Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Stress Response

  A complex interplay of neurochemical signals takes centre stage when it comes to stress and the body's response to it. Translating events into neurochemical signals is crucial before triggering the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, which plays a pivotal role in the body's stress response. In this blog post, we'll explore the intricate connections between neurotransmitters, stress, and HPA axis dysfunction, shedding light on clinicians' challenges when evaluating patients. The Prevalence of Anxiety & Depression: Anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD) are pervasive mental health challenges affecting millions. Abnormal neurotransmitter levels, ratios, or activities are often associated with these disorders,...

In this blog, I want to focus mainly on how cannabis can affect your hormones, primarily through the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, and the reproductive system. While cannabis is being legalized in more and more states, both the adverse and beneficial effects of its use are starting to be better understood. The active compound in cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is widely known to have effects on the brain, producing the “high” that many users are seeking. However, the other more adverse effects cannabis can have on the body are less widely known. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and How It WorksEndocannabinoids...

The contraceptive pill is one of the most widely used medications in the world — but its effects on mood, brain chemistry and hormone balance are still poorly understood. This article explores how synthetic hormones disrupt oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and neurotransmitters, and why some women are far more vulnerable to depression and anxiety as a result.

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.

Hot flashes and night sweats affect up to 80% of women during perimenopause — but they are not inevitable, and they are not forever. The root cause is hormonal imbalance, particularly the out-of-sync fluctuation of oestrogen and progesterone as the ovaries begin to wind down. Discover the lifestyle changes, natural supplements and hormone testing strategies that can bring real relief.