The two adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney and are the size of walnuts. The adrenal glands are our stress glands and produce many powerful hormones to combat stress. The adrenal gland produces cortisol, which is the naturally occurring steroid hormone that is secreted in response to stress. In the face of emotional or physical stress, injury, infection, inflammation, allergies or hormonal decline the adrenal glands responds by producing cortisone. If the stress is chronic, the adrenal glands become fatigued and produce lower and lower levels of cortisol. The adrenal gland's ability to function also decreases with age. Cortisol potentiates the immune system's ability to fight infections. Cortisol also promotes function of thyroid hormones and the sex hormones by the cells of the body. It is the body's natural anti-inflammatory hormone. 

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

• Morning fatigue
• Asthma
• Emotional stress
• Low blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Low libido
• Infertility
• Hormonal imbalance
• Allergies
• Recurrent infections
• Chronic pain or physical stress
• Fainting spells
• Muscle pain
• Hair loss
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Hypothyroidism

If the adrenal gland is under stress and unable to produce the proper amount of cortisol, then the thyroid gland and the sex organs become stressed. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland, ovaries, testicles and adrenal glands work together in synergy. If we have the proper physiological doses of these hormones in our cells, then our body will be healthy and well. If we produce too little of these hormones, then our cells function poorly and we become unhealthy and ill. It is this decline in hormone production that causes aging and leads to a host of degenerative problems.

When we treat adrenal fatigue, which may include bio-identical cortisone, we are attempting to ensure that your hormone levels are maintained in a proper physiological range. As long as your hormones are supplemented appropriately, they will only have positive effects.

Bio-identical cortisol replaces the identical cortisol that is normally produced by your body, but is in insufficient quantities due to adrenal fatigue. This has the effect of relieving the stress on the adrenal gland and allowing the synergistic effect between cortisol, thyroid and sex hormones to occur. This has the inevitable effect of promoting health and wellness.

By supplementing your hormones at  appropriate physiological doses, there will be no long term or adverse side effects; only positive benefits to your health.  Remember that the aging process is caused by the gradual and insidious decline of our various hormone levels. If we want to remain healthy and well, we must maintain our hormones within the physiological range that we experienced when we were younger, healthy and full of vitality.

The adrenal gland also makes several  key hormones such as dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and adrostenedione. These hormones have androgenic (muscle building) effects similar to testosterone but they are not as powerful as testosterone. In women, after menopause, these hormones may be converted in the fat cells of the body to estrogen hormones.