Adrenal Stress Panel on Salt Spring Island
Map your stress response across the full day.
An adrenal stress panel measures your cortisol rhythm at four points throughout the day, along with DHEA and cortisol awakening response (CAR). This reveals how your stress response system is functioning, not just whether cortisol is high or low, but when and how it shifts across your waking hours.
Cortisol follows a natural diurnal rhythm: it should peak shortly after waking (the cortisol awakening response), decline through the morning and afternoon, and reach its lowest point at night. Disruptions to this rhythm, caused by chronic stress, poor sleep, overtraining, blood sugar imbalances, or underlying illness, are linked to fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, and immune dysfunction. A single-point blood test for cortisol misses these patterns entirely.
Research in Psychoneuroendocrinology has established that the cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a reliable marker of HPA axis function and that a flattened or absent CAR is associated with burnout, PTSD, chronic fatigue, and depression. The 4-point cortisol map reveals whether your fatigue is from cortisol that's too high (wired-and-tired), too low (depleted), or dysregulated in its timing. DHEA levels provide additional context. The cortisol-to-DHEA ratio is a clinically useful marker of adrenal reserve and overall stress resilience.
I use adrenal panel results to design targeted treatment: adaptogenic herbs, lifestyle modifications, sleep optimization, and when necessary, bioidentical cortisol or DHEA support through hormone therapy. The goal is restoring a healthy rhythm, not just treating a number. Follow-up testing confirms that your stress response is normalizing and guides protocol adjustments.
Why Adrenal Stress Panel
Full-Day Cortisol Map
Four collection points capture your complete cortisol rhythm, revealing patterns a single blood draw can't show.
CAR Assessment
The cortisol awakening response is a validated marker of HPA axis health, burnout, and stress resilience.
Targeted Adrenal Support
Results guide precise interventions: adaptogens, sleep protocols, and hormone support matched to your specific pattern.
Who Adrenal Stress Panel Is For
Chronic Fatigue & Exhaustion
Burnout
Insomnia & Sleep Disruption
Anxiety & Feeling Wired
Afternoon Energy Crashes
Difficulty Waking Up
Stress Intolerance
Weight Gain (Especially Abdominal)
Low Libido
Post-Viral Fatigue
Sample Report
What to Expect
Saliva Collection Kit
You receive a take-home saliva collection kit with four labeled tubes and clear timing instructions.
At-Home Collection
Collect saliva samples at four specific times: upon waking, 30 minutes after waking (for CAR), midday, and before bed. No office visit needed.
Results in 2-3 Weeks
The lab measures cortisol at each time point plus DHEA. Results return with a visual graph of your daily cortisol curve.
Pattern Interpretation
I review your cortisol curve, CAR, and DHEA levels with you, explain what the pattern means, and build a treatment plan matched to your specific adrenal picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ready to get started?
Book a consultation and I'll build a treatment plan tailored to your health goals.