Ellora Muna
- Jul 22, 2019
- 7 min read

The Very Mysterious Adrenal Gland

Updated: Sep 5, 2019

"Harmful stress forms when a person must do something their heart is not wanting to do, period."

-Dale Stepps, Cell Intelligence C.I.A, Engineer and Nutrition Expert.

Whether looked at from the standpoint of Eastern or Western cures-- the management of the adrenal gland is a mysterious blueprint distinct to every person. The adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney and play a very important role as they regulate the hormones responsible for the “fight or flight” stress response.

They are two parts, the outer glands are known as the adrenal cortex and the glands inside are called the adrenal medulla.

Under no circumstances do not want these removed!

IS Your Stress Temporary?

The adrenal glands are deeply involved in the body’s regulation of stress--unless they become damaged from chronic stress or maybe due to an injury from a wound stab or car accident - you can expect them to discharge critical hormones that perform the following functions:

The adrenal cortex secretes 3 hormones:

1. aldosterone: this hormone helps the body maintain its salt and water levels by increasing the amount of sodium the kidneys absorb into the bloodstream and potassium it releases into urine.

If your aldosterone levels are low, then the opposite effect will take place-- your kidneys will lose massive amounts of water (as well as sodium) leading to severe dehydration and low blood pressure (1)

MMA fighters use this technique to cut weight fast by down-regulating aldosterone.

2. cortisol: the hormone is a steroid hormone that can help control how your body

uses protein, fats and carbs (2 ) In stressful situations cortisol, provides your body with

sugar by tapping into protein stores through a process known as gluconeogenesis

(it takes place in the liver).

If you are sick, your cortisol levels will also rise, as it attempts to regulate your metabolism. Stress triggers the secretion of this hormone which inhibits insulin release and floods the body with glucose for immediate energy, so that is readily available for a "fight or flight" action along with epinephrine (6).

If your cortisol levels are elevated because of repeated chronic stress from a job you

hate and not a temporary means for you to escape a wild lion, then you can expect to incur weight gain and an enlarged waistline from visceral fat storage (7).

Cortisol you should know indirectly stimulates appetite.

It may be correctly assumed that anyone with an extended waistline, may have endured months of uncontrolled stress in their lives (7).

3. The male sex hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone: play a role in the development of the early male and female sex organs during puberty.

The adrenal gland is the producer of the most critical hormones, adrenalin and the steroid hormones, cortisol and aldosterone.

The adrenal medulla secretes the catecholamines neurotransmitters responsible for the 'flight or fight' response.

adrenalin (epinephrine)
norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
dopamine by exception is a neurohormone secreted by the brain.

High catecholamine levels in the bloodstream are associated with Stress (9).

More, More, More, Hormones...

Cushing's syndrome is the result of excessive corticosteroids in the body. Whether the adrenal glands are overactive, producing an excessive amount of specific hormones or whether someone is on long-term external steroids such as prednisone, an overactive adrenal gland can wreak havoc on one's weight and immune system.

When an adrenal gland "acts up" and produces an excessive amount of hormones, it is termed "overactive." When it is 'doing way too much' for your body, the following malfunctions can ensue.

Mysterious Features That Appear

Excess Androgenic steroids ( like Testosterone) can cause the following features to mysteriously appear:

male characteristics in both men and women
premature, male pattern baldness and hair loss
severe acne on the face, top of the shoulders and back
deeper voice, exaggerated jawline

Overproduction of Corticosteroids

An overproduction of corticosteroids can lead to Cushing's syndrome the signs and symptoms (s/s) of which:

Upper body obesity
Round or moon face
Excess facial and body hair growth
Increased fat around neck or a fatty hump between the shoulders
Thinning arms and legs
Fragile and thin skin
Stretch marks on abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms, and breasts
Bone and muscle weakness
Severe fatigueHigh blood pressure
High blood sugar, irritability and anxiety in women
Irregular or stopped menstrual cycles in women
Reduced sex drive and fertility in men

Overproduction of Aldosterone

can lead to high blood pressure
s/s associated with low levels of potassium, such as weakness, muscle aches, spasms, and sometimes paralysis.

As you can see, the symptoms of overactive adrenal glands may resemble other medical conditions. See your doctor and anticipate specific blood tests that measure hormone levels, radiologic tests and tests on your urine.

Is the stress hormone, “Cortisol” bad for me?

As said by Hippocrates, “everything in excess is opposed to nature.” While cortisol in excess is not beneficial and can lead to belly fat retention, nature has a good reason for placing cortisol in your body. If you don't derange the process with bad eating habits that include eating late, poor sleep habits, disturbed circadian rhythms, emotional stress from work, then you will discover what a perfect balancing act it does to your metabolism.

All steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol. Cholesterol is either obtained from the diet or synthesized from acetate by a CoA reductase enzyme (2).

Cortisol temporarily increases your blood sugar when you need a “flight or fight" response. It helps control your blood sugar levels when you are exercising, regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and control blood pressure.

“It is secreted during exercise to enhance the use of proteins for fuel and to suppress inflammation that accompanies tissue injury”

-Thomas D. Fahey, Exercise Physiology Laboratory.

When Do You Make Too Much Cortisol?

When you subject yourself to too much stress, you will produce excess cortisol! When cortisol levels are elevated long term, it constantly produces glucose, thus, increases blood sugar in the blood ( far more than what you need). As long as you feel stressed, your cortisol levels will remain high.

Are you happy where you work? Do you work the graveyard shift? Do you recover from stressful situations before starting your next project?

I would start to place "your happiness" in a higher position than plodding at a job you hate.

The latter will rob you of freedom, happiness, security and health and nature has a way of stopping us dead (pun in intended) in our tracks, if we ignore her warnings long enough.

When you bring love, stillness and space back to your life, you will find yourself privy to the mysterious workings of the adrenal gland- with happy, abundant and healthy organs that work efficiently with no external effort at all.

How you choose to live will determine how you die. So, make choices to support your adrenal glands by investing in your joy often.