Epstein Barr Virus and Adrenal Fatigue

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I have a personal history with the herpes virus, Epstein Barr Virus, and Adrenal Fatigue. I experienced full-blown adrenal failure, actually. Most people’s adrenals aren’t affected that badly but the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) does affect them.

Is Epstein Barr Virus Your Main Issue?

For most people, no.

It’s common to have EBV antibodies. EBV is Mono, an infectious virus many of us catch at a younger age. For some people, it is now “Reactivated Epstein Barr” where the virus may have risen to the surface, or is one of several concurrent immune challenges.

The questions are: how high are your antibodies to EBV and is the virus causing your health issues? Or are you just experiencing another symptom of being run down from general adrenal fatigue?

The Root Cause of Fatigue

Getting to the root cause of poor health is what I try to resolve with clients. As patients, we commonly notice our symptoms but are poorly trained to find the cause of them. We want symptom relief, which is what the traditional medical community tries hard to provide.

Patients reaching out for more want a Functional Health approach. This is where we attack the “why”. Why am I tired? Why is my sleep disturbed? Why is my blood pressure low?

The root cause of these three questions could possibly be – I have Adrenal Fatigue because I have elevated, reactivated Epstein Barr/Mono.

It could be many other things, as well. We have to test adrenals correctly with Salivary Testing or DUTCH testing, as well as test the thyroid and general labs to find the cause.

Epstein Barr is a Herpes Virus

There are over a dozen herpes viruses. They include HSV1, HSV2, Chickenpox, Shingles, Cytomegalo, Mono, and many more. I recommend anti-infective support as a first step, implementing a low-Arginine diet and helpful supplements.

You must adopt a diet that does not feed herpes viruses. Supplements alone cannot fix this.

We then differentiate our approach to address specifics.

I have many articles and podcasts related to herpes viruses, including foods to avoid, options for supportive treatments, and helpful supplements.

Epstein Barr Virus and Adrenal Fatigue

Can EBV cause Adrenal fatigue?

Yes, this virus attacks the adrenals. This is why Mono and Epstein Barr cause such fatigue. The virus then wears down the immune system and allows other infections to rise to the surface.

Salivary Testing for Adrenal Cortisol Levels

After my EBV diagnosis, I ran a four-sample salivary cortisol test from Diagnostechs Lab to check my adrenals and female hormones.

The results? My Cortisol levels were 1/10th of ideal! You read that right! The lab doctor reviewing my report told me to go to the hospital and begin long-term steroids immediately.

I didn’t follow this advice but this was my wake-up call. I cut my working hours and began my search to heal the Epstein Barr Virus and adrenal fatigue.

High Arginine Foods Trigger Herpes & Epstein Bar Virus

Your diet has a huge impact on your health. While healing herpes, we want to avoid certain foods and properly balance arginine-to-lysine ratios.

The following two articles outline the best foods for Herpes and which foods to avoid:

• The Best and Worst Foods for Herpes
• Are Bone Broth and Collagen Safe with Herpes? 

Supplements to Fight Epstein Barr Virus

• The Herpes and Epstein Barr Defense Pack will help fight the virus and feed the adrenals, too. Add Ga- Adrenal for adrenal support.
• I also recommend a combination of Systemic Formulas VIVI – Virox, Monolaurin, Supreme Nutrition Olive Leaf (it’s whole leaf rather than Oleuropein Extract), and Lysine.
• I also use anti-viral Melissa Extract and an unusual Green Tea Extract.

The exact combination of supplements can be customized to fit your needs with a personal consult. Click here to connect with my clinic.

Testing and Rebuilding the Adrenals

There’s a lot of bad information on the web about the Epstein Barr and adrenal fatigue. Fasting cures, super strict diets, odd supplements, gallons of juice, etc.

Rebuilding the adrenals is a commitment to ending overwork, worry, sleeplessness, and poor food choices that exhaust the adrenals. As I tell many of my clients, you cannot supplement your way out of this. You have to change what got you run down in the first place.

Salivary Testing is essential to view Cortisol levels over one day. 

Calming Herbs for Better Rest

The conundrum is you are tired but you can’t rest well. You need Passion Flower, Pharma GABA, or another calming support. You must rest your brain and body to recover adrenal health.