This is a recommended plan to assist with adrenal recovery by resting and repairing the adrenals. You would ideally need to have a cortisol saliva test first, called the Adrenal Stress Index, from DiagnosTechs in order to determine when your cortisol levels are low. Licorice and cortisol augmentation (supplementation) is based on these results, though can also be dosed according to signs and symptoms. Continue the program for 3 months, and retest your adrenals thereafter.
You should always test your adrenals before undertaking major dental work (like mercury amalgam removal or oral chelation)to prepare your adrenals for the stress of chelation.
For the vitamins, zinc, magnesium and biotin: take in the morning and at 3pm before, or with a meal, and plenty of fluid. Taking B Vitamins after 3pm can interfere with your sleep.
Remember to have a protein snack at 11am and between 2-3pm to prevent blood sugar dips.
Then, for low cortisol use either:
- Cortisol (Hydrocortisone) as indicated by the saliva test (or based on response to treatment with it). Traded as Cortef, Covacort (see Adrenal page for general dosing suggestions), or,
- Whole Licorice (liquorice) Extract: Only use Licorice for six weeks at a time, then take a two week break (see instructions for measuring licorice). Licorice and cortisol should not be taken together – use one or the other. Take when your cortisol is low as indicated by saliva test.
The intake time of licorice or cortisol should be 6-8am, 11-noon, and 3-4pm depending on when your saliva test says you are low.
Then, if you test low in DHEA:
Andy Cutler’s suggested dosage for DHEA are: 50mg – 150mg for men and 25-50mg for women.
If possible, include testing for testosterone, progesterone and estrogens in your saliva testing profile.
- Testosterone cream (bioidentical only) if you are low. For men 25-100mg every day. For women 1-3mg every day.
- Progesterone cream (bioidentical only) if you are low. 30-100mg/day taken at bed time.
- Estrogen creams (bioidentical only) creams if you are low (or have had a hysterectomy). BiEst is suggested by Dr Teitelbaum , and most women would use 2.5mg daily (contains 0.5mg of estradiol and 2mg of estriol).
