Adrenaline Dominance - A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness

There is a healthcare crisis in America that is completely under the radar. Almost every family is affected some way or another. It is associated with adrenaline, a hormone that most people know as the “fight-or-flight” hormone, which is released in large quantities whenever we are in danger. It is an extremely powerful hormone and has significant physiological effects on our body. These episodes are usually short-lived, and as soon as the danger passes the adrenaline levels go back down.

“…excess adrenaline can prevent us from falling asleep or staying asleep”

Common Symptoms

However, there is another reason the body releases adrenaline, and it can occur throughout the day and night for sustained periods. This can have a significant effect on our health, and certainly on the quality of our life. For example, excess adrenaline can prevent us from falling asleep or staying asleep. In certain people it makes the mind race, causes restless leg syndrome, results in bruxism (teeth grinding), tightens the jaw (TMJ), and causes nighttime urination, especially around 2:30 am when adrenaline levels are at their highest.

During the day, excess adrenaline is a primary contributor to anxiety. It can create anger – including road rage – cut off circulation to certain areas of the body not needed for survival, resulting in cold hands and/or feet as well as IBS, make muscles tense leading to the buildup of lactic acid associated with fibromyalgia.

Possible Role in Addiction

There are many people in this country addicted to drugs and alcohol. They often wind up going through detox or some form of rehab therapy to end their dependency. In this situation it is important to understand that people often get into drugs and alcohol simply to relax when they are dealing with high levels of adrenaline.

During many years of observing people with excess adrenaline, Dr. Platt noted that people who are creative tend to have the most adrenaline. One need only look at people in the music industry to appreciate the high incidence of substance use, unfortunately often leading to serious consequences.

There are certain characteristics that creative people often exhibit. They are very intuitive about other people – able to “read” others. They often have premonitions or déjà vu experiences. They might know who is on the phone before they answer it. If they go too long without eating, they get shaky or irritable. They may find that animals and small children are attracted to them, or they may fall asleep in a car when other people are driving.

Additional Areas of Interest

Two related conditions fall into the category of “we do not know what causes it, and we certainly do not know how to treat it.” The first is called cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS), and the other is hyperemesis gravidarum. CVS is most often seen in children who start vomiting and cannot stop and have to be hospitalized. Hyperemesis gravidarum is found in women who experience nausea and/or vomiting throughout their entire pregnancy. Both may be related to excess adrenaline.

Some babies experience colic, which Dr. Platt suspects may be an early manifestation of adrenaline dominance. This is a condition that can cause new parents significant distress. Addressing the adrenaline connection may offer parents a new avenue to explore with their healthcare provider. Similarly, bed-wetting in children and ADHD may also have connections to excess adrenaline that are worth discussing with a qualified practitioner.

In Dr. Platt’s book, Adrenaline Dominance, he discusses the reason why the body releases adrenaline, the conditions associated with it, and approaches to supporting hormonal balance. With regard to the conditions, he divides them into the good, the bad, and the ugly – borrowing the idea from the classic Clint Eastwood film. The only condition placed in the “good” category is ADHD. This may go against the thinking of most schools and many doctors, but when you consider that many of the most intelligent, creative, and successful people in the world have ADHD, it is hard to think of it in purely negative terms. It is often referred to as a ‘learning disorder’ but, in reality, it may be more accurately described as an ‘interest’ disorder. Children with ADHD will often focus when they are interested, but if it is a subject that doesn’t hold their attention, they may easily get distracted.

As part of the fight-or-flight response, adrenaline cuts off circulation to certain areas of the body not needed for survival – including the extremities. This is why cold hands and/or feet are common among those with elevated adrenaline. Another condition that may be connected is peripheral neuropathy. It is often attributed to diabetes, and when it occurs in non-diabetic individuals it is called ‘idiopathic’ – meaning of no known cause. Dr. Platt suspects it may be related to adrenaline reducing blood supply to the nerves in the feet.

“There are certain doctors…who rely heavily on saliva tests…This has resulted in the creation of a disease that actually does not exist called adrenal fatigue.”

Adrenal Fatigue – A Misdiagnosis?

Another area affected by reduced circulation is the salivary glands, which are not essential for survival responses. As a result, hormones have a difficult time getting into the saliva. There are certain doctors, especially naturopaths, who rely heavily on saliva tests to inform their treatment plans.

This has contributed to what Dr. Platt believes is a misdiagnosis – a condition he describes as “adrenal fatigue” – diagnosed based solely on the presence of low cortisol levels in the saliva. Interestingly, excess adrenaline is a primary driver of stress, and the body responds to stress by producing cortisol – the anti-stress hormone. Since adrenaline peaks during the night, especially around 2:30 am, a morning cortisol blood test done before 9 am may be a more reliable indicator of elevated adrenaline levels. Many books written about ‘adrenal fatigue’ may actually be describing ‘adrenaline dominance.’ Unfortunately, because of potentially inaccurate saliva cortisol readings, some patients begin taking Cortef (cortisone) when they may already have elevated blood cortisol levels, which can contribute to weight gain, osteoporosis, and other concerns.

“Surprisingly, excess adrenaline might be the number one reason why there are so many people fighting with weight gain.”

Weight and Hormonal Balance

One major area that excess adrenaline may impact – and which affects millions of people – is weight. Surprisingly, excess adrenaline might be a significant contributor to why so many people struggle with weight gain. Other than preparing the body for danger, the primary role of adrenaline is to provide sugar for the brain. The brain utilizes more sugar per unit of weight than any other area of the body. When the brain runs low on fuel, people experience a profound sense of sleepiness known as hypoglycemia. This classically occurs between 3–4 pm when insulin levels are peaking, or after eating, or when people are in a car either as a driver or passenger. A low level of sugar in the brain automatically signals the adrenal glands via the sympathetic nervous system to release adrenaline.

Adrenaline then raises sugar levels via a process called gluconeogenesis, whereby it converts protein into glucose. The brain can use up fuel in as little as three hours. Adrenaline levels often peak around 2:30–3:00 am, which can contribute to insomnia and the urge to urinate at that time. Adrenaline can also stimulate the release of cortisol, an anti-stress hormone, which further raises glucose levels through glycogenolysis. The result is the body producing two hormones that raise blood sugar – while people are sleeping.

When it comes to sugar, it does not matter whether it is consumed or produced by the body. If it isn’t burned for energy, it gets stored as fat. Sugar produced by adrenaline and cortisol during the night may be a significant reason why some people find it difficult to manage their weight – the body may literally be creating fat during sleep.

A Wellness-Focused Approach

Understanding why the body releases excess adrenaline is a key first step. The primary trigger is the need to raise glucose levels for the brain. By supporting the brain with consistent fuel, the need to rely on adrenaline may be reduced. The brain uses two main fuel sources: glucose and ketones. Vegetables are an excellent source of glucose, while ketones are derived from coconut or MCT oil.

Structuring meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a bedtime snack – to include one or both of these fuel sources may help support more stable energy and hormonal balance. A 5% (50 mg per pump) progesterone cream applied 1–3 minutes before eating is another tool Dr. Platt recommends. Progesterone may help modulate adrenaline’s effect at receptor sites and also supports healthy insulin sensitivity – another pathway for maintaining balanced adrenaline levels.

About Dr. Michael E. Platt

Dr. Michael E. Platt has been a pioneer in the research and advancement of the therapeutic use of progesterone cream for managing adrenaline and hormonal imbalance. He is considered an important voice in observational, functional, alternative, and allopathic medicine focused on bio-identical hormones and adrenaline overload. His three books – The Miracle of Bioidentical Hormones, Adrenaline Dominance, and Platt Protocol – have received 11 literary awards.

Dr. Michael E. Platt has been a pioneer in the research and advancement of the therapeutic use of progesterone cream for use in managing adrenaline and hormonal imbalance. Dr. Platt is considered an important pioneer in observational, functional, alternative, and allopathic medicine focused on bio-identical hormones and adrenaline overload.  His three books “The Miracle of Bioidentical Hormones”, “Adrenaline Dominance” and “Platt Protocol” have received 11 literary awards. 

FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.