Adrenal fatigue

Adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia is a term used in alternative medicine to describe the belief that the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate quantities of hormones, primarily cortisol. The term "adrenal fatigue" may be applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms such as, "tiredness, trouble falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, salt and sugar craving, and needing stimulants like caffeine to get through the day", but there is no scientific evidence supporting the concept of "adrenal fatigue" and it is not recognized as an actual diagnosis by the medical community. This is distinct from recognized forms of adrenal dysfunction such as adrenal insufficiency or Addison's Disease.

Blood testing is sometimes offered by alternative medical practitioners to diagnose "adrenal fatigue", but these tests lack any scientific basis. The concept of "adrenal fatigue" has given rise to an industry of dietary supplements marketed to treat this condition. These supplements are largely unregulated in the U.S., are not thought to be effective, and in some cases may be dangerous.