Photo: Supplied.
BY CHEREE SHELDON, QUALIFIED NATUROPATH, FLANNERYS ORGANIC WHOLEFOOD MARKET, VICTORIA POINT TOWN CENTRE HOME CO.
Feeling constantly wired… yet exhausted at the same time? Wondering if stress might be messing with your hormones?
When you feel stressed, your body responds with a surge of hormones designed to keep you safe – the classic fight-or-flight or freeze response. This response can occur with real physical stress or even perceived pressure, such as juggling work demands or striving for perfection.
One of the key hormones involved is cortisol. It helps regulate blood pressure, blood glucose, and your circadian rhythm – your sleep–wake cycle. Cortisol should naturally peak in the morning and fall in the evening. But when stress becomes constant, cortisol can stay elevated… and that’s when problems start.
Signs your cortisol may be running too high:
- More fat around the tummy, or a “neck hump”
- Muscle weakness
- Blood sugar imbalances
- High blood pressure
- Poor sleep: trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up exhausted
- Feeling tense, anxious, flat, or joyless
- Digestive upsets and trouble regulating temperature
The problem is when stress becomes chronic and affects daily life.
Herbal medicine might be all you need.
Adaptogens are natural herbs that help the body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic function, and restore balance. They work by helping you regulate your stress response system and maintain equilibrium.
They’re not stimulants or sedatives – they gently support your adrenal and nervous systems to bring you back toward centre.
Primary adaptogens include some you may know:
- Ashwagandha – deeply researched for supporting reduced stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
- Liquorice Root has a wide range of dynamic uses including digestion, skin, inflammation and stress.
- Rhodiola – energising and mood balancing.
- Holy Basil (Tulsi) – calming and restorative.
- Reishi mushroom – supports restful sleep and helps the body adapt to stress.
- The Ginsengs – vitality and resilience boosters.
- Cordyceps – improves stamina and helps restore depleted energy.
These herbs have a long history in traditional systems and modern research showing their role in supporting adrenal, nervous system, immune, digestive, and cardiovascular health during stress.
Adaptogens don’t “switch off” stress – they help you adapt, strengthening your internal resilience so you can maintain steadiness, clarity, and energy throughout the day.
Alongside adaptogens, nervines are wonderful – these are herbs that soothe and nourish the nervous system – and can help create calm and relaxation. Pairing them with daily rituals, like mindful tea making, is a gentle way to downshift your stress response.
Nervines include Lemon Balm, Passionflower, chamomile, Lemon Grass and Skullcap.
Start with one of the simplest rituals of all: tea.
Herbal teas are rich in natural plant compounds that support relaxation, digestion, and overall wellbeing, which is why cultures around the world have used them for centuries.
Look for teas that are built around therapeutic intentions:
- Balance – detoxifying and grounding.
- Rest – sleep supporting herbal blends.
- Herbal blends to soothe emotions and calm an overactive system.
Pairing adaptogens with daily tea rituals can shift your body out of “alert mode” and into a state where it can rest, digest, heal, and finally exhale.
Pair with small lifestyle shifts and targeted supplements:
- Seek out laughter and joy.
- Create sleep routines to support your natural circadian rhythm.
- Add mindful pauses throughout your day.
- Nourish your body with whole foods and hydration.
- Magnesium is a key nutrient that helps you when feeling stressed. L-Theanine is an amino acid that reduces acute stress.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to lower cortisol levels and inflammation.
You don’t have to live in survival mode. With adaptogens, nervous system soothing herbs, and supportive rituals like tea, you can gently guide your body from burnout back to balance.
It’s important to consult a qualified health professional before taking or changing your supplements.
