What is it?

Adrenal extracts are derived from the adrenal glands of bovine (beef) sources. Commercially available adrenal extracts are made using the whole gland (whole or total adrenal extracts) or just the cortex or outer portion of the gland (adrenal cortex extracts). The adrenal glands are a pair of small glands that lie just above the kidneys.

The possible benefits of adrenal extract are thought to be the result of a combination of supplying small amounts of adrenal hormones and promoting improved adrenal function. The adrenal medulla secretes the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), while the adrenal cortex secretes an entirely different group of hormones called corticosteroids. Although all corticosteroids have similar chemical formulas, they differ in function. The three major types of corticosteroids are mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol or cortisone), and 17-ketosteroids (e.g., dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]).

Adrenal extracts have been used in modern medicine since 1931, primarily in the injectable form along with vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or vitamin C. Although there is little in the area of scientific documentation for oral administration, a series of animal studies demonstrated that oral administration of adrenal extract to mice, rats, and dogs who had their adrenal glands removed produced the same activity as injectable adrenal extract.^{1 2 3}

Whole adrenal extracts (usually in combination with essential nutrients required for proper adrenal function) are most often used in cases of low adrenal function presenting as fatigue, inability to cope with stress, and reduced resistance to infection. Because extracts made from the adrenal cortex contain small amounts of corticosteroids, they are typically used as "natural" cortisone in cases of allergy and inflammation (asthma, eczema, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.). The effectiveness of adrenal extracts in these applications is unknown at this time. People taking prescribed corticosteroids should never substitute these drugs with an adrenal extract and should consult their physician before adding an adrenal extract to their steroid treatment.

In a preliminary study done in the 1930s, 8 women suffering from nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy received large amounts of oral adrenal cortex extract. In most cases, vomiting stopped after 3 to 4 days.⁴ In a follow-up study, 202 women with nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy received adrenal cortex extract, usually by injection at first, followed by oral administration. More than 85% of the women were completely relieved of the problem or showed definite improvement.⁵