Definition

Adrenal fatigue is a term used in naturopathic medicine to describe a collection of symptoms—chronic fatigue, salt cravings, difficulty waking, afternoon slumps, reliance on caffeine—attributed to HPA axis dysfunction and cortisol dysregulation from chronic stress. While controversial in conventional medicine, functional testing reveals cortisol imbalances in many patients with these symptoms.

Why It Matters

Whether termed adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysfunction, chronic stress depletes the body's stress response capacity, leading to cortisol rhythm disruptions, fatigue, mood changes, and metabolic issues. Addressing this through stress management, adaptogens, sleep optimization, and lifestyle changes significantly improves quality of life.

Related Conditions

Fatigue Burnout Anxiety Depression Insomnia

Related Modalities

Lifestyle Medicine Botanical Medicine Functional Lab Testing Clinical Nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

Adrenal fatigue is not recognized in conventional medicine, which reserves 'adrenal insufficiency' for rare, severe conditions. However, functional medicine practitioners recognize HPA axis dysfunction—a state of stress-induced cortisol dysregulation—as a real condition with measurable lab findings and effective treatments.

Treatment includes stress management (mindfulness, counseling), adaptogenic herbs (ashwagandha, rhodiola), optimizing sleep and circadian rhythms, blood sugar balance, adequate rest and recovery, gentle exercise, B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and addressing underlying stressors.