Should Glenn Beck seek additional help? What is "a hyperextension of [the] adrenal gland"?
Though the first obvious answer is "Who really cares? Don't waste time discussing him.", though the second obvious answer is something that profanely approximates "Let that guy burn!", and though the third obvious answer is "Of course!", an examination of Glenn's following statement seems to indicate that he is exactly as gullible as the rubes who believe his dangerous, self-serving, jingoistic, conjoined fictions of patriotism and religion (that is, if one can suspend the belief that his videos are nothing but a shabby ruse to allow Glenn to bilk his stable of rubes out of more of their money):
Here is an approximate transcription of Glenn Beck's statement from time 5:39 to time 8:04 in the video: he is discussing Carrick Brain Centers. (Following this is a 2011 commentary on chiropractic neurology from the site Science-Based Medicine along with the background of that site's editor - the author of the commentary.)
"Honestly, it is a place that you go to if you are absolutely desperate, because they do...crazy stuff...crazy stuff. ... They..uh..they engage in experimental therapy. You know the stuff the government and the insurance companies aren't sure that they believe in. And because of that they don't take insurance, and they cost quite a bit of money. And..uh..and they don't make any promises. But when you're fifteen or twenty doctors in and no diagnosis - at least, a diagnosis that you feel good about. What do you have to lose? Besides, I wondered - big miracle - what are the odds of me moving from New York City to Dallas, Texas, and buying a studio that was literally three-and-a-half minutes down the street from the only place in the world that seems to specialize in exactly what was wrong with me? So, we went and - after a few short visits - they found that I had several things going on from an autoimmune disorder to adrenal fatigue and they found the connection on everything that was going on. And for the first time gave us hope that we could reboot my system - not stop it - but reverse at least parts of it. Everything these guys told us made sense for the first time. It never felt like it made sense. Um...you know...Me never having to sleep was now finally understandable. Apparently, the last sign of adrenal failure is a hyperextension of your adrenal gland. So, in other words, I didn't need to sleep. I could have been lifting cars during my time at Fox. I wish I would have...That would have made a great episode. But now because of that, my adrenal system had blown out, and all I could do was sleep. And one thing on top of another and in the end, my immune system was looking at these natural horm...it was looking at adrenaline as an infection, and so my body was trying to kill its basic functions...."
From Science-Based Medicine:
Posted by Steven Novella on November 16, 2011
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Chiropractic neurology appears to me to be the very definition of pseudoscience – it has all the trappings of a legitimate profession, with a complex set of beliefs and practices, but there is no underlying scientific basis for any of it.
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Some symptoms are also susceptible to conditioning. Vertigo is perhaps the best example of this. At present the most effective treatment for chronic vertigo (a subjective sense of movement, such as spinning) is vestibular therapy – physical therapy designed to condition the patient to the symptoms, to diminish them over time. It is therefore possible that some chiropractic neurology interventions are simply providing this known mechanism. For example, here is a description of Carrick’s treatment of Hockey player, Crosby:
Carrick then signals to restart the gyroscope—with one difference. This time Crosby will be turned upside-down while he is also spun around. He hasn’t experienced this dual action yet. The door clangs shut. Above it, a stack of red, yellow and green lights shines while 10 high-pitched beeps signal the gyroscope is about to start. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
This is a very dramatic treatment, sure to impress the naive. It follows a common philosophy in dubious neurological treatments – the notion that you can “rebuild the brain” by stimulating it. While it is true that activity and simulation are better than no activity and stimulation, it does not follow that simply increasing stimulation will increase the brain’s plasticity or recovery (a simplistic more-is-better philosophy). That basic notion was researched and discarded decades ago, for example with specific reference to psychomotor patterning treatments.
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http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-neurology/
Founder and currently Executive Editor of Science-Based Medicine Steven Novella, MD is an academic clinical neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is also the president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society, the host and producer of the popular weekly science podcast, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, and the author of the NeuroLogicaBlog, a daily blog that covers news and issues in neuroscience, but also general science, scientific skepticism, philosophy of science, critical thinking, and the intersection of science with the media and society. Dr. Novella also contributes every Sunday to The Rogues Gallery, the official blog of the SGU.
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http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/editorial-staff/steven-p-novella-md-founder-and-editor/
At some point, I thought for certain that Glenn was going to exhibit empathy and was going to call for universal health care. I guess I was wrong...
= new reply since forum marked as read
These are all legitimate problems. He was just incorrectly diagnosed 
A lot of people have adrenal problems - too much cortisol, not enough cortisol. Take some glandulars to help take the stress of the adrenal glands and your body will begin to heal its self. I have a friend who has diabetes and total adrenal gland failure - she takes all her meds, get monitored regularly and she seems like a normal, healthy person.
Pretty dramatic that he's on the verge of death. I'm sure if felt horrible, but once he was properly diagnosed, he'll be able to live a long life ruining the lives others with his radio show.
