I recently found out that my cortisol levels were slightly out-of-range throughout the day (saliva results upon wakening, lunchtime, 5 pm, and bedtime).
I have started taking PS (the version without soy or choline) taken at bedtime. It's said to lower cortisol levels by 30-70% (source: STTM).
There are several adaptogens: ashwagandha, holy basil, relora, rhodiola, eleuthero, maca, licorice root...I guess the latter is excluded since I am on medication for high blood pressure.
The information concerning these adaptogens is conflicting as some recommend them for high cortisol and some for low and some seem to be able to both lower and increase cortisol levels...which is why I'd appreciate input from others having successfully lowered cortisol levels naturally.
Rhodiola Rosea - this worked well for me for two or three years then suddenly started making me feel a lot worse. I never discovered why this happened. I wish I could still take it.
Licorice Root - raises my blood pressure even if I take DGL Licorice.
I've never tried PS (phosphatidyl serine) but about 6 or 7 years ago I tried Seriphos (phosphorylated serine). I was very ill at the time I took it and it made me a lot worse. I realise this wasn't a fair test of it. I did find that, in the short-term at least, it helped my insomnia.
It seems to be all about trial and error since some holistic practitioners claim one is better than the other...only to be contradicted by a colleague. Did you use holy basil to lower cortisol levels? If I'm not mistaken, holy basil is one adaptogen only to be taken by those with high cortisol, not low.
Yes, I took it to lower cortisol. I had tested myself with a 4 - part saliva cortisol test (more than once) so I knew my levels were very high.
I now dose myself based on my symptoms, but that is just because I know my own body so well and know when I need to lower or raise my Holy Basil. I've been treating my cortisol problems for several years now so I know what I'm doing, but I wouldn't have been able to do that several years ago.
In fact, in the early days I mistook my symptoms for low cortisol symptoms and took something to raise it (but luckily only for two weeks before I recognised the error of my ways). I turned into a sweaty, aggressive, almost homicidal, nasty, sleepless wreck during that two weeks.
A few years ago I was seeing a practioner who put me on an adaptogenic supplement to lower cortisol. I didn't know at the time (but know a lot better now) that although my cortisol was high in range it should have been monitored regularly whilst taking the adaptogens. I became disillusioned with the practioner and stopped seeing her and, unfortunately for me, never thought to retest my levels for 2 years, by which time they had plummeted and I'm still trying to get them back to a good level.
So for me, it was successful (if foolish not to keep an eye on things) and what worked for me was NutriAdvanced Adreset, it's a mixture of Cordyceps, Asian ginseng and Rhodiola root. That supplement may not be suitable for everyone, as with everything it's down to the individual but if you are going to try any adaptogen I would suggest you test every 3 months.
Thanks for the input and the tip! Yes, I realise it's important to keep track of levels as they can plummet quicker than you'd imagine...I absolutely have to avoid ending up with adrenal fatigue on top of everything...! I understand it's important to get highish cortisol under control as the adrenal glands cannot go on overproducing cortisol for ever, but it's equally important not to suppress them instead...so a real minefield it would seem...!
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LDN has really helped with alot of them xx
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