Adrenal Fatigue
Stress can lead to weakened adrenal glands which leads to excessive fatigue. This can also mean trouble thinking clearly or being able to focus. Starting a new school year has multiple stressors involved, but especially so for those on the autism spectrum. If you suspect adrenal fatigue for yourself or your child there are a couple of things you can do to test for it.
Muscle Testing for Adrenal Fatigue
You can muscle test for the adrenal point. To do this extend one arm out in front of you at about eye level. Ask someone to test your arm muscle by gently pressing down on the top of your wrist. The muscle should test strong. Then ask them to cup their right hand in the shape of a “C” and place it over your left armpit. Their fingers will be just inside of your armpit and their thumb just resting on top of your pectoralis muscle. While holding their hand in this place they will test your other arm (your right arm). If the muscle tests weak now then it means your adrenal glands are weak.
Saliva Testing for Adrenal Fatigue
If you would like to do further testing, there is a saliva test from Diagnos-Techs Laboratories that measures your stress hormone (cortisol) levels at four different increments during the day. This test can be done at home or at work, is more accurate than blood testing (92-96%), less invasive than a blood draw, and is more affordable.
Most conventional doctors will measure blood or urine, which only gives one time increment and is far less accurate than saliva testing. Blood tests often allow for false results. To read more in-depth information on saliva testing go to, www.diagnostechs.com, or call (425)251-0596. Most natural practitioners carry this test in their offices, but any practitioner can order one for you by request.
One more added benefit to Diagnos-Techs cortisol saliva test is that it will give you a reading of your gluten tolerance levels. This was automatically added to this test many years ago, as it became apparent that so many people were having elevated cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue due to their bodies reacting to gluten intolerance stressors. So, this is now a two-in-one test for cortisol and gluten antibodies.
When the body does not properly break down the proteins in wheat and dairy, it creates opiate properties. Among the many issues that arise from this are the reduction in the brain’s ability to focus, anxiety, irritability, stomach aches and headaches.
What you can do for Weak Adrenals
There are some great natural choices for assisting adrenal function. Some good choices are:
- The product Drenamin from Standard Process. One pill, three times per day, is often helpful. This is in pill form that can be crushed for non-pill takers.
- Unda Ribes Nigrum (liquid) is a homeopathic remedy that assists the adrenals.
- Solid Licorice Extract from Wise Women Herbals is helpful with just one eighth to one quarter of a teaspoon, one to three times per day.
Himalayan sea salt. Yes, that’s right. Mineral salts are helpful for the adrenal glands too.
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Excellent content. One of the best I’ve found.
This was the missing piece of the puzzle for our son. He suffered for years with the mainstream never once thinking about hi adrenal function. They only wanted to trow prescription meds at symptoms. – Never considering the underlying cause.Once we got him on adrenal support, his chronic, repeat infections, asthma, anxiety, crying easily, inability to cope, and meltdowns disappeared!
It is hard to put into words how much adrenal support improved his health and quality of life and function.
Thank you for sharing this. It helps other parents to understand this piece and its involvement. There is a direct correlation called the Hypothalamic/Pituitary/Adrenal Axis. You can listen to Dr. Usman talk about this at, http://www.autismone.org/content/dr-anju-usman-addressing-hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal-axis-using-integrative-approach-ds
Starbucks 75 please can you tell me what adrenal support you used I am totally desperate with all the symptoms you mentioned, in my son too
Hi Sally, There is much to this beyond diet and adrenal support. Since you are desperate and asking for help I would encourage you to look into my step by step online program. It is successfully helping parents in over 35 countries now. You can learn about it at, https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/invite.
I have adrenal fatigue. I didn’t even know I had it until I had a baby and it got much worse over time. I actually came here because my son is showing signs of autism now and I was wondering if it can actually be the result of adrenal fatigue rather than adrenal fatigue causing autism. But there is a big spectrum so who knows.
My anxiety and stress levels go through the roof if something is overwhelming for me and the more fatigued I am, the easier to get distressed by sounds or general tiredness. My son seems worse in these situations too..
Yes, there is so much I have to tell you, so I will share my free webinar that explains the necessary 4 stages to recovery. Please register at, NaturallyRecoveringAutism.com/freeworkshop
Hi
My son diagnosed with autism
Less expressive with little understanding.very little language.
Doing b12 shots+homeopathy
But still behind in language n understanding
Homeopathy and B12 are good, but there’s more that could help. If you want to learn more about the rest of the stages necessary please see my free webinar, at NaturallyRecoveringAutism.com/freeworkshop