Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, an Integrative Medicine physician, researcher, and best-selling author specializing in chronic fatigue syndrome, details “adrenal fatigue,” contrasting Endocrine Society guidelines focused on overt adrenal failure with his view that the adrenals can be functionally exhausted and may be missed by standard testing and “normal ranges.” They discuss adrenal roles in stress response, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure, immunity, and symptoms suggesting low adrenal function (irritability when hungry, sugar cravings, fatigue, recurrent infections, lightheadedness/brain fog, mood shifts). Contributors include high sugar intake, chronic stress, dehydration, and salt restriction, with modern media fear/divisiveness cited as a major stressor; hypothalamic dysfunction and circadian rhythm disruption may cause “tired but wired” insomnia. They cover options such as licorice (not DGL), dietary and lifestyle changes, Adrenaplex, adaptogens (ashwagandha standards, HRG80 red ginseng study), phosphatidylserine for high nighttime cortisol, cautious low-dose hydrocortisone thresholds, and DHEA/pregnenolone considerations, plus resources at endfatigue.com.
