Adrenal Cortex
Synopsis of Adrenal Cortex
The adrenal cortex is the outer portion of the adrenal glands, small endocrine glands located atop each kidney. It plays a vital role in maintaining hormonal balance, metabolic stability, and the body’s stress response through its secretion of steroid hormones. The adrenal cortex is composed of three zones, each producing different types of hormones:
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Zona glomerulosa – produces mineralocorticoids, primarily aldosterone, which regulates sodium, potassium, and blood pressure.
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Zona fasciculata – produces glucocorticoids, primarily cortisol, which controls inflammation, metabolism, immune responses, and helps the body respond to stress.
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Zona reticularis – produces androgens, such as DHEA, which support secondary sex characteristics and can be converted into estrogen and testosterone.
The adrenal cortex works in coordination with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland through the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) to regulate cortisol output in response to stress or daily circadian rhythms. When functioning optimally, it helps the body adapt to physical, mental, and environmental stressors.
Dysfunction of the adrenal cortex can result in:
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Adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) – too little hormone production
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Cushing’s syndrome – excessive cortisol production
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Congenital adrenal hyperplasia – a genetic condition affecting steroid synthesis
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Adrenal fatigue (a debated term) – refers to subclinical cortisol dysregulation due to chronic stress;
Natural remedies to support Adrenal Cortex
Balanced Nutrition: Consume a diet rich in whole foods, healthy fats, and micronutrients like vitamin C, B vitamins, and magnesium, which support adrenal hormone production.
Adaptogenic Herbs: Incorporate adaptogens like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil, which help modulate the body’s stress response and support adrenal health.
Regular Sleep Patterns: Prioritize quality sleep to maintain hormonal rhythms and reduce adrenal strain.
Stress Management: Practice stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, or gentle exercise to prevent adrenal overactivation.
Moderate Exercise: Engage in regular, moderate-intensity exercise to improve circulation and hormone balance without overstressing the adrenals.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to support Adrenal Cortex.
7-Keto-DHEA
adrenal cortex
amino acids
ashwagandha
astragalus
bovine
bovine kidney
bovine liver
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caterpillar mushroom
chrysin
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
eleuthero
gamma oryzanol
ginseng
guayusa
licorice root
maca
magnolia
pantethine
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
phellodendron amurense
phosphatidylserine
porcine kidney
pregnenolone
rehmannia glutinosa
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhodiola
schizonepeta
stigmasterol
tongkat ali
vitamin B
whole adrenal glandular
wild yam
suma
lingzhi
sodium salt
dioscorea
ganoderma
royal jelly
anemarrhena asphodeloides
hypothalamus
herbal blend (proprietary)
thyroid substance
pituitary substance
sea salt
19-Nor-DHEA
11-Keto-Androstenetrione
1-androsterone
1-Androstenedione
19-Norandrostenediol
17 beta-[1-ketoethyl]-androstane-3-one,17a-ol
19-Norandrosta-drol
17beta-(1-ketoethyl)-androstane-3-one, 17a-ol
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
11-Ketotestosterone
25-d-spirosta-3, 5-diene
26-diol, 5 alpha-furostan-12-one-3 beta, 22, 26-triol
3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androst-1-en-17-one
3-Alpha-Hydroxyetioallocholan-17-one
3b-Hydroxy-androstan-17-one
3-Ketosterone
3-deoxy 7-oxo DHEA
3-Ketosteroid
3b-hydroxy-androsta-1,4,6-triene-17-one
3,7-keto-DHEA
3b-hydroxy-androsta-4,6-diene-17-one
3-desoxy-7-KETO-DHEA
3-hydroxy-5alpha-androst-1-en-17-one
4-DHEA
4-androsterone
5 alpha-furost-20(22)-en-12-one-3 beta
5-alpha-furost-20(22)-en-12-one-3 beta, 26-diol
5-androstene-3alpha,17beta-diol
5-alpha-furostan-12-one-3 beta, 22, 26-triol
5,7-Dimethoxyflavone
5alpha-spirostan-2alpha,3beta, 5alpha-triol-6-OH
6-Ketodiosgenin
6, 17 keto etiocholeva-3-ol 3, 17 ketoetiochol-triene
6-Ketoprogesterone
6 Bromo 3, 17 dioxoetioallochalane
7-oxo-DHEA
7-Beta-Hydroxy-DHEA
7-KETO-DHEA
7-Alpha-Hydroxy-DHEA
7b-hydroxy, 17b-dihydro DHEA
7-Hydroxy-DHEA (unspecified)
Adrue
Ashwagandha
Aralia
Animal Tissue
Adrenals
Adrenal
Alpine Lily
Apigenin
Arimistane
Adrenosterone
Ammonium glycyrrhizinate
Ajuga
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Ashitaba
Ajuga turkestanica
Acetyl L-Tyrosine
Agnusides
Androstenedione
Adrenaline
Alkaloids
Adrenals
African Scurf Pea
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Androsterone 3-Acetate
alkaloid
Agnuside
Adrenal extract
Ant
Androstenetriol
Animal protein
Brassaiopsis glomerulata
Black spruce
blend (herb/botanical)
botanical (unspecified)
Bitter orange
Black galingale
Bovine (unspecified)
Bovine Protein
Blend (Mineral)
Bulbine natalensis
Basidiomycota
bugleweed (unspecified)
Basil
Beef
Barbasco
blend (herb/botanical)
Bruteridine
Bovine (not specified)
Bovine (unspecified)
Beef liver
Coffee
Citrin
Clary sage
Caffeine pterostilbene
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Coenzyme A
Cortisol
Cynanchum wilfordii
Chrysin
Cannabinoids
Caffeine alpha-ketoglutarate
Casticin
Chlorogenin
Complex
Cyanotis Vaga
Coca
Cacao
Chinese Licorice
Chinese Thoroughwax
Coffee (mixed)
Cholesterol
Carbohydrate
Cordycepic acid
Cistanche (unspecified)
Dioscorea hondurensis
DHEA
Desoxydiosgenin
DHEA
Dodeca-2E, 4E-Dienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Dioscorea oppositifolia
Diosgenin
Dioscorea nipponica
Diterpenes
Dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/Etetraenoic Acid Isobutylamide
Eurycomanone
Eurypeptides
Egg
Epimedium
Eleuthero Root
Eleutherococcus gracilistylus
Epindrosterone
Eurycoma Longifolia
Eleuthero
Epiandrosterone
Eurypeptides
Epiandrosterone
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Eleutheroside
Fat (unspecified)
food additive (unspecified)
Furostanols (unspecified)
Fungus
Furanosterols
Fungus (unspecified)
Furanosteroid
Forskolin
Genseng (not specified)
Ginseng, Oriental
Ginsenosides
Gamma oryzanol
Ginseng, Siberian
Gland (unspecified)
Glycyrrhiza (unspecified)
Ginsenosides (unspecified)
Ginseng
Glandular Tissues
glycyrrhizic acid
Gland (mixed)
Guaranine
Grains of Paradise
Guayusa
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Guarana
Garcinia (mixed)
Ginsenoside
Glycyrrhizinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
Gland (mixed)
Gugglesterone
Honokiol
Holy Basil Herb
Hypothalamus
Hoenelen
Holy Basil
Hypothalamus protein
Hecogenin
Jungli-bean
Ketosterones (unspecified)
Kola Nut
Kidney
Ketosterone
Ketosterones
Ketosterone (unspecified)
Ketotserones
L-Tyrosine
Laxosterone
Licorice (unspecified)
Liver
Licorice
Licorice (various)
Lithium
Liver
Lavender
Liver
Maral Root
mineral (unspecified)
mineral (unspecified)
Mexican Sarsaparilla
Monoterpenes
Mushrooms
Mexican Yam
Methylxanthine (unspecified)
Methoxylated flavones
Mushroom (unspecified)
Methyl-1-Etiocholenolol-Epietiocholanolone
Manchurian Thorn
NeoHecogenin-3-O-Beta-D-Glycopyranoside
Ox
Oriental Ginseng
Oxypregnane glycoside
peptides (unspecified)
Progenin III
Progesterone
Phosphatidylinostol
Pangamic Acid
Pantethine
Panax Ginseng
Panax Pseudoginseng
Pentacyclic triterpenoids (unspecified)
Peptides (unspecified)
phosphatidyl inositol
Protodioscin
Peptide
Porcine (unspecified)
Pig
Protodioscin
Panax Notoginseng
Pregnane
Porcine
Potato Yam
Porcine (unspecified)
plant (unspecified)
Peptide (unspecified)
Phytocannabinoid (unspecified)
Poly-thyronine
Progesterone
Pregnenolone
Pituitary
Pine Pollen
Pig
Parenchyma
Pantetheine
Pollen (unspecified)
Peptides
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Rosavins
Rhaponticum carthamoides
Rhodola crenulata
Rosabin
Rutacaerpine
Reishi mushroom
Rhodiola (unspecified)
Rhodiola sacra
Reginin A
Resin (unspecified)
Rosarin
Royal Jelly
Rehmannia
Rhodiola
Rhaponticum
Rhodiola crenulata
Robusta Coffee
Sapogenin
Spirostan-5A-Diol-6-one-3-one
Sceletium
Salt (sea)
Sterolic heteroside
salt
Salidrosides
Suma
salt (unspecified)
Sodium
Sodium
Schisandrins
Siberian ginseng
Sarsaparilla (mixed)
Schizandrol A
Shataverins
Sterones (unspecified)
Sodium
Stabilizer
Smilagenin
Sarsaparilla (unspecified)
Saturated fat
Schisandra
Sclareolide
Sequoia
Shiny Bugleweed
Schisandrin
Triterpene (unspecified)
Terpene
Tissue (unspecified)
Tyrosinase
Tribulin
Thyroid
Thyroid
Triterpenes
Triterpene Glycoside (unspecified)
Testosterone precursor (unspecified)
Theanine
Theanine
Triterpene Saponin
Thai kudzu
Triterpenoid (unspecified)
Ursolic Acid
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Vitamin B5
Vitamin C (Ascorbate)
Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantethine)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
Vitamin B5 (pantethine)
Vitamin B5 (unspecified)
Vitamin B5 (mixed)
Vitexicarpin
Vitamin B
Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate)
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Vitex (unspecified)
Vitamin (unspecified)
Withanolides
Withanolide
Wild Yam
Waldelactone
Xanthine
Xanthine (unspecified)
Yam (unspecified)
Yohimbines (unspecified)
