Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

The use of adrenal cortex extract to support or treat "debility" is primarily rooted in traditional and historical medical practices rather than robust scientific validation. In the early to mid-20th century, before synthetic corticosteroids like cortisone and prednisone were widely available, extracts from animal adrenal cortex were sometimes used in "organotherapy." The idea was that consuming extracts from healthy animal organs could restore function or support weak or failing organs in humans. Adrenal cortex extracts were thus administered for a range of symptoms associated with fatigue, weakness, and general "debility," especially in conditions thought to involve adrenal insufficiency or exhaustion.

However, modern scientific studies supporting the efficacy and safety of adrenal cortex extracts for general debility are extremely limited or lacking. The practice has largely fallen out of favor in mainstream medicine due to improved understanding of adrenal physiology and the development of standardized, purified pharmaceutical corticosteroids. While some alternative medicine practitioners still advocate for adrenal extracts, there is little high-quality clinical evidence for their benefit in treating debility, and their use is not widely endorsed by medical authorities. The evidence rating of 2 reflects the presence of some historical case reports and anecdotal experience, but a lack of controlled scientific studies.

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