overeating, excessive intake of sugar, excessive intake of salt, sedentary lifestyle, sleep deprivation and social withdrawal. Many of these behaviors are actually a result of trying to “deal with stress”. They may be recognized a “maladaptive behaviors”, which are behaviors used to reduce one's anxiety, but the result is dysfunctional is non-productive in alleviating the actual problem. These maladaptive behaviors actually keep a person stuck in allostasis (out of homeostasis).
Unfortunately, stopping these maladaptive behaviors is stressful in and of itself. Attempt to stop overuse of caffeine and/or alcohol, overeating, excessive intake of sugar, excessive intake of salt, sedentary lifestyle, sleep deprivation and social withdrawal are met with “I’ve tried to quit, but I just can’t.” Again, they are stuck is allostasis. The person has trouble trying to “adapt to being healthy again”.
Use of a properly balanced adaptogen formulation (AdrenoMend™) will allow a person to adapt to being well again. After taking the formulation for 2 to 4 weeks, people find they are able to stop the overuse of caffeine and/or alcohol, overeating, excessive intake of sugar, excessive intake of salt, sedentary lifestyle, sleep deprivation and social withdrawal. Still, it is best that some of these behavior changes must take place slowly. For example, stopping caffeine intake abruptly can trigger headaches. Likewise, going from sedentary to extreme exercise (overtraining) in a few days is very stressful to many regulatory systems.
Stopping caffeine and starting exercise should both be done gradually and consistently. After taking the formulation for 1 to 2 weeks decrease caffeine intake by 25% every three to five days (if you feel the change too much, then adjust your weaning schedule as needed). And after being on the formulation for 1 to 2 weeks, start increasing activity 10% a week. Start with walking, biking or swimming. If you are going to try weights never lift more weight than you can lift as three sets of ten (lift 10 times, wait 15 to 60 seconds and life the next set). If you can’t do all three sets – you are probably overtraining. And be sure to follow the guidelines discussed in the Foundations of Hormone Health article.
Through patience and a commitment to achieve health every maladaptive behavior can be eliminated. This transition back to health is easier with the adaptive properties of AdrenoMend™. So be patient, be consistent, and foster a positive outlook. Things will get better.
The series of articles on Adrenal Health provide significant details about the benefits of using AdrenoMend™ to restore normal adrenal function and support the normal homeostasis of multiple regulatory systems that have become imbalanced with “adrenal fatigue”.
The Hormone Health Guidelines provide an important and detailed description on how to the get the best results from all of the protocols.
For additional information on “adrenal fatigue” and other fatigue disorders please read the series of articles on Adrenal Health.
Next: Learn more About AdrenoMend™