Adrenal Fatigue: The Hidden Link Behind Peri-menopause Symptoms

Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep? Struggling with anxiety, brain fog, or mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere? You might be dealing with something deeper than hormonal shifts—something known in holistic health as adrenal fatigue.

What Are the Adrenal Glands?

Your adrenal glands are two small glands that sit above your kidneys. They play a vital role in regulating:

Stress response (via cortisol and adrenaline)
Energy levels
Sleep-wake cycles
Blood pressure and fluid balance
Sex hormone production (during and after menopause)

What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue describes a state where your adrenal glands can no longer keep up with the demand for stress hormones like cortisol. This often happens after prolonged periods of physical, emotional, or psychological stress.

Though not formally recognized in conventional medicine, adrenal fatigue is widely acknowledged in holistic and complementary health practices. It’s especially relevant during perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal changes place additional strain on the body.

Signs of Adrenal Fatigue

You may be experiencing adrenal fatigue if you notice:

Feeling “tired but wired”
Waking in the night and struggling to fall back asleep
Anxiety or panic attacks, even when resting
Brain fog and memory lapses

Low libido and emotional flatness

Dizziness, headaches, or digestive issues
Increased sensitivity to stress or overwhelm

These symptoms often creep in gradually and may be dismissed as “just getting older,” but they’re actually signs that your body is running on empty.

Why It Matters During Peri-Menopause and Menopause

As ovarian hormone production naturally declines, the adrenal glands take on a greater role, becoming a key backup source for sex hormones.

Cortisol & Stress Response

The adrenals produce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Under chronic stress, they shift focus toward cortisol production, often at the expense of sex hormones—contributing to fatigue, anxiety, and disrupted sleep.

Androgen Conversion

In addition to cortisol, the adrenals produce androgens, which can be converted into oestrogen. As ovarian oestrogen levels fall, the body increasingly relies on this secondary source.

Energy & Hormonal Support

When well-nourished and supported, the adrenal glands can ease the hormonal shifts of perimenopause. But if they’re overworked or depleted, symptoms may intensify significantly.

How kinesiology helps

As part of your session, I’ll assess the adrenal glands along with the rest of the endocrine system to identify which glands are under the most stress and may be contributing to your symptoms. Then I’ll look to strengthen those glands in the following areas:

Structural and Energetic

I’ll strengthen the glands through targeted kinesiology corrections, flushing meridians, stimulating acupressure points, and encouraging lymphatic drainage.

Emotions

Emotions have a profound impact on physical health, particularly on the function of the glands. Feelings such as sadness, anger, grief, and the experience of being unvalidated can reduce the efficiency of these systems, making it more difficult for the body to stay in balance. If emotional stress is contributing to your symptoms, it will be addressed as part of the treatment—using gentle techniques to help the body process and release what it no longer needs, so healing can happen more fully.

Nutrition

Using muscle testing, I’ll explore which nutrients, herbs, and supplements can help restore balance—especially key supports like vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Interestingly, the adrenal glands have a particular affinity for vitamin C, so I’ll look for the most effective form to nourish and strengthen them. Kinesiology takes the guesswork out of choosing supplements by testing them directly on your body to see which ones strengthen your adrenals.

Some of the Key Nutrients & Supplements for Adrenal Support

Supplement	How It Helps
Ashwagandha	Helps lower high cortisol and calm the nervous system during stress.
Bacopa Monnieri	Supports memory and calm by gently lowering cortisol levels.
Cordyceps	Boosts energy and supports adrenal function during long-term stress.
Holy Basil	Eases emotional stress and helps balance cortisol naturally.
Licorice Root	Keeps cortisol active longer to support energy and adrenal function.
Magnesium (various forms)	Calms the body and helps regulate cortisol
Pantothenic Acid (B5)	Vital for making adrenal hormones and supporting stress recovery.
Panax Ginseng	Supports adrenal health and helps stabilize energy and stress hormones.

Rhodiola rosea	Balances cortisol and boosts resilience to stress and fatigue.
Siberian Ginseng	Boosts stamina and helps the body adapt to physical and mental stress.
Vitamin B Complex	Helps adrenal glands make energy and manage stress more effectively.
Vitamin C	Protects adrenal glands and helps make cortisol during stress.

Ready to begin?

If you’d like to book a session or chat about how I can support you, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me, Sarah Woodward, at Cheltenham Kinesiology by clicking the link below.