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endocrine system
Hypoglycemia
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the blood sugar levels are lower than normal. In some cases this is due to the pancreas producing too much of the insulin hormone. Insulin is the key hormone that helps to convert sugar into energy. Although it is most commonly caused by stress and poor diet, hypoglycemia can also develop as a result of a poorly functioning pancreas, tumors in the pancreas, liver dysfunction, or pregnancy.
A hypoglycemic reaction can be brought on by a diabetic person receiving too much insulin. This is also known as "insulin shock." It can also be brought on by alcohol consumption, eating a meal that is heavy in sugar foods, fasting, and taking some medications.
The typical symptoms are strong cravings for sugar, increased heartbeat rate, headaches, sweating, blurred vision, intense hunger, and insomnia. Because the symptoms also include depression, mental confusion, numbness, and irritability, hypoglycemia has often been wrongly diagnosed as a mental problem.
Hypoglycemia during pregnancy can effect your unborn child, so be sure to report to a physician as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA AND CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:
1. Vitamin C 1,000 milligrams twice a day.
2. B-complex vitamins 25 milligrams per day.
3. GTF Chromium 200 micrograms per day.
4. Magnesium 400 milligrams per day.
5. Brewer's Yeast 1 tablespoon per day.
THE PROPER DIET FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Avoid sugar foods such as candy, cake, cookies, and soda pop; sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, and molasses; and refined carbohydrates such as white flour and white rice. Eating sugar and refined carbohydrates is a major cause of hypoglycemic reactions. Sugar is absorbed too rapidly into the blood, the level of glucose rises, and the pancreas secretes large amounts of insulin, bringing the sugar levels down too quickly (many times lower than normal). Hence, the symptoms of hypoglycemia manifest.
Complex carbohydrates are absorbed slower, so they provide the necessary energy but don't change the sugar levels so drastically.
Decrease or eliminate consumption of caffeine, found mostly in coffee, black tea, choco-late, and some over-the-counter medications. Caffeine stresses the adrenal glands, which are also important in regulating sugar levels.
A diet that emphasizes protein rather than carbohydrates is better in this case. Replace red meat with fish and chicken as much as possible, and add more beans, nuts, and seeds to the diet.
Eliminate or at least greatly reduce the consumption of alcohol.
HERBS FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA:
Make a tea with the following herbs: Licorice Root, Dandelion Root, and Ginseng Root. You can mix equal parts of the herbs and use 1 heaping teaspoon of the mixture per cup of boiling water. Simmer 5 minutes. Drink 1 cup of the tea 3 times per day. These herbs can also be used in a tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract. Use 50 drops of the mixture 3 times a day.
Licorice Root tea by itself also may be beneficial. Use 1 teaspoon of the root per cup of boiling water, or add 1/2 teaspoon of the powdered root to sweeten a favorite herb tea. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day. Ongoing use of Licorice Root will tax the body's reserves of potassium and can cause high blood pressure in some people. Therefore, increase the intake of potassium-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and molasses.
Clinic
Footnotes
BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.