by Sara Wood

While there are many factors that play a role in IBS, one area of promising research is the relationship between hormones, the HPA axis and bowel function. While it has not been proven that stress is the primary "cause" of IBS, it is known to exacerbate symptoms and research has shown that people with IBS have altered cortisol secretion...

Editor’s Note from Alisha Moadab: Labrix is a lab located in Oregon City, OR which specializes in salivary hormone testing. This article was retrived from their newsletter.

Naturopathy

by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD,

ATH Guest Editor of Integrative Medicine

The Type 2 sugar addict is constantly reacting to stressful stimuli in the environment, which activates the adrenal glands to produce the stress-handler hormones cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline). When your adrenals become overtaxed by the constant tension of modern life and don’t respond by giving you a kick of energy, you may reach for sugar to “pump them up"...

Editor's Note: This is Part 4 of a 6-Part series on Sugar Addiction. Read Part 1: Recovering From Sugar Addiction — an Overview, Part 2: Beat Sugar Addiction Now!, and Part 3: Are You Hooked on “Red Bulls” or Coffee? —  Type 1 Sugar Addiction.

Integrative Medicine

by Jay H. Mead MD, FASCP

While the blooming trees and colorful flowers popping up this time of year are beautiful, the pollen is also out in full force and affecting millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Many of us think of testing cortisol levels for those patients who present with fatigue or insomnia, but did you know your patients' allergic reactions may also have an adrenal component?...

Editor's Note from Dr. Alisha Moadab: The season for allergies still continues, it also varies where you are at in the country. Many ailments have roots going back to the adrenals, allergies being one of them. If your adrenal glands are not functioning optimally you may be more predisposed to allergies amongst other problems, often the biggest symptom occuring is fatigue.

Naturopathy

by Dr. Andrew Rubman

Calories aren’t the culprit. Cortisol is the culprit. The fight or flight syndrome that is the basis of our physiological response to stress causes the adrenal glands to produce this hormone, whose job it is to modulate the effects of insulin on blood sugar. Ongoing stress can tax the system beyond its normal abilities... especially when coupled with poor dietary choices... 

Naturopathy

by 1St Holistic

* Deep rest-as measured by decreased metabolic rate, lower heart rate, and reduced work load of the heart.

* Lowered levels of cortisol and lactate-two chemicals associated with stress.