Mar 31 2009
Epstein Barr Treatment – Adrenal Exhaustion
Epstein Barr, the virus that causes mononucleosis or glandular fever, is a common trigger for adrenal exhaustion. Other causes of adrenal fatigue can include overwork, lack of sleep, over exercising, the death of someone close, chronic illness, accidents and negativity. A poor diet with excess sugar, alcohol, coffee, drugs or heavy metals may also contribute to this condition.
What are the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of your kidneys. Their job is to secrete the hormones adrenaline, cortisol and DHEA that are needed to handle stress.
After prolonged stress, if your body is not allowed to recover with adequate sleep, relaxation, good healthy food and exercise, then the adrenal glands become fatigued. They are then unable to produce adequate amounts of these hormones.
It is estimated that up to 80% of adults suffer adrenal fatigue to some degree. Have a look at the stages below to see if any of the symptoms sound familiar to you.
The stages of adrenal exhaustion
Stage 1: This is marked by high cortisol levels and low DHEA levels. Cortisol’s role is to keep the body functioning after prolonged stress. During this stage you may still feel fairly well and have enough energy to cope with stress.
Stage 2: Cortisol levels start to run low. Typically you start to feel tired and stressed.
Stage 3: Both cortisol and DHEA levels are very low. In this stage you feel low energy and may have dark circles under your eyes, reduced immunity, low sex drive, hormonal imbalances like PMT, cravings for salt and sugar, headaches, poor memory, unrefreshing sleep and a general loss of interest in life.
How to treat adrenal exhaustion
- If you have Epstein Barr, then the priority is to boost your immune system in order to get the virus under control. This can be done with a variety of nutrients, herbs and foods as described in my e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures”.
- You should aim to get plenty of sleep – at least 8-10 hours sleep a night. An afternoon nap can also be beneficial.
- Practices like meditation, yoga, visualization and deep breathing can help your body cope with stress.
- Your diet should be low in sugar, refined carbohydrates, coffee, alcohol, processed foods and drugs.
- Nutrients like vitamin C, the B complex, zinc and magnesium, can help repair your adrenal glands. The omega 3 fats from fish oils or flaxseed oil can help with fatigue.
- Herbs like licorice and ginseng can improve adrenal function. If you are battling Epstein Barr or have low immunity, then the herbs echinacea, olive leaf extract and astragalus are excellent.
- Regular physical activity, preferably 30 minutes 5-6 times a week is advisable. If you are not used to exercise, then please start slowly and build up gently over time.
- Epsom salt baths (2 cups to a hot bath) before bed, can relax you, and ensure a good night’s sleep.
- Make time for laughter, fun and joy in your day. This could come from quality time with family and friends, or from a hobby, funny video or favorite TV program.
- Be kind to yourself – don’t try and be perfect. Learn to go with the flow. It is how you respond to stress that matters. Celebrate little achievements and victories in your life. This will help maintain a positive attitude that helps you cope with whatever life throws at you.
All these techniques to treat adrenal exhaustion are outlined in more detail in my e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures”. If you have Epstein Barr virus and are feeling tired, stressed and run down, then this is a good place to start.
17 responses so far
Nice blog! Very informative.Adrenal Fatigue Cure is done with advanced treatments.A great website offers treatments for people with hormone balance and disorders.
would this help fibromyalgia? i take a lot of health supplements these days. b vitamins and magnesium have seemed to help a small amount. if you would be so kind to tell me what else I could try, that would help out a lot. Thanks.
Hi Mike,
There is a lot you can do to help fibromyalgia. Magnesium and the B complex are a good starting point. Here is an article I wrote on the subject:
http://www-epsteinbarrvirus.com/blog/complications-of-mono/fibromyalgia-and-epstein-barr-virus-mononucleosis-or-glandular-fever/
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi, I have had glandular fever twice, with the sitamegla virus, all within 18 months. My doctor has diagnosed me now with Adrenal burnout and I have been off work for three months. I sleep for 10 to 16 hours per day, and apparently do not have depression. Do you have any suggestions for treatment. I take all the necessary vitamins and supplements as recommended plus have tried more than 5 different anti-depressants, but none has made a significant difference to me.
Kind regards, Belinda
Cape Town, South Africa
Hi Belinda,
Sorry to hear you have been suffering with glandular fever and adrenal burnout. It can be a worrying time. Are you under the care of a good holistic doctor or naturopath? I would be looking at measuring your levels of adrenal hormones and their pre-cursors like cortisol and DHEA. It sounds like you are taking some supplements. Supplements like vitamin C, B complex, magnesium, fish oils, zinc and gingseng are all helpful. Just make sure you are taking them at a high enough dose to make a difference. Rest and quality sleep are vital as is a fresh food diet and plenty of pure water. Adrenal exhaustion is a condition that you don’t bounce back from quickly. It can take several weeks or even months to fully recover from. Sometimes if you are doing everything right it can just be a matter of time.
Best wishes
Elizabeth
Hi, I was diagnosed with mono about two weeks ago. I’ve been feeling “out of it” and almost like I’m in a fog. I have a tough time concentrating in class and my memory isn’t very sharp. I know the latter could be due to adrenal exhaustion, but I’m not sure about the feeling of being in a fog. That feeling is making me somewhat nervous and it’s seemingly all I can think about.
Any recommendations?
Thanks
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your post. Symptoms like brain fog, poor memory and fatigue are common in mono. At this early stage I would not be overly concerned. Have you tried adding some brain nutrients like the B complex, magnesium and vitamin C? Herbs like Gingko biloba and Gotu Kola are also good for improving circulation to the brain. Plenty of water, a high protein diet and rest are also essential. If your symptoms persist beyond a few weeks then there is no harm in getting an adrenal hormone test done.
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Since I had glandular fever last year, I have experienced several cycles of adrenal fatigue. Currently cortisol levels are through the roof after midnight and high throughout the morning and day. I feel ‘wired’ most of the time. This has caused insomnia where i wake up bright eyed at 1.30am every morning for the last 10 nights! Since Adrenals need sleep to repair, there doesn’t seem be be an end in sight…
Any ideas on how to get my cortisol levels down? Also, will herbal supplements make it worse by stimulating the adrenals to produce more cortisol?
Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Ed,
Sorry you have been struggling with adrenal fatigue. This is common after a bout of glandular fever.
I would recommend you get onto the adrenal repairing nutrients like magnesium, B complex and vitamin C. Herbs like ginseng and astragalus are cortisol balancing herbs – they should not elevate your cortisol any further. I would also try an Epsom salt bath (2 cups of Epsom salts to a hot bath before bed) to see if it helps you sleep.
Here’s a good resource on lowering cortisol levels naturally if you have not already seen it:
http://www.womenshealth-naturalsolutions.com/6_tips_to_cut_your_cortisol_production.htm
Elizabeth
I will be 41 yrs old in December. I have had some extreme trauma’s in my life over the past 10 years. Including Divorce after a 9 year verbally abusive marriage, suicide of my dad in 2001, and suicide of my brother in 2010. Also 2 job lay-offs during the 2 year divorce 2008-2010.
I am currently a single mom of a 9yr old now with a full-time job.
Ever since I had my son in 2002 I have felt tired. I felt full of energy during the pregnancy and was on pre-natal vitamins then. Over the years, the fatique has been getting worse I think. My chiro told me I had CFS, and my adrenal glands were shot. I started taking omega3 and that seemed to help somewhat. I need to start taking that regularly again.
I also have multi-vitamin antioxidant, and b12 that I’ve started.
I’ve been tested many times for thyroid and no problems there.
I do have HLA-B27 gene, and a tendency toward high anxiety and high BP when stressed.
I don’t think I’ve been test for the Epstein Barr thing…
My hip is starting to ache more these days also.
I tend to be a wired person – to much adrenal in past… and these days in a complete Haze in my head and constantly tired!
I would like some pro-active treatments and/or testing to get to the bottom of this because I am so tired of feeling like an Exhausted zombie all the time!
Any suggestions?
Hi Cherie,
Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear you have been struggling with your health for so long. The first priority is to get a diagnosis to see what is going on. You will need a wholistic doctor who can investigate and support your recovery. May be worth looking
at the doctor’s list at http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm to see if there is someone good locally. It is possible your adrenal glands are exhausted. If this is the case a regime of supplements including magnesium, vitamin C, the B complex and fish oils would be beneficial. If you have a low grade infection like Epstein Barr then immune boosting supplements will help.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
I was diagnosed in 2005 with EBV and had mono. I worked on my high school football team and shadowing a physician and caught the virus. They found out after I was having strange headaches and just felt out of it. I had these headaches for over a year, but they went away with osteopathic manipulation of my cervical spine. After all this I had chronic tonsilitus since approximately 2006, my tonsils were constantly swollen. I also started getting constant kidney infections around 2007 and I seemed to never recover and went to countless doctors who perscribed antibiotics until in 2009 when the infection went into my blood stream and I had 104 fever for a week, this was treated with antibiotics and I swore to myself I wouldn’t go to the doctor unless I absolutely was in pain with my kidneys. Last April I had my tonsils removed and the physician hoped it would subside my kidney infections as well since my tonsils seamed to hold on to the infection. Currently I still get kidney infections and just haven’t had the energy I need to go through school or work and I’ve been depressed. I went to a urologist 3 months ago and he put me on a three month round of antibiotics and my kidney infections have subdued for now, but I still have low energy and I don’t know what is going to happen when I get off the antibiotics. I have went to countless physicians and they usually do a urine test saying I have a UTI and give me an antibiotic or they want me to go on antidepression medication which I am currently on, but I believe it is the EBV that is causing all of my problems and I have not had one physician figure it out or even listen to me about EBV. Do you have any feedback. I loved this article and it sounds exactly like what is going on with me especially the adrenal gland/kidney relation to EBV. Thanks so much for the info and hopefully it will help me stir up some help when I go find a new physician.
I am in my mid 50′s and had a rebout of Epstein Barr since Easter and have slowly been managing back while not taking time off work so the stress is still on. My condition is improving although my lymph gland is still a bit hard on one side of my jaw. My problem is that I wish to get my nasal poylps treated and the ENT that I went to suggested cortisone pills for 10-12 days and then a cortisonal spray from day 5 onwards 2 x a day leveling to 1 x a day after the pills are over. The plan is to have them sugically removed after this 4 week pre-treatment. What cortisonal side effects may occur under my current state of adrenal exhaustion? Should I postpone the cortisone until my adrenal glands are fit?
Hi Pete,
Thanks for your post. Cortisone will dampen your immune system to stop inflammation and pain. Microbes like Epstein Barr can then cause more havoc as the immune system is being suppressed. I would recommend you postpone your surgery until your
health is back on track. Nurturing your adrenals with the B complex, vitamin C, magnesium and plenty of rest would be a good idea. I would also look at finding a holistic doctor or naturopath who may be able to treat your nasal polyps naturally.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Sharleen,
Sorry you have been struggling with your health. It sounds like EBV may be suppressing your immune system to the point where secondary infections can take hold. I would look at going on some immune boosting supplements like vitamin C, zinc, vitamin A and fish oils. Taking cranberry juice daily may help with your UTIs.
If your symptoms continue then you also need to clarify if you have any other microbes like mycoplasma, Lyme’s or Chlamydia pneumonia which are complicating your recovery. It is also important to test for other conditions like anaemia, allergy,
low blood sugar, underactive thyroid, liver problems, sarcoidosis etc that can mimic Epstein Barr. A holistic doctor or naturopath should be able to advise you accordingly.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I was first diagnosed with EBV in 2005 when i contracted Glandular Fever (mono) and ever since i have had reoccurent episodes which can last months.
Having had a period of 2.5 years of good health, i relapsed again in August this year after a period of stress and am finding it difficult to deal with the symptoms, some of which are of an acute nature (nausea, aches and pains, burning sensation in my legs, sore throat, night sweats) as well as other neurological issues such as inability to concentrate, fatigue and general malaise.
I am currently on Valtrex which is the only thing that keeps me functioning although not at 100%. But when i stop it, all the symptoms come flooding back. I want to boost my immune system so that i can fight this off and won;t have to be on antivirals for ever more. Is there anything you can suggest specifically? I have the dark circles under my eyes as you described above so wonder if adrenal fatigue is playing a part here. I have sort of got my sleep under control now so am normally getting between 8 – 10 hours a night.
I am going to be talking to my doctor about starting imunovir which is an immune modulator and is supposed to increase your Natural Killer Cell Function and boost your immune system. Are there any natural remedies that would do the same? I used to have great results from using Coriolus Versicolor supplements but these seem less effective now.
Many Thanks
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your post. Sorry to hear you are ill with recurrent Epstein Barr. It can be a very frustrating time.
Fortunately there is a lot you can do with natural therapies to help your recovery. Your priority is to get your immune system fighting off the virus with
high dose vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin A. There are also many immune-boosting herbs like astragalus which are worth trying. You will need to repair
your adrenal glands with magnesium and the B complex.
A low carb, high protein diet with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and pure water is important. Some anti-inflammatory foods and
anti-viral herbs will also help.
If your symptoms persist you may need to do some liver cleansing in order to clear the virus from your system.
A good holistic doctor or naturopath would be able to monitor and guide you.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth