How functional medicine is tricking you into long term supplement protocols

In functional health circles, we often hear about “adrenal fatigue”, this is the idea that chronic stress causes your adrenal glands to burn out, leaving you tired, flat, and unable to cope with day to day function.

I recently presented my information on the HPA Axis to a group of practitioners, to debunk the "adrenal fatigue" hypothesis. It is important to understand the biological and biophysical mechanisms behind HPA axis dysfunction and how to support someone naturally without loading them up with a tonne of different supplements.

Let's start at the beginning, with the system that is at the centre of it all: the HPA axis.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or the HPA axis for short, is a central stress response system in the body and helps us to respond appropriately to physical, emotional, or environmental stress. It begins in the hypothalamus, a small but powerful region of the brain that receives information about light, safety, threat, energy balance, and circadian time. The hypothalamus sends corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) to the pituitary gland, which sends adrenocorticotrophin releasing hormone to the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys. In response, the adrenals produce cortisol, a hormone that plays a key role in metabolism, immune regulation, inflammation, energy availability, and the stress response.

To learn more about how to break away from the cycle of functional testing and long term supplement protocols consider joining me for my 8 week Autumn Equinox programme launching on September 22nd 2025. To see further details and to PREBOOK check out this link: https://www.benourished.co.uk/autumn-equinox-hop