The Adrenals – Insights into old friends largely ignored at your 
health's expense.
Adrenals are fascinating little glands situated on the top of our 
kidneys. The adrenal glands exert a major influence on our health.  
Early experiments found that removal of rat adrenal glands produced no 
obvious effects, if the ideal rat environment was maintained:   proper 
temperature and amounts of food, water and salt; rest at proper 
intervals; and avoidance of infection, crowding, and excessive 
exercise. If any of these environmental factors changed, the animal 
died.  The conclusion was that healthy adrenal glands were necessary 
for adapting to changes in our environment.  ..............
Under conditions of prolonged stress, our adrenal glands will adapt, 
but if the stresses are not relieved and/or the nutritional support for 
the adrenal is in adequate, the gland goes into a phase of exhaustion.  
Is it any wonder we're all exhausted?  Adrenal exhaustion is 
characterized by fatigue, weakness, susceptibility to infection, 
menstrual problems, depression and lack of interest in life, a low 
libido, and frequently an auto-immune disorder. 
  When placed under stress, most people don't think of increasing 
vitamins and mineral intake, taking melatonin, going to bed earlier, 
eliminating junk foods from their diet, etc.  In fact, under stress, 
most do the opposite.
.......................
This has only been an introduction to our neglected adrenals.  For more 
information consider The Cortisol Connection, by Shawn Talbott, PhD; 
Adrenal Fatigue, by James Wilson, ND; The Safe Use of Cortisone, by 
William Jefferies, M.D.