iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll ThofthThsefunction, but for others, it can offer a more natural way to increase the
body’s DHEA production. The magnesium oil is not technically an oil
but a solution. Using 2–4 oz. in a bath or a twenty- to thirty-minute foot
soak is recommended to restore intracellular magnesium levels. Epsom
salt baths have also been found to increase magnesium levels.
Conventional Treatment for Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is diagnosed by measuring morning levels of corti-
sol via a blood test. If the cortisol level is low, this confirms Addison’s.
Conventional treatment for Addison’s is supplementing with hormones,
including prescription steroid hormones like prednisone, cortisone, and
hydrocortisone. The over-the-counter DHEA supplement may also be
used to treat Addison’s.
Blood tests for Addison’s are not positive until 90 percent of the adrenals
are destroyed. Some people may have as much as 70 percent of their ad-
renal cortex destroyed but still come out “normal” on cortisol blood tests.
Some physicians may prescribe the steroid hormones used in Addison’s
for people with adrenal insufficiency.
Removing Stressors
“Give me the strength to change what I can, the patience
to accept what I cannot, and the wisdom to know the
difference.” —Reinhold Niebuhr
We have all heard “stress is bad for your health,” but it is one of those
vague statements people rarely take to heart.
Stress can take emotional forms—such as being in an unstable roman-
tic relationship, being a high-strung person with high expectations of
yourself and others, being overbooked, multitasking, or having a job you
don’t enjoy. Examples of physical stress include working long hours, ex-
treme sports, and insufficient sleep.
Although this recommendation does not require the purchase of spe-
cial supplements or medications, removing stressors is often the hardest
step for most people. Few of us are at liberty to quit our stressful jobs,
send our teenagers off to boarding school, or purchase an airplane to
forgo traffic. But we can choose how the stressors affect us. After all, it is
our perception—not the stressors themselves—that determines how the
HPA reacts to them.