This is getting off-topic, but maybe not too:

I had read this in the James Wilson book "Adrenal Fatigue in the 21st century", and looked it up more online:

http://www.chronicfatiguesolution.com/AdrenalGlandExtracts.htm


Their first claim to fame in the United States occurred with the epicemic flu virus of 1918. Respiratory infections are especially hard on the adrenal glands and fatigue them rapidly. This effect was shown by Lucke and his associates at Camp Zachary Taylor in 1919, when he found that adrenal exhaustion was present in 103 of 126 autopsied cases of mortality from the flu epidemic. In 3 other cases he even found adrenal hemorrhages and enlargement of the adrenal glands to twice their size. This means that in 106 of 126 patients who died from influenza, the adrenals were actually damaged by the infection. It is not that the adrenals were infected per se, but that the effort they made to try to restore balance to the body led them to a degree of exhaustion that was physically detectable upon autopsy (Lucke, B., et al., Archives of Internal Medicine, August 1919, XXIIII, pg. 154).

While this flu epidemic was debilitating and even killing thousands around the world, a few hundred of its victims were given a formula containing liquid adrenal cortical extracts (extracts from the adrenal cortex) combined with small amounts of thyroid and gonadal extracts. The formula was found to be unusually effective in overcoming many of the asthenic (weak) and depleted states that were so common to those afflicted with this deadly flu. It also effectively reduced the serious sequeli that usually followed this particular infection. The benefits of this adrenal cell extract formula dramatically drew attention to its practical use. The quick and uneventful recovery experienced by those taking it contrasted to the long period of recuperation normally seen in this flu epidemic. These results made many physicians aware of the possibility for recovery from less severe forms of hypoadrenia as well. It was known even in 1919 that the early functional endocrine disorders, especially adrenal fatigue, are infinitely more common and far more likely to respond to therapy than extreme endocrine diseases such as Addison’s (Harrower, ’39, pg. 17).

By the mid 1930’s, adrenal cell extracts in liquid and tablet forms were produced by several companies. By the late 1930’s, they were being used by tens of thousands of physicians. As recently as 1968 they were still being made by some of the leading pharmaceutical companies (Upjohn and Eli Lilly, among others).

However, in the early 1950’s synthetic cortisol became available. Because the synthetic hormone produced effects that seemed, at first, so much more dramatic than the effects of adrenal extracts, many physicians switched to synthetic cortisol and its derivatives to treat conditions they had previously treated with adrenal cell extracts. Unfortunately for patients, the profit margins were also more dramatic for the synthetic corticosteroids. This quickly made the synthetics the unquestionable favorite of the pharmaceutical industry. Within a few short years, the many detrimental side effects of the synthetics started appearing, but the pharmaceutical industry had made its profitable choice and would never turn back. In fact there has been a concerted effort to discredit adrenal and other cellular extracts and to remove them from the market. Luckily, these valuable cellular extracts, which provide more true benefits to your body without the damaging side effects of synthetic corticosteroids, are still available from a few sources.>>

I've been looking up more on what happens to the adrenals with a viral flu condition. Doing a search for "Cytokine Storm adrenals" shows alot of information about the involvement of the adrenal glands/cortisol.

Also:

http://www.chemicalbiological.net/chembioupdate_special_edition_influenza.html     I have been hearing a lot about "cytokine storm" lately. This is in reference to the 1918-1919 pandemic influenza attack that killed millions. Everywhere it is being said that this is what made the pandemic of that time so deadly. If I recall correctly, you--from your research studies--had already reasoned this out years ago, and what to do about it. You said that what killed the victims then, was that in their bodies there was:

"An exaggerated inflammatory response to the viral invasion, which generated an immense immune response. And this is what killed the victims"

Can you elaborate on this?     When the 1918 flu struck, it was shocking in the manner in which it killed! It killed rather suddenly---within days of contracting this particular virus. And, as you have stated, it did so by creating an:

• Exaggerated inflammatory response, which called forth
• A sudden and immense immune response.

    Also, that particular virus did something that no other particular virus had done, that we know of, before in history. This was to affect the hypothalamic or pituitary portion of the brain, and that reaction affected the adrenal cortex, such that it caused the body to shut down all or most of its secretions of Cortisol, the necessary hormone to tame the exaggerated inflammatory and immune response. These two things constitute a "cytokine storm,"---chemical messengers between immune cells and others cells. This communication is usually normal; but in the case of "cytokine storm," the communication is overly done, with disastrous results.

 

    In the third edition of Safe Uses of Cortisol, Dr. William McK. Jefferies writes:

"We now know that the influenza virus attacks the human body by impairing the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which, in turn, impairs the production of cortisol, the only hormone that is absolutely essential for life."

 

Schematic:

 

Hypothalamus (Secretes) Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) To The Anterior Pituitary Causing It To Secrete Corticotropin (ACTH) To The Bloodstream to Reach the Adrenal Glands, Causing them to Secrete Cortisol — Tortora, Funge, and Case, Principles of Anatomy & Physiology,10th. Edition, pp. 597, 599.

 

    It is now known that the great influenza epidemic of 1918 stopped or blocked, in the brain, the process(es) that would cause the adrenal glands to be stimulated and release cortisol. In the terrible flu epidemic of 1918, the adrenal glands never got the signal. According to William McK. Jefferies in Safe Uses of Cortisol, it appears that all influenza viruses impair the ACTH hormone to some degree, but the flu of 1918 practically shut it down.

 

    Cytokines are "Soluble substances secreted by cells, which have a variety of effects on other cells," according to the Fourth and Fifth Edition, Immunology: A Short Course by Benjamini et al., Wiley-Liss. The authors further write:

 

"Cytokines play a key role in the inflammatory response. Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 (IL-1, IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) are among the most important cytokines involved.

 

"These cytokines released by activated macrophages induce adhesion molecules on the walls of vascular endothelial cells to which neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes adhere before moving out of the vessel through a process called extravasation, to the affected tissue. These cytokines also induce coagulation and increased vascular permeability. Other cytokines, including IL-8 and interferon-gamma, exert additional effects such as increased chemotaxis for leukocytes and increased phagocytosis.

 

"All these effects result in the accumulation of fluid (edema) and leukocytic cells in the injured areas. These in turn, amplify the response further since additional biologically active compounds are transported in the fluid and also are released from the accumulated cells, attracting and activating still more cells."

 

    This way, one would not have drowned in his own fluids, had the Cortisol secretion not been shut off, for the lungs became a soggy, bloody mass of fluid and tissue within days and with no means to control it and allow the body overcome the occurring situation.

 

    I am hearing everything to ingest to stop the flu or to lessen its effects, from one vitamin tablet daily to numerous special herbs, antioxidants, and specialty products such as oil of oregano and other essential oils. This is all well and good, be in shape biochemically and physically, going into any type of dysfunction.