Part 2: Your morning cortisol sets the tone for the whole day
Hi,
Last time, we talked about how the HPA axis works like a thermostat for your stress system. Today, let’s cover two things: adaptogens and testing.
🌿 Adaptogens & Nutrients That Support Balance
Each one works in a different way:
American Ginseng → adaptogen, energy, immune, and blood sugar
Ashwagandha → calms high cortisol, helps sleep.
Eleuthero → builds long-term resilience.
Holy Basil → eases anxious tension, balances mood.
Licorice Root → supports low cortisol, steadies energy.
Phosphatidylserine → helps quiet an overactive stress response, especially at night.
Rhodiola → energizes, sharpens focus when you’re dragging.
The key is matching the right support to your unique cortisol rhythm.
Which one seems like a good fit for you? Reply and let me know!
🧪 How We Test Cortisol Patterns
Not all tests tell the full story:
Saliva testing → Gold standard for cortisol rhythm (multiple points through the day).
Urine testing → Excellent for metabolites (how your body is processing cortisol).
Serum (blood) testing → Useful for DHEA, but not reliable for cortisol itself.
One of the most important pieces is the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR)—what your cortisol does in the first 30–45 minutes after waking. A healthy CAR gives you the morning “spark” to meet the day. A weak CAR is one reason some people feel like they’re dragging no matter how much coffee they drink.
👤 Dr. G’s Note
For me, getting my CAR up in the morning has become something I need daily—my brain is honestly addicted to it. Here’s my routine most mornings:
Sound therapy → binaural beats or solfeggio frequencies to stimulate my brain
Coffee (of course) → a ritual and a spark
Movement → gets my body fully online
I’ll admit—morning light exposure is still a work in progress for me. It’s one of my new goals because it’s one of the most powerful ways to reinforce circadian rhythm and cortisol rhythm.
At Apollo Health, we combine testing with these kinds of lifestyle strategies and targeted adaptogens to build a plan that matches your unique pattern—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
👉 If you’re curious about your own CAR or want to know which adaptogen is right for you, reply to this email.
– In Health,
Dr. G
🌿 Supplement of the Month: Ashwagandha Supreme
Ashwagandha is our go-to for calming high cortisol, improving stress resilience, and helping you rest deeper. That’s why Ashwagandha Supreme is our September spotlight.
👉 If your pattern shows you’d benefit more from licorice, phosphatidylserine, or another adaptogen, we’ll guide you in the right direction.
💊 Support your health—click below to order your Ashwagandha Supreme today: 👇👇
🛒 1 bottle, 3 bottle (10% off), or 6 bottles (15% off)
👉Book your LAB REVIEW (Zoom with me) Just reply to this email, text 914-381-7577, or talk to Mike or Luisa to grab a time. Click here to email us to schedule your lab review!
One last thing…
If you’re happy with our care at Apollo Health, we’d be so grateful if you’d leave us a Google review.