Reacting to stressful life situations engages the body’s “fight or flight” response and can cause the adrenal system to secrete up to 20 times the usual amount of cortisol hormone, according to the “Reader’s Digest ABC’s of the Human Body.” Reducing excessive levels of cortisol requires lowering stress and can be approached holistically. Adding certain herbs to the diet may be one way to help reduce cortisol. Consult your health practitioner about taking herbs to lower cortisol levels.
Ginkgo Biloba
Gleaned from the seeds and leaves of the ginkgo tree, the herb ginkgo biloba has adaptogenic properties that assist the body in more effectively handling stress. A 2002 study published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology of Poland and conducted by the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava found evidence suggesting that ginkgo biloba may have preventative activity in the release of cortisol in human subjects faced with stress. Check with a medical practitioner before taking new herbs.
St. John's Wort
Native to North America, the flowering St. John’s wort plant has medicinal qualities that make it a popular herb throughout the U.S. and Europe. In her book, “St. John’s Wort--Nature’s Blues Buster,” medical doctor Hyla Cass explains that St. John’s wort acts indirectly to lower cortisol, claiming it may block the messenger cytokine which increases cortisol after stress. The exact way that St. John’s wort works in the body is yet to be determined. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine recommends telling your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use.
Rhodiola Rosea
Emerging into the consciousness of North America in recent years, the adaptogenic herb rhodiola rosea of Siberia shows promising medicinal potential.
A 2008 lab-based study published in the Biogerontology Journal determined that extracts of plant adaptogens from rhodiola rosea improved stress resistance.
Re-balancing of the sympathetic nervous system, or reactive part, with the parasympathetic nervous system, which returns the body to a normal state, is furthered by the rhodiola herb, according to an article by Pete Croatto in the Dec. 2007 issue of Life Extension Magazine. Seek the advice of your medical doctor before ingesting herbal products.
Eleuthero
Sip an herbal eleuthero tea to lower cortisol levels. One of the benefits of eleuthero, formerly known as Siberian ginseng, is its apparent ability to manage the actions of the adrenal cortex when it reacts to stress. According to the "New Herb Bible," by Earl Mindell. Ph.D., the active chemical ingredients of this herb, eleutherosides, help the body withstand stress. Talk to an herbalist or medical practitioner before using eleuthero.
References
- “Reader’s Digest ABC’s of the Human Body"; Alma E. Guiness; 1987
- Pub Med: Reduction of Rise in Blood Pressure and Cortisol Release During Stress by Ginkgo Biloba Extract in Healthy Volunteers
- “St. John’s Wort--Nature’s Blues Buster"; Hyla Cass, M.D.; 1998
- Center for Natural Healing: Siberian Rhodiola Rosea Liquid Phyto-Caps
- "Biogerontology": Plant Adaptogens Increase Lifespan and Stress Resistance in C. Elegans
