Addison’s disease

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Addison’s disease

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Description

This is a disease caused by the failure or destruction of the cortex in the adrenal gland. This results in insufficient secretion of the adrenocortical hormones (cortisol, aldosterol, and androgens). People of both sexes and all age groups may be affected.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Addison’s disease may include weakness, fatigue, wasting, anorexia, and weight loss often accompanied by gastrointestinal upsets, including diarrhoea. Low blood pressure accompanied by dizziness and fainting and feeling cold may also be present. Skin pigmentation, mood changes, and depression may also be experienced. Dark skin pigmentation and loss of underarm hair have been experienced in women.

Treatments

Care must be taken with diet, and stress avoided. A regular moderate exercise program is beneficial. Allopathic treatments may include hormone replacement therapy to restore adrenocortical hormones

Causes

Tuberculosis may cause damage to the adrenal gland cortex, autoimmune conditions and immune disturbances are more commonly associated. In rare instances secondary cancerous growths may be the cause. Damage to the adrenal glands, diabetis and stress may increase the risk of developing Addison’s disease.

Underlying Emotions

Emotional imbalance and malnutrition, anger at the self. Feelings of exhaustion, uncertainty about life, and being overwhelmed. Feelings of being controlled by outside influences and the inability to stand in one’s own power.

Diet

A diet high in organic Sodium, low Potassium, or a raw diet is recommended.
Try to avoid concentrated starches, sugars, meat, and Potassium-rich vegetables and stress.
Therapeutic foods include Romaine lettuce, foods rich in organic Sodium, celery, beets, spinach, swiss chard, pomegranates, shiitake mushrooms, garlic, onions, strawberries, tomatoes, figs, honey, almonds, beechnuts. Consume foods rich in Iodine, Silicon, Phosphorus: kelp, dulse, Swiss chard, turnip greens, egg yolks, wheat germ, cod roe, lecithin, sesame seed butter, seeds, and nuts, raw goat milk.