Category: Addison’s Disease

July 15, 2021

Natural Remedies for Addison’s disease (Hypocortisolism)

Abstract

Addison’s disease is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency as its main characteristic feature is the inadequate production of cortisol and aldosterone (steroid) hormones by adrenal cortex which are the two outer layers of adrenal gland cells. This insufficiency results in clusters of signs and symptoms and affects an individual as a whole. In this article you will be learning all about Addison’s disease and its herbal management through herbal remedies offered by Planet Ayurveda.

Introduction

Addison’s disease is a rare disorder in which the important hormones, i.e. cortisol and aldosterone are not sufficiently produced by the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. As hormones are the chemical messengers which control the various functions in the body and similarly these two hormones also have very important and specific actions like cortisol is known as stress hormone which helps the body to respond to stress of injury, illness or surgery. Cortisol also maintains normal heart function, blood pressure and blood glucose level and healthy functioning of the immune system. On the other hand aldosterone controls the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood which eventually controls the urine amount excreted by kidneys. The amount of fluid removed by kidneys affects the blood pressure and blood volume.

Signs And Symptoms

Adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease develops gradually over the time so do the symptoms appear slowly with passing time. Some of the major symptoms appear are

    • Pain in abdomen
    • Irregular menstrual cycle
    • Desire and craving for salty food
    • Dehydration
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Diarrhea
    • Depression and irritability
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • Decreased appetite
    • Low blood pressure and blood glucose
    • Weakness of muscles
    • Extreme fatigue
    • Unexplained weight loss

symptoms of Addison’s disease

Causes

Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disease which is caused due to abnormal functioning of the immune system resulting in targeting of the body’s own tissues and organs and damaging them. In Addison’s disease the immune system attacks the adrenal cortex where the cortisol and aldosterone are produced hence resulting in insufficient production of the named hormones. There can be few other causes as well which comprises some of the cases of Addison’s disease like:

  • Adrenal glands injury
  • Infections like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or fungal infections
  • Cancer cells invading adrenal glands from other parts of the body
  • Removal of adrenal glands surgically
  • Building up of abnormal protein, i.e. Amyloid on adrenal glands
  • Genetic defects

Diagnosis

Thorough history and physical examination will help in determining some of the visible signs and symptoms explained by the patient. Further blood tests are done to measure the potassium, sodium and ACTH levels in the blood. Some other confirmatory tests are done like

  • ACTH stimulation test
  • X-rays
  • CT scan (Computed tomography)

Treatment of Addison’s Disease

Conventional treatment for Addison’s disease includes hormonal therapies in order to fulfill the deficiency, hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone acetate tablets. However it is not effective for all of the patients.

Ayurveda has always been a ray of hope especially in case of autoimmune diseases where the herbal treatment helps in managing the presenting complaints and also helps in eradicating the root cause. Treatment in Ayurveda is aimed at restoring the balance of the tridosha, i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha (when imbalanced causes diseases) and boosts the natural immunity to work efficiently and in a correct way. In Ayurvedic treatment along with the internal medicine, a certain way of living and eating is also recommended to be followed in order to get a healthy body.

Herbal Remedies by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is a renowned herbal pharmaceutical company which works to manufacture herbal medicines and products. These herbal products are produced following the strict Ayurvedic principles and under the supervision of MD Ayurveda doctors. All of the herbal medicines and products are purely vegetarian, organic and herbal, free from preservatives, additives, chemicals, dye, fillers, yeast and colors. Various acute and chronic diseases are treated here with the help of these medicines that are prescribed to the patients by experienced MD Ayurveda doctors. For Addison’s disease also Planet Ayurveda offers a combination of herbal medicines which work efficiently to treat and manage the condition naturally.

Product List

  1. Navkarshik churna
  2. Gotukola capsule
  3. Kanchnaar guggul
  4. Boswellia curcumin

Herbal Remedies for Addison's disease

Product Description

1. Navkarshik churna

Therapeutic herbs like Amla (Emblica officinalis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bahera (Terminalia bellerica), Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), and Daruhaldi (Berberis aristata) are used in the preparation of Navkarshik churna which possess amazing therapeutic properties. Navakarshik churna acts as an immunomodulator and modifies the action of the immune system preventing destruction of the adrenal gland.

Dosage– Take one teaspoon twice daily after meals with plain water

2. Gotukola capsule

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) herb is used in the standardized extract form to prepare these herbal capsules. Gotu Kola capsules help in treating depression and anxiety, provides vitality to the body, and treats extreme weakness.

Dosage– Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water

3. Kanchnaar guggul

It is formulated using medicinal herbs like Kanchnaar (Bauhinia variegata), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich (Piper nigrum), and Varuna (Crataeva nurvala). Kanchnaar guggul helps in maintaining a balance of tridosha, possess rejuvenating properties, antioxidant, and immunomodulator actions.

Dosage– Take 2 tablets twice daily after meals with plain water

4. Boswellia curcumin

Two medicinal herbs Shallaki (Boswellia serrata), and Haridra (Curcuma longa) are used to prepare these therapeutic capsules. Boswellia curcumin capsules help in modifying the action of the immune system, preventing the destruction of cells of adrenal gland, helps in healing of internal organs and relieves pain in muscles and provides strength to the body.

Dosage– Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water

Conclusion

Addison’s disease or primary adrenal insufficiency is a rare autoimmune disorder which affects the whole system of the person resulting in a wide range of presenting complaints. Signs and symptoms are usually present in many other disorders as well which makes it difficult to diagnose the condition. However careful observation and history can help in diagnosing it. Early diagnosis and start of treatment is necessary to prevent further damage to the adrenal glands. However the herbal remedies suggested in this write up can help in management and treatment of the condition naturally.

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November 19, 2020

Can Addison’s Disease be managed with Ayurvedic Remedies without Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Addison’s disease is also called Adrenal Insufficiency, as it damages the adrenal gland causing low production of the steroid hormones “Cortisol” and “Aldosterone”. It is a health problem that can be serious if not treated on time but it is good to find that it is uncommon and can be managed well with natural methods of treatment. So, let us know deeply about why is the normal production of these hormones necessary? What are their functions in our body? How does Addison’s disease appear, what are the indications and how can it be treated with the most ancient and traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda.

What is Addison’s Disease?

As discussed above, Adrenal insufficiency is another name of Addison’s disease, which clearly mentions that the main issue here is with adrenal (cortex) gland. The adrenal glands are situated just above our kidneys and helps in maintaining body functioning by forming some necessary hormones. When these glands failed to produce the appropriate amount of “Cortisol” and “Aldosterone” hormones, then the situation occurs. It can affect the people of any age group irrespective of their sex. The adrenal cortex is also responsible for producing sex hormones “androgens”. Cortisol hormone aids in body response to stress, and maintaining blood pressure, blood sugar levels, healthy heart and strong immunity whereas Aldosterone helps in regulating the level of sodium and potassium and the fluid that is excreted by the kidneys in the form of Urine.

Addison's disease

How can Addison’s disease be identified?

The symptoms of Addison’s disease don’t appear in the primary months but starts to be visible gradually after some period of time. In most of the cases, the signs are negligible until an injury or illness makes them worse.

These signs include

  • Excessive Tiredness
  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight Loss
  • Craving for Salt
  • Hyper-pigmentation
  • Mouth sores
  • Low BP, which may result in fainting
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Muscle or joints ache
  • Mood Irritation
  • Disturbed Sleep
  • Mental symptoms
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Body hair loss

Acute Adrenal Failure

Other than these gradually developing symptoms, it can also result in acute adrenal failure which means Addisonian crisis. It can be sudden and life-threatening, so if a person experiences any or more of the below signs suddenly then it should be taken as a medical emergency:

  • Severe weakness / fainting
  • Confusion
  • Lower back or leg pain
  • Severe pain in abdomen
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Low BP

What are the causes of Addison’s disease?

As already briefly discussed above that the main cause of Addison’s disease is insufficient amount of two essential hormones that are Cortisol and Aldosterone. This insufficiency happens when the adrenal (cortex) glands get damaged. There are two types of Adrenal insufficiency, one is Primary and the other is Secondary. The most common causes of Primary type can be:

  • Tuberculosis
  • Infections of Adrenal glands or other parts
  • Adrenal gland or other types of Cancer
  • Bleeding into the Adrenal Gland
  • Surgical history

On the other hand, the secondary type can especially be the result of the intake of certain drugs for the treatment of some chronic conditions like Arthritis, Asthma, etc.

Are there any complications of Addison’s disease?

We have already mentioned a complication above while knowing the symptoms i.e., Addisonian Crisis. Moreover, the people suffering from Adrenal insufficiency are more at risk of getting autoimmune diseases than all others.

How to Diagnose Addison’s disease?

To diagnose Addison’s disease, some lab tests including urine test, blood test and imaging tests, need to be done in order to check the sodium, potassium and the hormonal levels along with the physical examination by a well-qualified physician.

What is the Best Treatment for Addison’s Disease?

Hormone Replacement therapy which is the common treatment being provided for Addison’s Disease can provide relief for a period of time, but it never eliminates the root cause of the problem, also show many adverse effects on health in the long run. So, to safeguard people against these bad results of this therapy and the severe consequences of adrenal insufficiencies, Planet Ayurveda has prepared some effective combination of herbs which not only treat the condition but also help in preventing its recurrence. Moreover, the herbs are safe to use and the supplements are 100% pure containing natural extracts without any additives or chemicals.

  • Navkarshik Churna
  • Gotukola Capsules
  • Kanchnar Guggul
  • Boswellia Curcumin

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Herbal Remedies for Addison's disease

 

Treatment of Addison’s Disease

1. Navkarshik Churna

Navkarshik Churna from the house of Planet Ayurveda is prepared totally with the reference of Chakradatt Samhita, thus is the best classical formulation in an attractive pack, which is easy and convenient to take. It is one of the best Ayurvedic medicines that are mainly recommended for gouty arthritis.

The Major Herbs in this Product are

  • Neem (Azadirachta indica)
  • Katuki(Picrorrhiza kurrao)
  • Manjishtha(Rubia cordifolia)
  • Giloy(Tinospora cordifolia)
  • Vacha(Acorus calamus)
  • Bahera(Terminalia bellerica)
  • Haritaki(Terminalia chebula)
  • Amla(Emblica officinalis)
  • Daruhaldi(Berberis aristata)

That together acts in relieving joint pain, inflammation, and modulating immunity. Therefore, it is a well-supportive remedy for Addison’s disease.

Dosage: 1 tsf with plain water, twice daily after the meals.

2. Gotukola Capsules

These capsules are manufactuted using the standardized extract of Gotukola / Mandookparni (Centella asiatica). It balances the tridoshas, maintains healthy brain functions and supports proper blood circulation. The herb is good at combating stress and depressive symptoms. It is also helpful in improving sleep and energy levels of the body. Hence, it aids in the management of Adrenal insufficiency.

Dosage: 1 Capsule with normal water, two times daily after the meals.

3. Kanchnaar Guggul

Kanchnaar Guggul is a combination of containing extract of

  • Kanchnaar Bark (Bauhinia variegata)
  • Amalaki(Emblica officinalis)
  • Haritaki(Terminalia chebula)
  • Bibhitaki(Terminalia bellerica)
  • Black Pepper(Piper nigrum)
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
  • Pippali Piper longum)
  • Varuna (Crataeva religiosa)

It is a classical formulation which is prepared with the reference provided in the chapter of Cancer treatment in Shrangdhar Samhita. So, we can easily define that this herbal formulation is good at eliminating tumors, rejuvenating cells and detoxification of the body. With these fundtions, it becomes an effective herbal medicine for treating Addison’s disease.

Dosage: 1 tablet thrice a day, with lukewarm water after the meals.

4. Boswellia Curcumin

Boswellia Curcumin, the name of the formulation itself says that it includes two major ingredients that are Shallaki(Boswellia serrata) and Curcumin(Curcuma longa). These herbs are blended together to act more efficaciously in the conditions of severe inflammation, joint and back pain, and to cut down the unnatural growth in the body. So, to manage the causes and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, the product is involved in its treatment.

Dosage: 1 Capsule two times a day with plain water, after the meals.

Conclusion

Hence, to conclude, we should say that after learning about the types of the disease and its different situations, causes and symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment can be tried before going for a treatment which will have the negative effects on life forever. The herbs have the ability to deal with the health problems, and when they are adopted at the initial stage, they can be more wonderful than the other drugs and chemicals available. For further assistance, reach us anytime at herbalremedies123@yahoo.com or visit www.planetayurveda.com.

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