Hi Leah - I noticed that you cross posted your message in the adrenal fatigue forum. Have you been tested for AF? If so, how severe is it?

Tom

The hormonal imbalances (how did you confirm this?) and insomnia sound like early-stage adrenal fatigue.

Why not just treat the adrenals first and then detox, so you don't crash the adrenals and fatigue them further? Trust me, you want to get those things back up and online, as you'll be in for a world of shit beyond your worst nightmares if you let them get worse.

Have you been tested for gluten sensitivity (Celiac Disease) or tried a strict gluten free diet for a month or so?

Many times Chronic fatigue can be traced back to adrenal malfunction.

The adrenal glands are responsible for release of cortisol (sleep, inflammation and blood Sugar regulation) aldosterone (regulates sodium and potassium)and androgen/estrogens (sex drive and developement)
someone who has low adrenal output can see the following symptoms: cant fall asleep/wakes up every hour or two, hard to wake up, has chronic fatigue during the day, has feelings of dizzyness and fainting upon standing(low blood volume) , has blood Sugar issues (feel ill or get stomach aches when not eating for more than 3 hours, may not want to eat sometimes, gets hyper/laughing jags after eating)may have eye blurring, migraines,intermittent pain under the ribs or a feeling of pressure on the chest or hard to breathe, chronic low back pain and chronic thigh muscle pain-especially after exercise, ear pain /excesive wax, sore throats, corporal tunnel,inability to handle stress, anger outburts and crying outbursts. The heart/blood volume is not involved until the adrenal insufficency has been happening for several years. Early signs may just be joint pain/muscle pain and fatigue.

Licorice root is what I am going to attempt with my daughter ,because I am scared to put her on prednesones-
here is a website i just found today of a doc who uses licorice : http://www.jacemedical.com/store2/licorice1.html