Stress is a universal issue that can lead to a number of health problems if left unmanaged. Stress can, not only, increase your weight, make you ill, and disrupt your sleep, but it can also kill you. Our body responds to stressful stimulus by signalling our adrenal glands to release a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol can be measured in either saliva, urine, or Happy Hormone Cottage’s cutting edge dried urine strip test, called the DUTCH Test. To best determine one’s stress, cortisol should be measured at four different times during the day: first thing in the morning, late morning, late afternoon, and bedtime. People with a fairly normal stress level have a very predictable pattern: a rise first thing in the morning with a gradual decline throughout the course of the day. People under much stress will have a cortisol pattern that doesn’t follow the normal curve. Their cortisol pattern, along with their symptoms, will give insight into their stress level and how to best treat it. Symptoms of a cortisol imbalance or excessive stress are commonly:
- Weight gain
- Hot flashes
- Forgetfulness
- Brain fog
- Hair loss
- Heart palpitations
- Inability to fall asleep
- Anxiety
- Inability to stay asleep
- Fatigue
It is evident that stress is a very real problem in today’s fast paced culture. So what do we do? Over the past 10 years of working in women’s health, I have found that the women hardest to successfully treat with bioidentical hormones are the ones with significant stress and adrenal fatigue. I’ve learned that the brain is responsible for the signalling of the adrenals to release cortisol. There are several herbal or natural products that can have an effect on the brain. These products are called adaptogens. When used correctly, these adaptogens can both energize the brain or calm it down.
The Happy Hormone Cottage has created two separate adrenal support products using the well-studied adaptogens at the proper therapeutic dosing. Our Adrenal Support therapy consists of proprietary formulations designed to produce a healthy cortisol curve – highest energy levels upon awakening, lowest energy levels at bedtime. We customize these supplements specifically for our clients and they can be found nowhere else.
Adrenal Support 1 is taken in the evening and at bedtime to calm down the brain. It helps us fall asleep and stay asleep, and it prevents early morning awakening that so many people struggle with. Our Adrenal Support therapy consists of proprietary formulations designed to produce a healthy cortisol curve – highest energy levels upon awakening, lowest energy levels at bedtime.
Adrenal Support 2 is used in the morning and in early afternoon to energize the brain. This product helps improve: energy, mood, and even libido.
Taken together, the goal is to normalize and recreate the natural cortisol pattern. When a normal cortisol pattern is re-established, then all of those stress-related symptoms of weight gain, and foggy thinking tend to disappear. Both men and women have had success with out adrenal support treatment.
For more information, or to purchase either of these products, please click on our online store, or call our compounding pharmacy at 937-773-1778.
