HPA Axis
On page 4 of part 1, HPA axis, it says that adrenaline and noradrenaline are transmitted via nerves.” She says, “I’m very confused. How can a hormone be transmitted by a nerve?
Dr. Amy Nett: The way I think it’s best to think of it is that epinephrine and norepinephrine—and that’s synonymous...
Prior to running a DUTCH test, it is recommended to stop adrenal support supplements?
Dr. Amy Nett: Yeah, I probably would to get an idea of what’s going on with the adrenals. For how...
In a previous Q&A, you were looking at hormone results—I’m not sure if it was DUTCH or not—and you talked about it not quite being a profile for estrogen dominance. Can you explain what profile you would see for that? Do you always test for that, or do you ever make assumptions?
Dr. Amy Nett: It probably was information uploaded from a DUTCH profile. Yeah, I don’t remember exactly either. As...
The client is a young woman with amenorrhea that hasn’t responded to dietary and lifestyle changes. Her gynecologist has advised her to start taking hormonal birth control to regain her period, but since she reacts very sensitively to hormones—bad PMDD, migraines with aura—she hasn’t followed that recommendation. She has a history of anorexia nervosa, anxiety, hypersensitivity, and depression. She is now at an acceptable weight and has been taking anticonvulsants for atypical trigeminal neuralgia for three years with a bad flare-up last summer that has left her virtually incapable of living a normal life. With that kind of health history and current vitamin D deficiency, I’m adamant about taking steps to prevent osteoporosis and restore hormone balance, but unsure about where to start. Any ideas or recommendations?
Chris Kresser: This sounds like a tricky case. With hormone stuff, I would definitely look at gut health, and I...
What specific diet recommendations do you have for a person with HPA axis dysfunction? I know small, frequent meals; high enough carbs; no caffeine, alcohol, or sugars; but is there anything else I’m specifically missing? Any specific supplements you would use? This person is struggling with waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. daily for the last several months, but really off and on for years. She has tried eating a small amount of carbs before bed, and this has not helped.
Laura Schoenfeld: This is kind of a … I don’t want to say a complicated question, it’s not that complicated,...
What types of shampoos/skincare do you use and recommend for dandruff?
Chris Kresser: Dandruff, I think, is an inflammatory symptom. It’s a symptom of inflammation. It’s dryness, of course, but what’s...
What do you do for high testosterone in PCOS?
Laura Schoenfeld: There are a lot of different things that can be done for high testosterone. With PCOS, it does...
A little off topic, but in regards to fertility, if a woman with PCOS is given all the conventional fertility tests by a doctor and they all come back normal except high prolactin, what would you think is going on? It could be a pituitary tumor, but once that was ruled out, what might you think would be causing it? She was under extreme stress at the time of the test. Could that be it?
Dr. Amy Nett: Stress could certainly contribute to it, so number one, repeat the prolactin. If she’s no longer under...
What’s your recommendation for a 55-year-old woman who would like to get rid visceral fat but severely adrenal fatigued and insulin resistant? I know intermittent fasting is a fabulous way to bring down insulin, but adrenal functions are not up to par and might take a while to address that. What’s the option for a patient like her to lose weight? She tried intermittent fasting before, and she was not able to sleep at all for two nights straight. She’s considering to get bioidentical hormone therapy. Thyroid panel is surprisingly fine, but her hair has been thinning.
Chris Kresser: Yes, it’s tricky. This is the type of case that we do see a lot as practitioners. You...
Does Relora formula that we talked about in the HPA axis unit have a specific mechanism of lowering cortisol that would specifically target belly fat? Since you mentioned Relora’s relation, in relation to belly fat, I’m wondering if it acts differently or its general possible effect as it is in other substances that may lower cortisol such as phosphatidylserine.
Chris Kresser: More the latter. I don’t know of any specific effect of Relora that would be related to body...
