Seriphos, a phosphorylated serine supplement that I rate highly and have personally used with success, is not available right now. I’ve had a number of people reaching out frantically asking for help:
What do I use instead of Seriphos to help lower high cortisol that is affecting my sleep and making me anxious at night?
It’s my top product for addressing high cortisol at night and I’ve been recommending it for years for this purpose (as did one of my mentors, Julia Ross). It’s extremely effective when used a few hours before high cortisol (as measured on a salivary cortisol test). It also starts to work within about a week for most individuals.
Unfortunately Seriphos has been unavailable for a number of months. The company has no information on when it will be available again but have assured me via email that the formulation will be the same. This is really good news after a previous debacle when the formulation changed in 2016/2017.
Until then, there are some other options that may be an effective alternative. And even if you still have some Seriphos in your calming/sleep stash I encourage you to pay attention as it’s important to have a backup plan for situations like this!
Read on below for information on phosphatidylserine, the cortisol/stress research and how it compares to phosphorylated serine; which phosphatidylserine products to consider instead of Seriphos; other options for lowering high cortisol levels (such as Cortisol Manager, Relora® lactium and bergamot); the amino acid theanine for neurotransmitter support and high cortisol; and additional resources when you are new to amino acids.
What is phosphatidylserine and how does it compare to phosphorylated serine?
From this 2023 paper, Phosphatidylserine: An overview on functionality, processing techniques, patents, and prospects
Phosphatidylserine is the part of cell structure in the body and has many beneficial functions especially in brain-related aging diseases.
Supplementation has been reported to show improved memory and cognition (including ADHD and Alzheimer’ s disease), and also better exercise performance. The research also shows benefits when it comes to lowering cortisol levels and feeling less stressed:
- One study reported 300 mg/day for 1 month was “associated with feeling less stressed and having better mood in a sub-group of healthy young males.”
- And another study using a moderate dose of 600 mg/day promoted “a desired hormonal balance for athletes by blunting increases in cortisol levels”, suggesting that phosphatidylserine “partly counteracts the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamopituitary-adrenal axis.”
- One additional study reported that 800 mg/day for 10 days lowered “plasma cortisol concentrations in healthy inactive males”
As you can see the range of doses varies (which makes sense since we are all unique) but it has been established as a “safe oral supplement capable of attenuating the serum cortisol and creatine kinase responses to acute exercise stress.”
“Lower daily doses (<500 mg/day) for longer duration” are recommended for ongoing cognitive benefits. One study reported improvements in “behavioral and cognitive functions in a group of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment” who used 300 mg/day for 6 months.
Seriphos is unique in that it is a phosphorylated serine product – this is where the magic happens when it comes to lowering cortisol so well. It is similar to phosphatidylserine but as far as I am aware, there is no actual research on phosphorylated serine. They quote studies on phosphatidylserine on their site.
Which phosphatidylserine products to consider instead of Seriphos?
Here are two excellent professional grade phosphatidylserine products to consider. It may be a matter of trial and error to find what works well for your needs, plus adjusting the dose up as necessary.
- Designs for Health PS 150 – Phosphatidylserine 150 mg: non-soy, sunflower sourced phosphatidyl serine with one capsule providing 150mg, so using a higher dose may be more effective:
- Feedback from a colleague: “We have equally good results with phosphatidyl serine, but the dose usually needs to be in the 300-500mg range, to equate to what 1 or 2 Seriphos capsules could do.”
- Feedback from another colleague: “We started using PS150 from DFH and love it.” He often uses this in conjunction with another Designs for Health product called Catecholacalm.
- Designs for Health Phosphatidylserine Powder 200mg: One quarter teaspoon provides 200mg phosphatidylserine in a powder form.
- This one is made from soy (GMO-free) but may be easier to use to get higher doses. Per their site the powder is an “excellent delivery system for children and the elderly who may have difficulty swallowing capsules; it has virtually no taste and will dissolve into applesauce or any food.”
Other options for lowering high cortisol levels: Cortisol Manager, Relora® lactium and bergamot
- Cortisol Manager by Integrative Therapeutics – 2 capsules contain a proprietary blend of: ashwagandha (Sensoril®), L-Theanine, plus a blend of Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) and 100mg of phosphatidylserine (soy free). I have seen mixed results with this product:
- A colleague shared this: “Cortisol Manager can be dosed up to 2-3 tablets per day and used with or without additional phosphatidyl serine which can easily go as high as 600 mg.” He has seen salivary cortisol levels shift with this approach and shared: “Interestingly, I never saw those changes with Seriphos despite being a heavy user between 2009 and 2011 so I thought it was just hype.”
- Feedback from someone on my blog: “Cortisol Manager was too stimulating with the Ashwagandha”
- Feedback from a practitioner who first used Cortisol Manager personally and then switched to Seriphos at my recommendation: “Cortisol Manager did nothing for me. I dosed it high enough and took it for a month – but I felt nothing. Seriphos, on the other hand, worked the same night, within an hour or two.”
- Relora®, a proprietary blend of Magnolia officinalis bark extract and Phellodendron amurense bark extract
- This 2013 study, Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects, found that after 4 weeks of supplementation (500 mg /day, with 250 mg at breakfast and 250mg at dinner) these were the results seen in the Relora® group (compared to the placebo group):
- salivary cortisol exposure was significantly lower (18%)
- lower overall stress (11%)
- lower tension (13%)
- less depression (20%)
- less anger (42%)
- less fatigue (31%),
- less confusion (27%)
- and significantly better mood state parameters (11%) and vigor (18%)
- This 2013 study, Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects, found that after 4 weeks of supplementation (500 mg /day, with 250 mg at breakfast and 250mg at dinner) these were the results seen in the Relora® group (compared to the placebo group):
- Biotics Research De-stress, contains Lactium®, also known as hydrolyzed casein.
- I have used this product with clients with good results and based on the research it lowers high cortisol. It’s also calming because it works on the GABAA receptor.
- You’ll also see Lactium® referred to as alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate, hydrolyzed casein concentrate, and tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk alphaS1-casein. More on this blog
- There is very promising research on essential oils lowering cortisol levels – such as bergamot. In this blog I share an animal study that shows very promising results: Acute effects of bergamot oil on anxiety-related behaviour and corticosterone level in rats
both bergamot essential oil and diazepam exhibited anxiolytic-like behaviours and attenuated HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to stress
The amino acid theanine for neurotransmitter support and high cortisol
Theanine is a calming amino acid that supports low GABA, low serotonin and low dopamine, and has been shown to help with stress levels when salivary cortisol is high.
A 2021 study, A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Efficacy of a Single Dose of AlphaWave® l-Theanine on Stress in a Healthy Adult Population, 200 mg of AlphaWave® l-Theanine was shown reduce “salivary cortisol in healthy, moderately stressed adults” and increase frontal region alpha wave activity.This was “indicative of relaxation in the brain and suggest a calming response.”
The authors conclude as follows:
Four weeks of supplementation with 200 mg of l-theanine has been shown to improve trait anxiety scores, suggesting that continued supplementation with AlphaWave® l-Theanine may have positive effects on trait anxiety as well, which may be an important application in longer-term stress management.
As you may already know, I am a proponent of long-term stress management with individual amino acids such as GABA, theanine and tryptophan/5-HTP. And the more I learn about the benefits and mechanisms of theanine the more excited I get!
Additional resources when you are new to using theanine, GABA or other amino acids as supplements
We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA (indicating a possible need for GABA or theanine) or low serotonin (indicating a need for tryptophan or 5-HTP) or low endorphins (indicating a possible need for DPA) or low dopamine (a need for tyrosine) other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings. I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues. The importance of quality animal protein and healthy fats is also covered.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. We’ll be launching a budget-friendly homestudy version in a few weeks – sign up for the wait list here (the live version with Q&A is offered only a few times a year). The amino acids GABA and theanine are covered.
If you also need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to get help. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Now I’d love to hear from you …
Have you used Seriphos with success in the past for lowering high cortisol and helping with sleep and middle of the night surges or adrenalin-type anxiety and panic?
Have you had success with any of the Designs For Health or other phosphatidylserine products? How much did you need to use to get results?
What about Cortisol Manager, essential oils, Relora or lactium? Or something else?
Do you also use theanine with success? And if yes, how much helps you?
Feel free to post your questions here too.
Appreciate this article that my husband and I can relate to with ‘busy’ minds and possibly high cortisol levels at bedtime, which seems to be worsening as we age. May I offer a suggestion that we use to complement the supplements you have recommended. As an EFT Practitioner, I can highly recommend ‘Tapping’ to lower cortisol levels. EFT is evidence based and the amazing Dr. Peta Stapleton (Professor at Bond Uni), is responsible for the growing list of published studies and trials showing the efficacy of EFT. a 2020 study showed a lowering of cortisol of 43% after an hour of tapping. While an hour may seem a long time, any amount of tapping will lower stress. It is an easy ‘tool’ to learn and self-apply. There are many video tutorials on the internet.
Suzanne
Glad it was appreciated
Thanks for your suggestion about EFT being a great complement to their nutrients – it’s helpful for many folks. For some folks it just doesn’t seem to help – I am one of tthose people.
But I feel we should use everything at our disposal if it helps, I’ve blogged about it before and yes the research is impressive. Here is one post: Tapping (or EFT) for reducing anxiety, depression, pain and cravings, plus physiological changes in cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure and SigA https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tapping-or-eft-for-reducing-anxiety-depression-pain-and-cravings-plus-physiological-changes-in-cortisol-heart-rate-blood-pressure-and-siga/
I am curious to hear if you also use any of the nutrients I’ve shared in this blog in addition to EFT? Or tryptophan or GABA for ‘busy” minds?
Thank you for the tapping suggestion which I learned and tried several times but it didn’t seem to make any difference
The sun fixed my cortisol and sleep issues.
I get up and look towards the sun as soon as it hits my property for 45 mins. to an hour daily. At Sunrise is best, of course. While incorporating Seriphos helped a bit, the sun fixed it for me.
Also, by blocking blue light by 8pm every night I fall asleep earlier than I used to. And I no longer have in- color, vivid, movie-like dreams, just good sleep.
Duey
Wonderful and thanks for sharing – early morning light and avoiding artificial light at night is so important and should be part of the plan even when using supplements like the ones mentioned in the blog. If there is limited access to bright light in the morning (like in cloudy places/during winter, a light panel in the morning is extremely helpful https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/bright-light-to-reset-circadian-rhythm-a-solution-for-jet-lag-with-melatonin-and-for-disturbed-sleep-caused-by-bile-issues/
I am curious to hear if you did a saliva adrenal test and saw high levels of cortisol before making these changes and then retested to see high cortisol come down at night? May I ask how much Seriphos you used and the timing in relation to high cortisol?
When I wake at night with anxiety and heart palpitations it seems to start with night sweats. Do night sweats indicate high cortisol?
Jan
With night sweats my first thoughts are low estrogen and parasites and both can cause waking with anxiety and heart palpitations. Both can also affect cortisol levels. The only way to know for sure is with testing – sex hormones, stool test and adrenal saliva test with a functional medicine practitioner.
I did take Seriphos for months but it did nothing to lower my high night time cortisol. My cortisol is very high at night and very low in the morning which is opposite of normal.
Thank you for the above blog as I can now try other supplements to lower my cortisol.
I have had social anxiety most of my life and now at 74 my nervous system and breathing are both disregulated and I don’t fall asleep until 4 am if I do not take cannabis.
I want to sleep naturally but I’ve lost that ability. I’ve been in fight or flight for many years.
I have also taken Gaba and tryptophan for months to which I had no improvement in anxiety or sleep
Lynn
I’ve had individuals report Seriphos doesn’t work when they don’t use 3 and don’t take it 2-3 hours before high cortisol. I also recommend adrenal support with herbal adaptogens and B vitamins at the same time, especially pantothenic acid.
That said we are all unique and it’s possible an approach other than Seriphos will help. Please keep us posted.
With regards to GABA and tryptophan not working – we always look into if the dosing was increased, used sublingual/powder. Also some do better with 5-HTP and GABA and serotonin support won’t work if levels are not low i.e this is not the cause of sleep issues.
With social anxiety, addressing pyroluria is key.
My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great resource with a chapter on the amino acids, pyroluria and low blood sugar/gluten/gut issues/SIBO etc (all of which can affect sleep). More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Be sure to also search the blog too – as toxins, oxalates, bile issues, light therapy etc can all be factors with sleep issues
thank you Trudy
I would definitely try “Gabatrol”. It is different than regular Gaba. Has been proven to cross the blood brain barrier. It gives me the deepest most restful sleep ever. It must be cycled or you will build up a tolerance quickly. Some take it till it no longer works and then take a week off. I take it three days a week–Tues, Thurs, Sat. Works great. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Thanks, I’ll look into that
Christopher
I do not advocate Gabatrol which contains phenibut which can be as problematic as benzodiazepines in terms of tolerance and challenging tapering issues – even with cycling. I’m actually really surprised it’s still available given the crackdown by the FDA in 2019. I blogged about this here: Phenibut for anxiety and insomnia: FDA warns 3 companies to cease distribution of their products https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/phenibut-for-anxiety-and-insomnia-fda-warns-3-companies-to-cease-distribution-of-their-products/
It does work which is why it’s very popular – but at what cost.
GABA works very effectively too when used properly – optimal dose, sublingual/powder/cream/liposomal – and doesn’t actually need to cross the BBB in order to be effective. And there are none of the issues we see with phenibut. I am curious if you’ve tried it in the past and if yes, which product and how was it used?
Hi Lynn
I just read your post on Trudy‘s site. I’ve been coming here for information for so many years. I’ve been taking Klonopin since I was well benzodiazepine and one former another for anxiety and high stress since I was 17 I had a seven year break and then two nightmare marriages, one with a bipolar maniac who tried to strangle me to death and now my second marriage is about to be finalized. I’ve been married to a narcissistic hoarder psychopath for 30 years and I’m just about to be free except that we live in the same house because we’re renters but I’m gonna put it into that. I’m gonna go to legal aid and whatever I don’t have money, but anyway, I just wanted to say I agree with you about sleeping.
My cortisol is off the charts and I’m still taking Klonopin, but I hit a wall in November. It was very cold here in California and I have severe fibromyalgia and all of a sudden I have tinnitus and my cortisol is crazy at night and I’m trying to go to sleep earlier, but I wake up within an hour and then I’m having a panic attack. I try to go back to sleep, but I meditate and listen to guided imagery. I tried to read last night that was a joke, but I just wanted to say I smoked a lot of cannabis my whole life and I always could sleep and now I had to quit and I’m still going to try to take some Gummies I only eat like an eighth of one gummy so I went to the store today and got some gummy‘s that are CBDCBN and one percent of THC cause you have to have some in there to kick it off, but that is the only thing that helps me to take the edge off and I wish more people would know about that and not be afraid of it but that’s just my opinion.
I’m also a holistic health educator and nutritionist and an herbalist so this has been kind of a sad thing for me, my whole life I just wanted to say yeah I’m one of those people that that’s what works for me and I don’t like GABA and I really don’t like 5HTP or trip to fan. None of them make me feel good. They all make me feel anxious so it’s been a hard winding road about how do you find what works for you were also biochemically individual And Trudy pills in the gap for a lot of people on how to get through this
But having extreme insomnia with high cortisol in the middle of the night and you wake up like it’s dawn, but it’s only 2 o’clock or 3 o’clock and then you can’t go back to sleep till five and then you sleep for a little bit. I’m actually dreaming in the morning that’s that’s normal but it should only be if I slept through the night. I’m as old as you are too, so this all just started out of nowhere plus, I think we all have to understand that we’re being bombarded by EMF and now we’ve got 6G coming and the solar, flares and earthquakes and all the terror that’s going on around the world and wars and rumors of wars and floods and earthquakes, and all this stuff that impacts all of us, especially women on a very deep cellular level, but anyway, I was just throwing in my two cents if anybody else is going through what we are chime in God bless us all. I hope we .. thank you Trudy for all you do for every woman over 29. I’m one of them.. ♥️
Thank you so much Trudy for taking the time to give me this amazing feedback
I do have your book and did the tests to see what I need support with.
I took 1 tsp of Ashwagandha, rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng among other adaptogens daily which gave me no relief but I do want to try the seriphos again with the instructions you mentioned
My serotonin was good on the test
How do I know when my cortisol goes high in order to know when to take seriphos
Lynn
Adrenal saliva testing confirms when it’s higher than it should be
I did have that test done which showed cortisol very high at night and very low in the morning
I have a question regarding safe nutritional support during Z-drug withdrawal.
I have been taking zopiclone daily for about seven years, and I am now preparing to slowly discontinue it.
Because my nervous system has been affected by long-term Z-drug use, I am concerned that certain supplements that normally help anxious individuals might cause paradoxical reactions in someone with my history.
Could you please advise which types of supplements or categories you generally consider safe and supportive for people who are tapering off Z-drugs, and which ones may be more likely to cause adverse or paradoxical effects?
I am not asking for medical treatment—only for general guidance or educational direction so I can make informed decisions.
Thank you very much for your time and for your important work.
Kind regards
Andy
Andy
I have used nutritional support with clients who are tapering Z-drugs and other meds like SSRIs and benzos. It really does help to be nutritionally stable BEFORE starting the taper i.e everyone I cover in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” – real whole food, quality animal protein, eating for blood sugar stability, no sugar/gluten/alcohol/caffeine, organic veg/fruit, health fats, good gut health/good adrenal health etc. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
There is no list of supplements that are more of an issue but using lower doses to start is often helpful.
I always remind my clients that tapering needs to be discussed with the prescribing doctor and done really really slowly. With Z-drugs there can be rebound insomnia in addition to symptoms of discontinuation syndrome for many individuals. Being nutritionally stable helps prevent some of this.
hello : )
i Take z drugs ecopiclone for years can i Take gaba calm soure resources ?
thank you : )
Would this be a product recommended to try for someone who wakes every 2 hrs. throughout the night for some unknown reason for many, many years now?
Sheryl
Yes if it’s confirmed to be high cortisol on a adrenal saliva test. If not I do not recommend using it as it can lower already low cortisol.
With frequent waking that is not due to high cortisol we look into other causes: SIBO, gluten issues, oxalates, liver-bile issues, restless legs caused by low dopamine, low serotonin/low melatonin, low GABA, parasites, EMFs etc
Please share what your typical night is like and what you have tried and ruled out as causes
Thanks for your response, Trudy! I actually do not have a confirmed saliva test for high cortisol. I did the Dutch Test a few years ago and surprisingly my cortisol was not too bad, as far as I can remember. I do get restless legs which seems to go with night time hunger in bed sometimes. I recently did a blood test through my ND that showed I have antibodies for Bartonella; however, it is hard to know if that is a past or present infection. I have not been treating it. Typically, I fall asleep ok most nights but I wake every 2 hrs. throughout the night for some unknown reason every single night for over 20 years now. I oftentimes have a sore throat and stuffed nose during the night and my body feels tight and kind of painful. I also have have pins and needles in my feet pretty much every night, which will at times make it difficult to fall asleep. I have been tested for sleep apnea a few times. The first time showed very mild apnea but the other times showed no apnea. I am not sure how accurate it is though since I sleep very little during those at-home studies.
Sheryl
Have you ruled out or addressed any of the following: SIBO, gluten issues or other food sensitivities like dairy (esp with sore throat and stuffed nose during the night), oxalates (body feels tight and kind of painful/pins and needles in my feet), liver-bile issues, restless legs caused by low dopamine, low serotonin/low melatonin, low GABA, low blood sugar (night time hunger in bed), parasites, EMFs, issues with caffeine/sugar/alcohol?
And is your room dark, cool and quiet? Have you tried mouth-taping?
Do you have my book “The Antianxiety Food solution” ? It’s a great place to start for the basics and an introduction to some of the above – more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
How many low GABA and low serotonin symptoms can you relate to? https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
I’ve been referring to your work for years. Came here specifically to see your thoughts on phosphatidylserine only to see that it was the first supplement you listed! I will see about getting the ones you’ve listed. I’ve only tried NeuroPS by BrainMD for one month a few months ago so I’m not sure how it impacted me. Are you familiar with or do you ever recommend that brand?
Leandra
Glad to hear this blog was helpful! Keep us posted
I’m familiar with BrainMD but this one is pretty low dose for helping to lower high cortisol
Hi Trudy,
What do you recommend for autism? or at least the mental health conditions associated with it like ocd, anxiety, depression, adhd? I have been doing research and come up with NAC, sulforaphane and ashwagandha. What neurotransmitters need to be targeted?
Jim
My work focuses on amino acids first so while all these may be helpful for many, I have individuals use the symptoms questionnaire (link https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/) and do trials of the respective amino acids one at a time, increasing the initial dose/timing to find the optimal dose.
With autism, low GABA and low serotonin are common but there can be imbalances in all areas. This blog is about high cortisol and this may be a root cause too and would need to be addressed.
For someone new to the amino acids (and dietary approaches) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
For guidance of the safe and effective use of GABA, I offer the GABA Quickstart program. And for the safe and effective use of tryptophan/5-HTP I offer the Serotonin Quickstart program. Details here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/store/
With autism therapeutic diet is key too and Julie Matthews new book, “The Personalized Autism Nutrition Plan: Nourishing Hope for Kids with ASD, ADHD, Anxiety, and Neurodevelopmental Delays” is excellent https://amzn.to/3OcqkZq (my Amazon link)
This appears to be available again on Amazon but does appear to be a different formulation. I’ve never tried either the old or new version so I’m not sure if it will work for me but I’m curious if you know if anyone is having success with the formulation that is out now. I’m going through a very stressful time and waking at 3am every morning where I used to sleep through the night no problem as well as always falling asleep right away. I’m so exhausted at night that falling asleep still isn’t a problem but the waking is troublesome. I also just want to get through this with as little damage to my brain/body/health as possible. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Thank you
Kim
The new formulation is the same, just a different bottle and label too. I’ve had good feedback from my community and clients and have personally used the new one with success (I’m actually been using 2 for the last few months.
Keep in mind that high cortisol is just one of many causes of waking in the night but it’s a very common cause that can be confirmed with salivary cortisol testing. Other causes we consider: low GABA, low serotonin, gut health, parasites, low blood sugar, SIBO, gluten/caffeine/sugar/alcohol intake, sex hormone imbalances in menopause, toxins like metals, liver/gallbladder issues, oxalate issues etc. I’m planning on offering a sleep program later this year to explore all these possible causes – sleep issues and waking at 3am is such a huge issue. Sorry you’re struggling too!
I do not recommend purchasing supplements from Amazon and would purchase from iherb, my Fullscript store or directly from the company.