Evidence supporting the use of: Gland (mixed)
For the health condition: Nervous Exhaustion
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Gland (mixed), often found in traditional "glandular therapy" or "protomorphogen" supplements, refers to desiccated extracts of various animal glands (such as adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, etc.). Its use for conditions like "nervous exhaustion" (an older term roughly corresponding to what we might now call chronic fatigue, burnout, or neurasthenia) is primarily based on historical medical practices, especially from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. During this time, some physicians theorized that supplementing with animal gland extracts could "rejuvenate" or support the corresponding human glands, thereby improving symptoms attributed to glandular weakness or fatigue. There is little to no modern scientific validation for these claims. Most evidence comes from anecdotal reports and early clinical case studies, often lacking control groups or rigorous methodology. The rationale behind their use was rooted in the "doctrine of signatures" and early endocrinology, not in controlled trials or biochemical evidence. Modern medicine generally does not support the use of mixed glandular extracts for nervous exhaustion, as there is no reliable evidence that oral glandulars can survive digestion in a form that significantly affects human endocrine function. Regulatory agencies and professional organizations do not endorse their use for this or related conditions. Thus, the practice persists largely as a historical or alternative medicine tradition rather than an evidence-based therapy.
Other ingredients used for Nervous Exhaustion
amino acidsashwagandha
astragalus
waterhyssop
caterpillar mushroom
Chinese salvia root
cordyceps
eleuthero
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
gotu kola
l-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
licorice root
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
maca
magnesium
motherwort
spruce
pollen
reishi mushroom
rhodiola
thiamin (vitamin B1)
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin D
zinc
jiaogulan
catnip
bee pollen
blessed thistle
sunflower
amber
royal jelly
wheat germ
Aralia
Ambergris
Albizia
Anemone
Astragaloside
Animal protein
Betony
Blue Flag
Beef liver
Bone Marrow
Brahmi
Ba Ji Tian
Black Hellebore
Codonopsis
Cynomorium
Convolvulus prostratus
Convolvulus Pluricaulis
Deer Root
Deer Velvet
Egg
Elk antler
Spikenard
Wheat
Other health conditions supported by Gland (mixed)
Adrenal FatigueAnemia
Convalescence
Nervous Exhaustion
Post Partum Weakness