Glandular System and its Major Organs

Overview, Organs, and Function

Our glandular system, or endocrine system, is the communication network that regulates our ambitions and emotions, promotes growth and sexual identity, helps control body temperatures, assists in the repair of damaged tissue, and helps our bodies generate energy.

Our glandular systems communicate using chemical substances called hormones. These hormones can stimulate reactions within the body that can last from a few hours to several days.

Two types of glands make up our glandular system.

EXOCRINE Glands – These types of glands secrete fluids throughout a duct or tube that usually lead to an outside surface, like our skin, tear glands, and salivary glands.
ENDOCRINE Glands – These glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Our bloodstream carries these hormones to tissues or organs where they stimulate some action.

The major Endocrine Glands are:

Pineal
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Thyroid
Thymus
Adrenal
Pancreas
Gonads

Our endocrine and nervous systems work closely together. It is their job together to maintain a balance among all of our body systems. The glandular and nervous systems regulate the voluntary and involuntary actions within our bodies. These include growth, metabolism, digestion, elimination, menstruation, and sleep. These systems also enable communication between cells.

Problems with the glandular system can affect us in various ways. Some indicators you could be having issues are:

Waking up as tired as you were when you went to bed
Trouble sleeping, staying asleep, or falling asleep
Coarse or blemished skin
Feeling irritable
Trouble focusing
Problems maintaining your body weight
Problems maintaining an ideal body temperature
Feeling depressed or anxious

Glandular System and Its Three Main Glands

Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands produce over fifty different hormones. These hormones impact development and growth, and our ability to deal with stress. Some of these hormones also help regulate kidney function.

The adrenal glands are composed of two distinct sections: the medulla and the cortex.

The medulla gland produces adrenaline. This hormone regulates the fight-or-flight response in the body, which is how the body reacts to stressful events. The medulla also produces DHEA, which is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone.
The Cortex gland, located on the outer portion of the adrenal gland, produces several hormones that affect blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and growth. The cortex also produces cortisol, which is often referred to as the stress hormone. Some people produce greater levels of cortisol than others. Cortisol isn’t entirely damaging; it does have some beneficial effects, such as helping to reduce inflammation. It also allows the body to make sure the sodium it needs is not lost. It may also help improve short-term memory and support the liver in removing toxins. Excess cortisol can raise blood pressure, lower bone density, reduce the immune response, affect blood sugar levels, reduce serotonin levels, which help provide a sense of well-being, and contribute to weight gain.

Maintaining adrenal health is very important. We must all learn to manage our stress. Many people do not recognize that problems are occurring with their adrenal glands because of all the stimulants they use. Stimulants include coffee, tea, soda, sugar, chocolate, and tobacco products such as cigarettes. Everyone should have a steady stream of energy throughout the day without needing to stimulate the body. Having to depend on stimulants for energy could be a good indication ythat our adrenal glands are lacking.

The Thyroid Gland

glandular system

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and weighs approximately 0.5 ounces. It has two halves, called lobes, that lie along the trachea and are joined together by a narrow band of tissue. I once took a class and the man teaching the class said the thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and lays over our windpipe. Since then, it has always helped me to remember the shape of it. The thyroid’s primary function is to absorb iodine from food and convert it into thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), which are then released into the bloodstream. These hormones travel throughout the body and help to regulate metabolism, body temperature, and to control hormones. The thyroid can also contribute to your skin, colon health, and weight management. Thyroid hormones are prevalent and utilized by almost every cell in the body.

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland, which is the size of a small pea, is located at the base of the brain and is known as the master gland of the body. It not only produces its own hormones, but also influences the hormonal production of the other glands. The pituitary gland controls the thyroid gland by instructing it on how much T3 and T4 to produce, releasing TSH, the thyroid-stimulating hormone. As its name implies, TSH stimulates the thyroid to produce or not to produce hormones. The hormones released by the pituitary gland help some of the following body processes.

Growth
Temperature Control
Conversion of food into energy
Blood Pressure
Breast milk production
Absorption of water into the kidneys
Stimulation of uterine contractions during childbirth
Sex organ function in both males and females.

Maintaining a Healthy Glandular System

Lifestyle choices and their impact on our overall health are crucial. Some of the best things we can do to build and nourish our glands are to:

Exercise regularly
Include more raw foods and good fats in our diet to keep our blood sugar levels balanced.
Eat smaller portion sizes
Consume easily digested proteins
Add Supplements that support a healthy glandular system. My favorites are Master Gland for overall pituitary support, Dulse for the thyroid, and Adaptamax for the Adrenals. Learn more about these and more glandular support supplements at Nature’s Sunshine Products. You can also take our Brilliant Body Health Assessment to help you determine which body system is in most need of support.
Start to relax earlier in the evening and get to sleep by 10:00 pm
Listen to relaxing, encouraging, and uplifting music
Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts
Pray
Engage in positive emotional outlets, such as traveling, hobbies, and clubs.