Health: Adrenal Fatigue

Before I found out that I was pregnant, I had a lot of adrenal fatigue symptoms. I took the this test and the results were negative. Of course my fatigue was a result of pregnancy; but if you are constantly tired, take this test and see if you might have this problems. Thanks to 20somethingallergies - RITP
Did you know that you can do a quick and easy test at home to see if you have adrenal fatigue?
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, this is one of the tools I use to test adrenal function.
A quick disclaimer before we start: In order to properly diagnose any condition, please see a qualified medical practitioner (preferably by a holistic practitioner familiar with adrenal fatigue).
This simple test can be done with a small flashlight that has a pinpoint focus or penlight, a mirror, darkened room, and your eyeballs.

How Does It Work?

When your adrenal glands are not functioning well, the eye muscles get fatigued and aren’t able to stay dilated. This is a common cause of night blindness and the need for sunglasses.

What If I Fail the Test?

This test is a good indicator to look into things further.
I will be writing a series on adrenal fatigue next month. If you would like to sign up for my newsletter in one of the pink boxes to the right or bottom of this post, I will send the posts right to your inbox!
Here’s a great book that I recommend for more information and DIY treatment options: Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by James L. Wilson, ND, DC, PhD.
Instead of spending hours upon hours looking up (sometimes questionable) information on the Internet, it covers the syndrome from soup to nuts.
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Pupilary Response Test for Adrenal Fatigue

1. Stand in front of a mirror in a darkened room (best done at night) for at least 15 seconds.
2. Look straight into the mirror without blinking.
3. Using your penlight or small flashlight, hold the light at eye level and by the side of your head pointing at your ear (see chart). About 8 inches away to avoid damaging the eye.
4. Slowly move the light around your head toward your nose, staying 8 inches away at all times.
5. Stop once the light is at a 45 degree angle to your retina. The light should NOT be pointing directly into your eye but should come in at an angle. hint: you shouldn’t feel like a deer in headlights.
6. Hold the light steady and count how long your pupil can hold the contraction, up to 20 seconds. Once it starts to ‘pulse’ or loses the contraction, the test is over.
7. Repeat on other eye.

0-4 seconds | Adrenal Exhaustion |

5-10 seconds | Adrenal Fatigue |

11-19 seconds | Adrenal Dysfunction |

20+ seconds | Optimal Adrenal Function |