Cortisol is a hormone that your adrenal cortex produces and releases in times of stress. Conditions such as hunger, surgery, insomnia and depression can be stressful and can stimulate your adrenal glands to release cortisol. If you are under prolonged stress, your cortisol levels can become too high, affecting your memory, blood pressure and immune system. Herbs may help lower cortisol levels naturally. Consult your health care provider before using herbal remedies.
Herbal Actions
Herbs that help with cortisol levels are called adaptogens. They work on your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, also known as the HPA axis, which plays a primary role in your body's stress response. Adaptogens act to restore hormonal balance, reduce adrenal fatigue and help your body adapt to long-term stress. Talk to a knowledgeable practitioner for advice about the dosage and preparation of these herbs.
Rhodiola
Rhodiola, or Rhodiola rosea, is a perennial succulent found in Scandinavia and Siberia. Herbalists use the rhizomes, which smell like roses when freshly cut, to treat fatigue and infertility, and to increase endurance, strength and resistance to disease. Fatigue can generate stress and raise cortisol levels. A study published in the 2009 issue of "Planta Medica" found that rhodiola effectively improved concentration, decreased fatigue and reduced cortisol in test subjects suffering from stress-related fatigue. Talk to your doctor before taking rhodiola. Do not combine this herb with antidepressants or use it if you have an overactive immune system.
Licorice
Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a tall perennial found throughout the Mediterranean and central Asia. Traditional herbalists use the rhizomes to treat ulcers, gastritis and skin diseases. The active ingredients include saponins, such as glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acids, which have cortisol-lowering action. In their 2009 book, "Medicinal Plants of the World," botanist Ben-Erik van Wyk and biologist Michael Wink state that these saponins work by binding to corticoid receptors. Clinical herbalist David Hoffmann explains in his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," that the saponins in licorice affect levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, a hormone that increases the production and release of cortisol. Talk to your doctor before treating any condition with licorice. Do not use licorice if you have hypertension.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, is a perennial shrub found throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. It's an important herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, where it's known as Indian ginseng, and practitioners use the roots as a general tonic and to treat stress, arthritis and rheumatism. A report published in the 2000 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review" found that water extracts of ashwagandha decreased activity in the adrenal cortex and significantly lowered cortisol in test animals. The researchers state that ashwagandha may be useful in treating stress-induced nervous exhaustion. Discuss using ashwagandha with your doctor. Do not use this herb if you have an autoimmune disorder.
References
- "Planta Medica"; A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study of the Standardised Extract SHR-5 of the Roots of Rhodiola Rosea in the Treatment of Subjects With Stress-Related Fatigue; E.M. Olsson, et al.; 2009
- "Medicinal Plants of the World"; Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink; 2009
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Scientific Basis for the Therapeutic Use of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha): A Review; Lakshmi-Chandra Mishra, M.D. (Ayur), Ph.D., et al.; 2000
