Adrenal
The adrenals are the glands that help us deal with stress, mineral balances, and inflammation. They release adrenaline into the body to increase activity and energy. They may be overworked these days in response to stress, caffeine, nicotine, and sugar. Adrenal glandulars are often suggested for people who experience fatigue, stress, environmental sensitivities or allergies, infections, and hypoglycemia. The symptoms that come from low blood sugar are probably more related to adrenal than to pancreas, and supporting the adrenals with freeze-dried adrenal at 50–100 mg. twice daily, along with other stress-supporting nutrients, such as the B vitamins, vitamins C and A, and zinc, may be helpful.
Pancreas
Pancreas is used mainly to support digestion by providing extra digestive enzymes. Lipases, proteases, and amylases are found in the pancreas gland. Taking digestive enzymes 30–60 minutes after meals often helps us to better utilize the meal’s nutrition, especially for people whose digestion has been weakened by emotional stress, chemical irritants, or poor eating habits. I believe many people, particularly the elderly, need pancreatic enzyme support (and often hydrochloric acid as well) to properly digest and assimilate foods; this is part of many of the nutritional programs I propose in Part Four. There are those who suggest that pancreatic insufficiency is at the heart of aging and much disease, including allergies, weight problems, arthritis and other inflammatory problems, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer. Pancreatic support is important in cancer programs and the use of pork-derived pancreas for therapy is currently under investigation.
Thymus
The thymus is important to immunological activity. It contains the active hormone thymosin, which stimulates T lymphocyte (T cell) production and activity. T cells help the body defend itself against infection. Our thymus gland tends to weaken with age, and this may affect our defense system. If we experience fatigue, recurrent infections, or measurable immune deficiency, intake of oral thymus gland may be helpful. This is not well researched, but it most likely won’t cause any problems. Injectable thymus has been definitely shown to stimulate immune activity.
Thyroid
Thyroid weakness can be caused by lack of iodine or too little protein in the diet and probably by emotional stress and blocked creativity as well. In such cases, thyroid glandular may be helpful in supporting the gland to work better. Nutrients that contain thyroid tissue and hormone precursors, such as iodine and tyrosine, seem to be helpful. Thyroid glandular has been used for fatigue and to support immune function.
Other Glandulars
Many other glandular tissues are available for support of body organs. Brain tissue has been used for ages to stimulate brain function. Likewise, heart or lung extracts have supported those organs. Stomach and duodenum, testicular and ovarian tissue, prostate, pituitary, and hypothalamus have all been employed to enhance body organ functions. Spleen glandular tissue has been popular for immunological support, to help boost lymphocyte activity, and to protect the body from infections. High-nutrient liver tissue is also part of many glandular programs to support this important metabolic organ in our bodies. As many people describe, liver may help us energetically and functionally, but it should be good liver from healthy, nontoxic animals, as this organ in particular can have high concentrations of many toxins.