Adrenal fatigue is a term used by alternative health practitioners to explain tiredness and other symptoms which are thought to be due to chronic (long-term) exposure to stressful situations. However, it is not a recognized medical diagnosis. The term was invented in 1998 by a chiropractor named James Wilson and applied to a collection of mostly non-specific symptoms. There is no scientific basis for the existence of adrenal fatigue, and the term should not be confused with a number of actual forms of adrenal dysfunction such as adrenal insufficiency or Addisons disease. Blood or salivary testing is sometimes offered, but there is no evidence that adrenal fatigue exists and it cannot be tested for. The concept of adrenal fatigue has given rise to an industry of dietary supplements marketed to treat the supposed condition. These supplements are largely unregulated in the U.S., are ineffective, costly, and in some cases may be dangerous. If you have unexplained fatigue or adrenal fatigue, it is important to check with your doctor that there isn’t another cause for your tiredness.