Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, helps manage stress. Cortisol also suppresses the immune system and bone formation in favor of the immediate demands of the body, such as keeping blood sugar elevated. In chronic stress, cortisol levels can become depleted. A variety of herbs are thought to regulate cortisol levels. Consult a qualified health care practitioner to determine your individual needs before using herbs to regulate cortisol levels.
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, was found to cause a slight elevation in cortisol levels in endurance athletes, in a study published in the December 2001 issue of the journal "Life Science." In the study, six weeks of supplementation with Siberian ginseng, the ratio of testosterone to cortisol decreased, implying an increase in cortisol levels relative to testosterone levels. The increase in cortisol was mild, and the researchers concluded that Siberian ginseng may work by increasing cortisol levels when overall stress is low and decreasing cortisol levels when high levels of stress are present, in keeping with the theory of adaptogen herbs, which are thought to have the ability to bring the body into balance from either deficiency or excess states.
Licorice
A compound in licorice, known as glycyrrhizin, exerts a variety of hormonal effects, according to a study published in the April 2011 issue of the journal "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology." Participants in the study consumed licorice for one week and showed lower cortisol and cortisone levels but higher levels of dehydroepiandrosterone -- also known as DHEA, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands -- and testosterone. The researchers concluded that licorice's properties may have an overall androgenic, or masculinizing, effect.
Chinese Foxglove
The herbs Herba Epimedil Brevicornus and Radix Rehmannia, also known as Chinese foxglove, decreased cortisol levels in a study on laboratory animals published in the January 2008 issue of the "Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine." In the study, Radix Rehmannia acted within 14 days, while Herba Epimedil Brevicornus was slower-acting and had its cortisol-lowering effect starting at 21 days.
Holy Basil
Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, provides anti-stress benefits by lowering blood sugar and cortisol and decreasing adrenal gland size, according to a study published in the September 2007 issue of the "Journal of Natural Products." In the study, three new compounds in holy basil were identified, two of which were found to effectively regulate cortisol, together with two out of eight known substances in holy basil that were also tested.
References
- "Life Sciences"; The Effects of Eleutherococcus Senticosus and Panax Ginseng on Steroidal Hormone Indices of Stress and Lymphocyte Subset Numbers in Endurance Athletes; B.T. Gaffney, et al.; December 2001
- "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology"; Liquorice and Glycyrrhetinic Acid Increase DHEA and Deoxycorticosterone Levels In Vivo and In Vitro by Inhibiting Adrenal SULT Two A1 Activity; E.A. Dujaili, et al.; April 2011
- "Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine"; [Effect of Herba Epimedil Brevicornus and Prepared Radix Rehmannia on Glucocorticoid Receptor in Glucocorticoid Receptor Down Regulated Rats]; [Article in Chinese]; J. Du, et al.; January 2008
- "Journal of Natural Products"; Constituents of Ocimum Sanctum With Antistress Activity; P. Gupta, et al.; September 2007
