Thorne Research

Adrenal Cortex 60 caps.

• Lyophilised and concentrated bovine adrenals (!)
• Highest assimilability
• Wealth of essential nutrients
• 100% natural supplement
• Scientifically proven efficacy!
• Raw material from ecological sources
• Can help to regenerate adrenals

Thorne Research Adrenal Cortex is a wonderful dietary supplement with raw, lyophilised concentrate of the whole bovine adrenal. The raw material originates from animals reared in a free-range system, fed on fresh grass.

What are adrenals?
Adrenals are hormone-producing organs (the so-called endocrine glands), located symmetrically over the kidneys. They consist of the central adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex surrounding it. Hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are: cortisol (glucocorticosteroid) – the main hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, essential for life; aldosterone – mineralocorticosteroid responsible for controlling arterial blood pressure; dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – the main androgen (male sex hormone) produced by the adrenal cortex.

What is adrenal insufficiency?
Adrenal insufficiency is a syndrome with symptoms resulting from the deficiency of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, mainly cortisol. The range of symptoms may vary a lot among individual patients and depends on the reason of adrenal insufficiency (secondary adrenal insufficiency's symptoms are usually weaker), the speed of the deficiency's occurrence and the its degree.

In very serious cases, adrenal crisis may develop. It is a life-threatening condition: if a patient with adrenal crisis does not receive immediate emergency treatment, it can lead to death. The symptoms of developed adrenal crisis are: very low arterial pressure, fever and cognitive disorders until loss of consciousness.

Effects of using bovine adrenals
First treatments aiming at regenerating adrenals were conducted with the use of extracts of bovine adrenals. William Osler was the first to utilise them as early as in 1898. Since 1918, the extracts have been available in trade. In 1918, many people came down with an illness called “the Spanish influenza,” a particularly dangerous form of type A flu, and, as a result, many patients suffered from adrenal insufficiency.

The number of recoveries after the use of cell extracts was surprisingly high, so interest in that kind of therapy grew rapidly. From the 1930s until late 1950s many doctors treated their patients with the cell extract therapy. With time, however, the method lost its leading position, as synthetic cortisone had started being produced.

In the United States, cell extracts of bovine adrenals are still popular. They are called Adrenal Cell Extracts (ACE) or Adrenal Cortical Extracts. It is not, however, about a hormone replacement therapy, but about delivering nutrients necessary to regenerate the adrenals. The risk of symptoms caused by replacement therapies is much higher than in the case of using natural adrenal cell extracts.

To sum up, Thorne Research Adrenal Cortex is a perfect supplement for every person struggling with the above-described symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. The product is applicable both in the case of severe symptoms and for prevention.