Naturopathic Care For Stress:
Symptoms Of High And Low Cortisol

Our bodies can withstand a certain amount of stress and responding quickly in a stressful situation can be a good thing. In the past, this might have given us reliable response systems that protected us from predators.

Today, your stressors might look very different, but your body still is hard-wired to respond to them in particular ways.  Stress is an integral part of how our bodies protect us from threats or in dangerous situations.

The problem lies in having too much stress in your daily life or insufficient ways to relieve it. This imbalance can cause your health to suffer and disrupt how you feel and function each day. As a result, you may need treatment or other supports to feel better.

Let’s look at what happens in your body when you’re stressed and how naturopathic care can help support your health when it happens.

What are some of the common causes of stress?

Stress has many possible causes, and we don’t all respond to stress in the same way. What is intensely stressful for you may not bother someone else and vice versa.

However, there are some common causes of stress we consider when caring for patients:

• Lack of sleep
• Emotional stress
• Burnout or working too hard at work or at home
• Poor diet (processed foods, too much sugar or caffeine)
• Loss of job or other key role or responsibility
• Loss of a loved one
• Recent relationship changes such as breakup or divorce
• Strain in key relationships
• Chronic pain or illness
• Lack of purpose or connection
• Significant changes in work or school setting
• Lack of fun and excitement in life

What is cortisol?

People often call cortisol the “stress hormone,” and it’s good to remember cortisol plays a vital role in your body. It helps your body respond to stressful situations and regulates critical functions in your body. For example, it affects your metabolism, immune response, energy levels, blood sugar levels, and memory.

Our bodies need cortisol to function properly and thrive, but our health can suffer when cortisol production is high and stays high for too long. Managing this balance is essential for feeling healthy, energized, and coping in your daily life.

What are the symptoms of high cortisol?

Some of the common symptoms of high cortisol can include:

• Feeling stressed or anxious
• Headaches
• Low libido
• Infertility
• PMS or irregularities in the menstrual cycle
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Frequent colds or bouts of flu
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep (waking between 2 and 4 a.m.)
• Weight gain
• Sugar or carbohydrate cravings

What are the symptoms of low cortisol?

Some of the common symptoms of low cortisol can include:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty responding to stress
• Weight loss
• Dizziness upon standing
• Heart palpitations
• Low libido
• Depression
• Muscle weakness
• Mood changes
• Impaired memory.

How do naturopathic doctors help treat cortisol imbalance and relieve stress?

Naturopathic care looks at the whole body and can help connect symptoms that could otherwise seem unrelated.

Our naturopaths will work with you to gather all the information necessary to assess your symptoms and possible causes. They may do lab and hormonal testing to rule out other causes of your symptoms. They may also recommend cortisol testing through blood or salivary testing, to collect important information before recommending treatment.

Treatment to balance cortisol levels can look different for each patient depending on their health history, other existing conditions, and health goals. It may include diet and lifestyle changes, stress management, recommendations for supplements, herbal or nutraceuticals, nutrient injections, and other supports for your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

What else can be done to relieve stress?

Stress is a normal part of life and not something you can simply remove from your day. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of stress your body is coping with and to manage how your body responds physiologically to stressful situations.

You can take care of your body in better ways that will help reduce the effect stressors have on your health and well-being.

 This might include changing your diet, adding supplements, getting more rest, changing habits or routines, moderating exercise, and using naturopathic therapies to help you make these sustainable changes.

When should people seek help?

It’s a good idea to seek help anytime you feel unwell, tired, or have lingering symptoms matching those listed above. Naturopathic medicine can complement the conventional care you’re receiving to protect and maintain your overall health and well-being.

What are the benefits?

Naturopathic doctors blend natural and conventional care to keep you as healthy as possible through a wide variety of treatment options and therapies. We can connect what seem to be unrelated symptoms to get to the underlying cause of your concern. Naturopaths can do complete physical exams and can work as primary care providers.

What can I expect from my first visit?

Your first appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors will typically be 60 to 90 minutes long. We’ll take you through a detailed intake process and review your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your family history. Our goal is to determine the root cause of your symptoms and to rule out all other potential causes.

We’ll do a physical examination and chat with you about your lifestyle habits, stress levels, and other factors that may be affecting how you feel. In addition, we’ll discuss digestive or hormonal issues that may be bothering you and order any necessary lab tests as part of our assessment.

NOTE:  As always, our licensed practitioners at Action Health are your best source of up-to-date and accurate information regarding this and any other treatment plan we recommend.

Please call our front desk at (403) 243-8114 to book a consultation with one of our naturopathic doctors to see if naturopathic treatment is appropriate for you.