Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — blood spot hormone testing

Cortisol can be measured in saliva, blood and urine — but each method tells a different story. Saliva reflects bioavailable cortisol, blood measures total output, and dried urine captures the full circadian pattern. This article explains the clinical differences and helps you choose the right test.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent health problems globally — yet hormones are rarely the first thing clinicians investigate. Holistic practitioner Dr. Alyssa Burns-Hill presents three compelling case histories showing how sex, adrenal and thyroid hormone testing can transform mental health outcomes.

The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) — the 50% surge in cortisol that occurs in the first 30 minutes after waking — is one of the most sensitive markers of HPA axis health. Discover how CAR differs from the standard diurnal cortisol curve, which conditions are linked to blunted or exaggerated CAR, and how three timed morning saliva samples can reveal adrenal function in ways a single cortisol test cannot.