Insider Immune Hack

Immune hack most people never try 💥

Ever noticed that you’re more likely to get sick when you’re burning the candle at both ends and pushing the limits of your stress?

That’s because stress triggers cortisol.

While cortisol suppresses inflammation in the short term, over time it weakens the immune system to be less effective at fighting off invaders.

That’s where adaptogens come in!

Adaptogens are herbs that strengthen the body’s resilience on many levels—from stress to hormones to immune function.

You may have heard of…

🌱 Tulsi (Holy Basil)

🌱 Ashwagandha

🌱 Rhodiola

🌱 Reishi

Sometimes adaptogens can interact with medications or health conditions, so please consult with a practitioner knowledgeable about herbs before taking supplements or even teas.

This is what we do best in functional medicine!

Beyond Light Therapy: Supplements for Better Rhythms

Light and dark exposure are not the ONLY ways to influence your circadian rhythm!

There are 2 key hormones that regulate your daily rhythms, and they not only respond to the light-dark cycle but also to the foods we eat and supplements we take. 

They are melatonin & cortisol.

The natural and healthy cycle of these hormones goes like this:

☀️In the morning, cortisol rises to make us alert and energized (and melatonin is at its lowest)

🌙 At night, melatonin rises to make is relaxed and sleepy (and cortisol falls to its lowest)

Some people who experience circadian disruption also lose this natural rhythm of hormone fluctuations. Maybe their cortisol stays low all day, maybe it rises at night, or maybe their melatonin doesn’t rise high enough. 

There can be lots of scenarios (that’s why we test!), but the good news is that we can use supplements to support these natural rhythms. 

For example:

💊 Melatonin can be taken at night to support sleep.

💊 Phosphatidylserine can be taken at night to support a healthy cortisol pattern. 

💊 Adaptogenic herbs (like ginseng) can be taken during the day to support the daily cortisol rhythm.

Please consider this info to be educational rather than prescriptive. If you struggle with energy or sleep and want to support your circadian rhythm, please work with a qualified practitioner. 

#circadianrhythm #melatonin #nutritionalsupplements #herbalmedicine