adrenaline

Adrenaline (called epinephrine in the USA) is a neurotransmitter (when released in the brain) as well as a hormone (when released by the adrenal glands into the bloodstream).

The name means ‘on the kidney‘, which refers to the adrenal gland that produces adrenaline. Adrenaline runs the adrenergic system, which is the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system. The adrenergic system is thus that part of the autonomic system which ensures immediate action during emergency situations via our ‘fight-or-flight’ feedback cycles. Adrenaline mostly handles the bodily aspects of these arousal cycles, while noradrenalin handles the psychological part. Adrenaline therefore has to boost oxygen and glucose supply to the brain and muscles. To do this it increases the blood flow to the core of the body and opens up the airways for increased breathing. At the same time it decreases sensitivity and activity in both the immune and digestive system. Adrenaline is crucial to the dynamic processes of stress related diseases such as ME/CFS and Metabolic Syndrome. Adrenaline, as medication, is also one of the main weapons in the arsenal of conventional medicine when handling extreme situations such as cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.