Adrenal Medulla
Synopsis
The adrenal medulla is the inner core of the adrenal gland and plays a critical role in the body’s short-term stress response. Unlike the outer adrenal cortex, which produces steroid hormones, the adrenal medulla is composed of neuroendocrine chromaffin cells and functions as an extension of the sympathetic nervous system. It secretes catecholamines—primarily epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and small amounts of dopamine—directly into the bloodstream in response to acute stress.
These hormones prepare the body for the “fight-or-flight” response by increasing heart rate, dilating airways, elevating blood pressure, increasing blood glucose levels, and redirecting blood flow to muscles. The adrenal medulla is activated via nerve signals from the hypothalamus through the sympathetic preganglionic fibers, making it a rapid-response system for immediate physical and psychological stressors.
Medically, overactivity of the adrenal medulla can be associated with pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor leading to excess catecholamine production), whereas underfunction may manifest in cases of sympathetic nervous system suppression or extreme fatigue.
Natural Remedies
Acute stress reduction: Breathing exercises and cold exposure training help modulate adrenaline spikes.
Blood sugar regulation: Eating regular meals with protein and fat prevents glucose crashes that can trigger overactivation.
Physical activity: Interval training and moderate exercise can condition appropriate adrenal medulla output.
Sleep and circadian rhythm alignment: Restorative sleep supports healthy nervous system response and adrenal resilience.
Nerve tonics: Calming nervines and adaptogens help moderate the reactivity of the sympathoadrenal system.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat this condition.
acetyl l-carnitine
adrenal cortex
ashwagandha
chamomile
eleuthero
ginseng
lion's mane
magnesium
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
phosphatidylserine
rhodiola
SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
zinc
whole adrenal glandular
vitamin B6
vitamin C
valerian root
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
1,3-DMAA
5,7-Dimethoxyflavone
6, 17 keto etiocholeva-3-ol 3, 17 ketoetiochol-triene
Dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/Etetraenoic Acid Isobutylamide
Dodeca-2E, 4E-Dienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
11-hydroxy yohimbine
3-Alpha-Hydroxyetioallocholan-17-one
Acetyl L-Tyrosine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Adrenal extract
Adrenaline
Adrenals
Adrenals
Adrenergic amines (unspecified)
Adrue
alkaloid
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Alkaloids
1,3-DMAA
1, 3, N-Dipropyl-7-Propargylxanthine
3-desoxy-7-KETO-DHEA
3-Ketosteroid
Active Amines
Adrenal
amino acids
Animal protein (unspecified)
Animal Tissue
Beta Methylphenethylalamine
Beta-Methylphenylethylamine
Bitter orange
blend (herb/botanical)
blend (herb/botanical)
Blend (Mineral)
botanical (unspecified)
bovine
Bovine (not specified)
Bovine (unspecified)
Bruteridine
Caffeine
caffeine
Caffeine alpha-ketoglutarate
Caffeine pterostilbene
Carbohydrate
Catecholamine (unspecified)
Chlorogenin
Citrin
Coca
Coenzyme A
Coffee
Coffee (mixed)
Complex
Dimethyl phenethylamine
Dimethylamylamine
Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA)
Dimethylpentylamine
Dimethylphenethylamine
Dioscorea hondurensis
Dioscorea nipponica
DL-phenylalanine
Eleuthero
Eleuthero Root
Eleutherococcus gracilistylus
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Eleutheroside
Ephedra
Ephedrine
Eurypeptides
Eurypeptides
Exphedrine HCl
food additive (unspecified)
Fungus (unspecified)
Furanosteroid
Genseng (not specified)
Ginseng
Ginsenoside
Gland (mixed)
Gland (mixed)
Gland (unspecified)
Glandular Tissues
Guarana
Guaranine
Guayusa
guayusa
Halostachine
Higenamine
Hoenelen
Holy Basil
Holy Basil Herb
Hordenine
hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus protein
Isopropylnorsynephrine
Isopropyloctopamine
Jungli-bean
Ketosterone
Kola Nut
l-tyrosine
L-Tyrosine
Laxosterone
Lithium
Ma Huang
Medulla
Methylhexanamine
Methylhexaneamine
Methylphenethylamine
Methylsynephrine
Methylxanthine (unspecified)
mineral (unspecified)
N-Acetyl Tyrosine
N-Acetyl-Tyrosine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
N-methyl Tyramine
N-Methyltyramine
Nicotine
Norepinephrine
Octodrine
Octopamine
Oxedrine
Oxyephedrine
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Paraxanthine
Parenchyma
Peptides (unspecified)
peptides (unspecified)
Pig
Pig
plant (unspecified)
Poly-thyronine
Porcine
Progenin III
Rauwolscine
Reginin A
Rhodiola
Rhodiola (unspecified)
Rhodiola sacra
Rhodola crenulata
Robusta Coffee
Rosabin
Rosarin
Rutacaerpine
Salidrosides
salt
Salt (sea)
salt (unspecified)
Sceletium
sea salt
Siberian ginseng
Sodium
Sodium
Sodium
sodium salt
Stabilizer
Synephrine
Theanine
Theanine
Tissue (unspecified)
Tribulin
Tyramine
Tyrosine
Tyrosine alpha ketoglutarate
Tyrosine alpha-ketoglutarate
Tyrosine alpha-ketoglutaric acid
Vitamin B
vitamin B
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
Vitamin B5 (mixed)
Vitamin C (Ascorbate)
Waldelactone
Withanolide
Withanolides
Xanthine
Xanthine (unspecified)
yohimbine
Yohimbines (unspecified)
Adrenosterone
11-Keto-Androstenetrione
11-Ketotestosterone
American Ginseng
American Pawpaw
Epimedium
Epimedium extract
Epistane
Ginseng (unspecified)
Ginsenosides
Ginsenosides (unspecified)
guarana
Panax Ginseng
Panax Notoginseng
Panax Pseudoginseng
Rhodiola crenulata
yohimbe
Schisandra
Schisandrin
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Theacrine
Zanthoxylum piperitum
zanthoxylum