Seriphos is my favorite nutrient for lowering high nighttime cortisol in order to reduce night waking and nighttime anxiety. I’ve used it with success in the past and have just needed it again:
After coming back from Hawaii (I was there for just under 2 weeks), I was still waking a few times each night. Sometimes I would be awake for 2-3 hours! I’m a hot mess when I don’t get sleep through the night. With just 1 Seriphos before bed for 9 days I was sleeping through the night again. It was glorious!
High cortisol can be a temporary issue after international travel i.e. caused by jetlag and out of balance circadian rhythm. I will admit that I have a number of confounding factors – like my loss and grief (my darling mom has just passed away), being sprayed with insecticide on landing in Australia (which I suspect caused severe vertigo the day after I got back), and high blood pressure (and likely higher cortisol too) after drinking too much licorice tea for my voice loss. Whatever the causes of my high cortisol, Seriphos really helped me sleep through the night.
I ran out of Seriphos 2 nights ago and I was awake for 3 hours last night. I’ll be adding it back to my nighttime protocol as soon as my order arrives.
Seriphos is made by Interplexus and is a phosphorylated serine product. It is similar to the more recognized phosphatidylserine which is also used and known for lowering high cortisol – clinically and in the research. However, clinically, I have found Seriphos to be more effective and work more quickly.
UPDATE Feb 2024: I did end up tweaking my Seriphos dose a few times. After a few weeks I decided to trial 2 per night – this worked well. Then a few weeks later I trialed 3 per night – but after a few days I realized that even though it worked well for sleep it made me too tired the next day. For this reason I went back down to 2 Seriphos at bedtime.
UPDATE August 2024: I’m now using just 1 Seriphos at night and have added ox bile supplementation and a bright light panel in the morning because of bile issues. More on this below.
Seriphos for high cortisol due to trauma, loss of beloved cat and more
When I posted this on Facebook, I had a number of folks share how Seriphos has also helped them.
Kathy shared this: “I take two Seriphos at night for high cortisol that causes insomnia. It works well for me and helps me to relax. I have a significant trauma background that keeps me in fight or flight, so Seriphos is a must have at night. I do take a break from time to time if I am going through a less stressful time.”
Hopefully Kathy is also working on the trauma, doing trauma work and even incorporating other nutritional approaches which help so much with recovery – like zinc, vitamin D, a B complex, GABA and tryptophan etc. Taking a break from time to time is a good plan – I share more about this below.
Kim shared this: “Seriphos is a life saver – I started it when I was having cortisol/adrenaline issues a few years ago and have continued using it. I don’t ever want to be without Seriphos. A little over a month ago I unexpectedly lost my youngest cat. She was emaciated when I rescued her over 4 years ago and we turned around health issues. I feel so sad that she was dealt such a bad hand but we got her a loving home. My animals are everything to me and the grief is so difficult. She was a character and I love her so much.”
She uses one capsule in the evening but also uses a capsule during the day if she feels off. Hopefully Kim is also doing trauma work and other nutritional support too.
Janie shared this: “I have used it, years ago when my cortisol was off the charts, morning and at night. I was awake every night until 2am, unable to sleep. Seriphos certainly helped.”
She used 1 Seriphos per day for about 3 months.
Patricia said: “Please remember that there is Original Seriphos and the next gen Seriphos. I was one of thousands of people who had used original Seriphos for sleep and then they changed their formulation without telling us and then so very many of us were wide awake at night until we realized that they had changed the formulation.”
This happened in 2016/2017 and I blogged about that whole fiasco here – Seriphos Original Formula is back: the best product for anxiety and insomnia caused by high cortisol. You can read many other success stories on the blog and in the comments.
Address the causes of your high cortisol: jetlag, grief, toxins, licorice intake
As you can see from my example there can be a number of causes of high cortisol and you always want to address these causes while using Seriphos so you can eventually stop using it:
- International travel i.e. caused by jetlag and out of balance circadian rhythm. I’m home so this is no longer a contributing issue.
- Loss and grief can have physiological effects and high cortisol is one of many effects: “It appears that cortisol remains elevated for at least the first 6 months of bereavement. For some, cortisol elevation may become chronic”. The loss of my darling mom is going to take time but I am making time for grieving and I’m nurturing myself. As I navigate this period in my life I’ll continue to share what has helped me. I suspect I may need Seriphos for longer than the usual 3 months.
- Being sprayed with insecticide on landing in Australia (which I suspect caused severe vertigo the day after I got back). It’s well-recognized that environmental toxins are hormone disruptors and affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and cortisol. I’m addressing this with active detoxification and my portable infrared sauna.
- High blood pressure and likely higher cortisol too after drinking too much licorice tea for my voice loss. I have stopped the licorice consumption and my blood pressure is back to normal.
Other possible causes of high cortisol include day to day stresses, food sensitivities such as gluten, high sugar consumption, parasites and so on. Each factor needs to be addressed.
I do recommend Salivary cortisol testing before using Seriphos
Salivary cortisol testing is something I do with all my clients anyway. And I do recommend salivary cortisol testing before using Seriphos and the other cortisol-lowering nutrients mentioned below.
I will admit that I didn’t follow my own recommendation because I’ve had high nighttime cortisol in the past and recognized the symptoms. I had also identified all the above root causes and I desperately needed to sleep. I now have an adrenal saliva test kit on hand and will report back when I get the results.
Seriphos will only work for waking in the night if cortisol is high
One woman shared “I have never slept through the night in years. It would be delightful to get to the morning without waking.” Seriphos will very likely help if her cortisol is high.
Keep in mind there are many causes of not being able to sleep through the night and Seriphos will not help if cortisol is not high. Other root causes for insomnia/waking in the night (and nighttime anxiety) we consider and investigate are:
- Low GABA and low serotonin (I always start with these while waiting for salivary cortisol results to come back),
- Low melatonin
The following factors need to be addressed as root causes of sleep issues, anxiety and other symptoms (like gut issues, pain etc.), and also keep in mind that they are very possibly contributing to your high cortisol too:
- Gluten and other food sensitivities
- Caffeine and sugar intake
- Oxalate issues and/or toxins exposure affecting bile production (this affected my sleep last year)
- EMFs
- Parasites and other gut issues like IBS/SIBO etc.
- Disrupted circadian rhythms connected to liver/gallbladder/bile issues – more on that and bright light here. (Research does support a connection between high cortisol and cholestasis i.e. “stagnation, or at least a marked reduction, in bile secretion and flow.”)
A few folks reported they had tried Seriphos without success and it may well be that they don’t have high cortisol. Or they would possibly benefit from another approach to lower their cortisol (more on this below).
What are my options if I have high cortisol at night and Seriphos has the opposite effect?
One person said it had the opposite reaction. Joanne shared this: “Seriphos had the opposite effect on me. [One Seriphos] gave me extreme anxiety, kept me awake all night. Saliva tested consistently high cortisol at night so it should have helped. Been trying to work out why it would and how it might inform how I treat my insomnia.”
I’ve had a few clients do better with less than the recommended 3 per day and one not being able to use it at all. I suspect an allergic reaction or that it’s just too high a dose for some folks. The capsule could be opened and less could be used.
If this doesn’t work, other options for lowering high cortisol include lactium/hydrolyzed casein, Relora® (which contains Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense), essential oils such as bergamot and some herbal adaptogens. You can also read about some phosphatidylserine products I looked into when the Seriphos product was changed.
Forest bathing also helps to lower high cortisol levels and I recommend it for everyone.
Where does using Seriphos fit into everything else that I’m doing to address my insomnia and/or anxiety?
I typically don’t start with Seriphos right away with clients unless we know cortisol is high. As mentioned above I always start with assessing for low GABA and low serotonin and we do trials of the respective amino acids based on the symptoms questionnaire.
I also assess for low blood sugar and dietary factors like gluten, caffeine, sugar, quality animal protein intake etc. as covered in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution.” More about my book here. It does include a chapter on the amino acids and how to use them too.
Then we start to dig deeper and would consider Seriphos or lactium for anxiety caused by high night time or even high morning cortisol or high cortisol at other times of the day.
With many folks all of the above often applies. And we continue with assessing for each of the 60+ nutritional and biochemical root causes of anxiety/waking in the night (which does include liver/gallbladder/bile issues).
Where do I purchase Seriphos and how much do I use? What about taking a break?
You can purchase Seriphos from my online store (Fullscript – only available to USA customers – use this link to set up an account) and you can also find it on iherb (use this link to save 5%).
The bottle states to use 1 capsule with water 15 minutes before a meal. Clinically, using 1-3 capsules a few hours before the high cortisol seems to be most effective. For 2-4am waking this typically means taking Seriphos right before bed. In some instances, taking 1 on waking in the night can help too (for a maximum of 3).
With high cortisol in the night and on waking, I have clients use Seriphos before bed and lactium on waking.
It is recommended to take a one-month break after 3 months of Seriphos use. Ideally, once the root causes of high cortisol are addressed, you should be able to stop anyway. Or take a break, retest cortisol and then continue.
I’ll share some research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine in a follow-up blog if there is enough interest.
I appreciate all the feedback from these women in my community.
Have you used Seriphos (a phosphorylated serine product) to help with high cortisol and waking in the night/nighttime anxiety caused by any of the?
What do you suspect the cause(s) of your high cortisol is or was? And have you confirmed high cortisol with a saliva cortisol test?
Have any of the other products mentioned above helped to reduce high cortisol? If yes, have you compared them with Seriphos?
Let me know if you’re interested in a follow-up blog that includes some research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine.
Feel free to share and ask your questions below.
Yes, I am interested in the research of how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine. Thank you
Gerald
Thanks – stay tuned for part 2 (the research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine).
I’m curious if you’ve ever used either with success and if yes how it helped?
Hi am a flight attendant and have a schedule that keeps me up all night working International trips also trips with very early (2am 3 am wake up calls)? So yes my circadian rhythms are off!
Do you think Seriphos could be a good protocol instead of melatonin or with melatonin ?
Jes
I’m assuming you’re looking for support for sleep during your downtime i.e. when you are not flying. I would consider Seriphos in addition to melatonin especially if sleep is challenging, there is fatigue when working during night shift and self-medicating is happening with caffeine (when working) and/or alcohol (when trying to get to sleep).
I’m sure you’re aware of the health risks of shift work in your industry – this paper, Health Risks and Potential Predictors of Fatigue and Sleepiness in Airline Cabin Crew https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7792809/ covers the fatigue and self-medicating aspects. It also mentions a higher incidence of depression which phosphatidylserine can help alleviate (more on that research here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508628/).
This is the bare minimum when it comes to nutritional support for flight attendants.
Please tell me which Saliva cortisol test you like the best that gives the most complete data
Nancy
I’ve used the ASI (adrenal stress index test) from Diagnostechs (USA) for many many years. It’s typically a 4 point collection i.e. on waking, noon, 4pm and 8-10pm and you can see the if it trends high in the night. A 5th collection in the night can be useful too. It also measures insulin, DHEA/DHEA-S, secretory IgA, 17-OH progesterone, and wheat gluten sIgA.
In Australia, Nutripath offers a similar saliva test.
I’m curious if you’ve ever used Seriphos or phosphatidylserine with success and if yes how it helped?
Yes, I am interested in the research of how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine, and what company you use for cortisol testing. Do you do a cortisol check in the middle of the night also so it is a 4 or 5 points in time checking the cortisol?
Love you site and all the information you share.
Mary Sue
I’ve used the ASI (adrenal stress index test) from Diagnostechs (USA) for many many years. It’s typically a 4 point collection i.e. on waking, noon, 4pm and 8-10pm and you can see the if it trends high in the night. A 5th collection in the night can be useful too. It also measures insulin, DHEA/DHEA-S, secretory IgA, 17-OH progesterone, and wheat gluten sIgA.
In Australia, Nutripath offers a similar saliva test.
Thanks for your kind words – stay tuned for part 2 (the research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine).
I’m curious if you’ve ever used either with success and if yes how it helped?
I don’t have night time waking with high cortisol,however I have horrendous anxiety on waking, literally on opening my eyes and if it’s high cortisol would seriphos be good to trial,?
Also living in Australia,if I buy the kit from I herb,do I then need to send away for results and is so where.Many thanks
Sami
I typically don’t start with Seriphos right away with clients unless we know cortisol is high. As mentioned in the blog I start with assessing for low GABA and low serotonin and we do trials of the respective amino acids based on symptoms https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/.
I also assess for low blood sugar and dietary factors like gluten, caffeine, sugar, quality animal protein intake etc as covered in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Then we start to dig deeper and would consider Seriphos or lactium for anxiety caused by high morning cortisol. With many folks all of the above could apply. I’ve updated the blog so this is clearer.
The at home adrenal saliva test in Australia is from Nutripath and needs to be ordered from a practitioner, saliva collected and the samples mailed back to Nutripath.
Hi Trudy,
Yes I have used Seriphos for many years off and on, it is THE ONLY thing that takes my nightime cortisol down and lets me sleep without waking up feeling exhausted. So many practitioners try to put me Phosphtidyl serine and or rodiola and neither ever work for me. I also find very few practioners know about Seriphos. I learned about from Julia Ross and then I decided to take her training .
Thank you for this wonderful work you put into your website, I refer a lot of clients here to get informed, especially if they are on the aminos.
Mary Sue
Thanks for sharing and wonderful to hear your results. I don’t hear back from many folks who have compared both PS and Seriphos so I plan to share your feedback in the follow-up blog on mechanisms/research.
I started using Seriphos with clients when I worked in Julia’s clinic. I agree – not many practitioners know about Seriphos.
You are welcome and thank you for sharing my work!
I am also interested in learning more about the differences between Seriphos and phosphatidylserine.
Nancy
Thanks – stay tuned for part 2 (the research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine).
I’m curious if you’ve ever used either with success and if yes how it helped?
I’ve only tried phos. serine a bit over the last few years for insomnia resulting from getting off a benzodiazepine. I’ve never noticed a whole lot of help from it, but after reading your blog I wonder if I wasn’t taking it correctly. I only took it as needed, but it sounds like I might have to take it continuously for a while to see the most benefit. In any case, I went ahead and ordered the Seriphos last night because I’m curious to try that, as well as Lactium. I’ve learned my condition is really nervous system based so I’m doing mind-body work for that, but can still use a little help in this department! Thank you for all the great information you put out!
Nancy
Yes to consistent use if cortisol is high. Do keep us posted please
And you are most welcome!
Thank you very interesting! Are there shortcomings if nursing? Thanks a lot
Pat
Seriphos is not recommneded during pregnancy and nursing
Hi Trudy,
I’m on 20 mg of escitalopram as my trauma/grief was causing anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, rushing cortisol that never stopped, shaking and crying. I couldn’t settle. Things are better but I still have twitching and ruminating (terrified of death and dying) and I’m teary still. I’m very fatigued also. I wake up in the night and I’m exhausted in the morning. The doctor now wants me to take Wellbutrin. I was on both escitalopram and Wellbutrin for many years due to post-partum depression with 3 children. I went off both after about 20 years. I’m 57. Now I face being on both again. Am I ruining my health by taking these things? I go for grief and trauma counselling but both my GP and social worker think Wellbutrin may help further. I’m afraid to be on these meds long term again. I don’t like taking any meds, frankly.
J
I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling. You need to decide if you want to continue using medications and add additional ones. The fact that you are asking this question makes me feel you are open to a nutritional approach and I encourage you to start by reading my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” (more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/). Dietary changes can be made while on psychiatric medications and you’ll learn about the power of nutrients and amino acids, addressing gut health and much more.
When I hear your symptoms I think how much neurotransmitter support and also possible support with Seriphos (if cortisol is high) could help someone like you.
We looked up where to get the cortisol saliva test from the info you provided in your article . But it requires a provider and no cost was mentioned. So you say that is the best way to know from doing the test , but where do we start if we want to proceed? Thanks
Connie
Which country?
Can you try this if you’re on sertraline? Trying to titrate off… stuck at 50 mg.
Laura
I’m not aware of issues with sertraline but it’s best to always discuss with the prescribing doctor and/or pharmacist.
I have seen it help with high cortisol when tapering and always do a saliva test to confirm.
Thank you!
I was always a good sleeper . I actually had CFS and struggled not to sleep . My cortisol was tested LOW . Then , at 50 , I emigrated from South Africa to the UK . I had to stay back after my husband left to sell our farm . Losing my animals and my beautiful piece of paradise was traumatic for me . Leaving family and friends and my business was also devastating . I got to the UK before lockdown . I struggled emotionally . But I always slept . I developed dry eye disease after my husband left SA – this I found very difficult , but got it under control . Then , after a mild bout of covid in 2021 , my body went haywire . I got anxiety that was on steroids , even wanted to die . My dry eyes returned with a vengeance ( inflammation of the eyelids ) . I developed an internal vibration that turned into complete trembling after being put on mirtazapine . Stopped all meds , but my sleep that the mirtazapine initially helped got worse . Initially I could not sleep at all . I’ve researched much on long covid and done numerous protocols as I got no help from doctors in the UK . It definitely seems I have issues with GABA , but it seems to make my eyes drier , and a quarter of a 500mg tab made my face and scalp tingle . Melatonin also helped restore my sleep a bit , but also tends to dry my eyes . Now I fell asleep better , but wake about every hour . I don’t ever have a heavy sleepy feeling anymore and only know Ive been asleep because of a lot of dreams that I remember . I’ve checked my Fitbit and my heart rate is a bit up on waking . I do find my anxiety can go up , especially if I wake soon after falling asleep for the first time . I take passionflower , valerian and Honokiol before bed , also L theanine , L cystine and taurine . Things are a little better , but I’d love to sleep through . Last year I had a morning cortisol blood test which showed it was on the lowest end of normal ( 400 I think ) .
Could I just be getting spikes that wake me ?
I still have the body vibration , but it now generally starts at night and is getting almost undetectable during the day . The NHS doctors simply don’t seem to know what to do to help me . It’s nearly 2 years now , and I desperately want a full night’s sleep . Sorry about the lengthy explanation , but this has been a long hard struggle and I’m quite desperate now .
Thank you
Brenda
Brenda
Sorry to hear about having to leave SA – it sucks!
I have clients do 4 collection adrenal saliva test – this is better than morning cortisol blood test that most doctor’s order. Ideal is to work with a nutritionist or functional medicine doctor as this is out of the scope of most conventional doctors.
We also always capitalize on what is helping and adjusting passionflower, valerian, Honokiol, theanine, L cystine and taurine (one at a time) is a reasonable approach until further testing is done.
Where you listed the causes of insomnia, other causes of insomnia could be low iron or low magnesium, but maybe that is subsumed under something else you mentioned.
Amanda
Absolutely
Hi Trudy,
Slightly off topic and I’ve not really seen it discussed but I have an issue with compulsive shopping. I go out and buy the same things again and again. Could this be treated with amino acids or anything in your field? Or perhaps you can point me in the right direction to get help?
Ron
Ron
Absolutely – all addictions are driven by neurotransmitter imbalances – and compulsive shopping is a common one. The first step is recognizing it’s a problem so that’s great! To get started, replace “compulsive shopping” with “diet coke” in this blog https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/i-need-help-with-my-diet-coke-addiction-when-i-stop-my-fatigue-brain-fog-anxiety-depression-increase-big-time/
And look at all the symptoms here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/ is a great resource to get started with using the amino acids and making dietary changes for long-term support of neurotransmitters.
Feel free to share what you feel drives your compulsive shopping
When it says “take one before a meal” which meal?
Jerri
I address this on the blog – under how much do I use
Hi Trudy. Will you be replying to my October 21 comment? I could really use some guidance.
Done 🙂
Hi Trudy! I stumbled on your article here while researching SeriPhos.
I am curious your thoughts… Phosphatidylserine works wonders for me. Helps me sleep through the night consistently. SeriPhos is different, though… I tend to wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 4am. (I normally wake up at 7 and have fitful sleep). Which I don’t know whether to complain about or not. I like the ability to jump out of bed energized in the morning, which SeriPhos accomplishes. And I feel good during the day. But it just seems weird that it also cuts my sleep time really short. Maybe my sleep is just super efficient? Or maybe my body needs time to acclimate to it. But I’ve taken it over days and the effect seems to wear off with time.
Nic
Thanks for sharing. This effect is new to me and I’ll observe if others share similar info.
But I don’t like the idea of 3 hours less sleep for anyone. One thing to consider: dosing of Seriphos may be too high – you don’t mention how much PS you used vs how much Seriphos.
Hi – can it be that seriphos increases joint inflamation over night?
Ute
Not that I am aware of unless it’s an allergic reaction. Can you share what you have observed?
Hi Trudy!
So I came across seriphos a few months ago. First I’ve had insomnia for over a year now. The stress of move across country and things falling apart did a number on my thyroid and the stress wreaked havoc on my body. So when I found an article from a local naturopathic Dr that said take 2 to 3 at bedtime(I had taken only one and it never did anything) I was amazed. I was able to sleep 3-5 hours. For a while it was 3 hours then gradually it went up. Now I do wake up but I can fall back asleep which was a secondary problem to getting only 3-5 hours of sleep at all.
But then it stopped working. So I switched to another product from a naturopath I see for my hormones called Glow PM which has some 5 htp, L theanine, valerian root and a few of thr other things that make you sleepy or calm and that worked for awhile until I started waking up extremely agitated. So now back on the seriphos. It’s a roller coaster for sure but I’m so thankful there is something that helps! Thank you for all your info Trudy!! You’ve a blessing through this journey for me!!
Elitha
I’d suspect the 5-HTP may have contributed to waking agitated https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/does-5-htp-make-you-wired-tired-and-affect-your-sleep-when-cortisol-is-high-yes-and-not-sure-and-no-5-htp-was-miraculous/
Why would Seeiphos not be helping? Been taking a couple months now. I’m still waking up with what feels like a cortisol/adrenaline surge that sends me into panic, brain fog,dizziness. The symptoms lessen a bit though the day. But the bad brain fog dizziness and anxiety are still there all day. I feel better a couple hours before bedtime (about 10-1030PM)
Heather
I’d assume cortisol is not high if 3x Seriphos is used. Or it’s not used at the right time i.e 1-3 hrs before high cortisol.
Hi Trudy,
Just curious about something. I have taken GABA on and off for years to help with sleep. I really have not gotten much help from it however. Recently I was tested for amino acids and my GABA level was super low! How could this be after taking it for so many years?
Thanks!
Andrea
Andrea
I don’t have clients take GABA long term if it’s not helping and I don’t do urinary neurotransmitter testing as it’s not accurate – more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/urinary-neurotransmitter-testing-reports-elevated-gaba-when-its-really-low-using-the-low-gaba-symptoms-and-a-trial-of-gaba-is-best/
Hi Trudy,
I have read the article, and it’s been really helpful, just want to ask about this, I have taken Seriphos for the past 3 months and it had helped me on sleep, I take a break 24 hours every month, now it’s not working anymore. i even increased the dosage but i’m still struggling to sleep, I am back to difficulty falling asleep and waking up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep, if I do, it’s a light sleep only, is it possible to build tolerance on Seriphos if taken continuously for months? should i take a long break on it?
Thank you!
Dana
I can’t provide specific feedback via the blog but when this has happened with a client, repeat cortisol saliva testing showed low cortisol. We explore other causes and address those – one example of many is low blood sugar https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/waking-with-a-jolt-feeling-shaky-and-anxious-low-blood-sugar-hypoglycemia-glutamine-and-eating-for-blood-sugar-stability/
Hi Trudy. I have tried Seriphos but when U do I experience extreme vertigo even at small doses. I also saw that I am not the only one with the off balance and dizziness from phosphatidylserine. I saw a warning for individuals that are prone to motion sickness in reference with this supplement. Do you have any other recommendations for adrenal support?
Thanks.
Dawn
This adverse effect is new to me. May I ask where you read the warning about motion sickness and feel free to share a link
Other options are Relora https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/ and lactium https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/lactium-alpha-s1-casein-hydrolysate-hydrolyzed-casein-for-lowering-high-cortisol-reducing-anxiety-and-improving-sleep/
I wonder if some patients have issues with tolerating Seriphos because of the ethanolamine…
EWG.org lists this:
LOW — Cancer
MODERATE — Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW — Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
HIGH — Use Restrictions
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/702286-ETHANOLAMINE
I have heard there is also a liposomal form, but I have recently learned that many supplement manufacturers — including the high-end, doctor-recommended ones — use PEG (polyethylene glycol) in their liposomal products. Some don’t disclose it at all, while others disguise the ingredient as tocophersolan. PEG also has known allergenicity (some people reacted to covid vaccines because of it).
I hope people in the medical field will demand cleaner ingredients for their patients.
Arlene
I can understand your confusion – I use EWG all the time to check product ingredients – but it’s a product labeling issue and not an ingredient issue. I assure you I take product quality and clean ingredients very seriously and would never recommend something that is toxic and would not use it personally.
Seriphos contains phosphorylated ethanolamine which is a phospholipid. The bottle label should actually state “Phosphorylated serine/ phosphorylated ethanolamine” or “Phosphorylated serine/phosphatidylethanolamine” instead of “Phosphorylated serine/ethanolamine.” I looked into this extensively and did reach out to the company last year suggesting they fix it to avoid this confusion. I’ll reach out again to the company but I assume these things take time.
It gets slightly more confusing when you read the Seriphos site where you’ll see: “Phosphorylated serine and ethanolamine phosphate” on some pages and “phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine” on other pages. But this article offers a really good overview – Unveiling Phospholipids and Exploring Their Health Benefits and Safety (Part 1) https://interplexus.com/blogs/news/the-safety-and-benefits-of-phospholipids-and-their-components
You can read more about phospholipids here – The Crucial Roles of Phospholipids in Aging and Lifespan Regulation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8650052/
And more about phosphatidylethanolamine here – Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00010/full (there are some excellent charts in this paper).
I would appreciate hearing which liposomal products use PEG as this is concerning.
Is the use of ethanolamine a concern at all?
Mary
Please see my detailed response to Arlene
And please do share why you were/are concerned i.e. what have you read about ethanolamine and where. I will pass it along to the company to encourage them to correct the label
Hello Trudy,
I have always read that ashwagandha was recommended for high cortisol and adrenal support, and my nurse practitioner has just recommended it to try for my anxiety and sleep which is horrific but am thinking perhaps a cortisol test would be worth a try. In the US is it something I can order or do I need to find a practitioner?
Thank you, your book and blog with info on gaba has been wonderful for some of my issues.
Diane
Diane
Ashwagandha is a wonderful herbal adaptogen that reduces stress and anxiety and improves general well-being. In this study “serum cortisol levels were substantially reduced” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/ It is in the nightshade family and an issue for some folks – Dr. Izabella Wentz shares some info here on different forms https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-herbs-hashimotos/
I would ask your nurse practitioner to do the cortisol test. And I’m having more and more folks look into bile and/or oxalate issues and use morning bright light to help.
Wonderful to hear my book and blog have been helpful for you. Please do share how GABA has helped and how much.
Morning Trudy, Well I finally tried this and it worked to some extent. I have been diagnosed with GAD anxiety, PTSD, and major depression, with serve Insomnia. Last year I spent over 8 months testing amino acids from your book and follow your diet advise, no real improvements. Went off SSRI’s 2.5 years ago, due to the usual side effect that most folks talk about. Working with Nootropics and some amino acids right now, long long tiring journey. Anyway I finally got some Seriphose and tired it last night about an hour before bed, it seemed to help as I felt a little calmer, even when I woke at my usual 3:00 AM, went down and did some calming yoga and then went back to bed, woke up 3 hours later in a huge anxiety attack with my usual horrible rumination thoughts, so felt very depressed this morning……is this normal for starting out? I know this is a hard one to answer, without all the medical tests. So far I’ve tried 5HTP, tryptophan, GABA lozenges, separate and together, didn’t really work, gave each one 2 months trial. I eat well, no processed food, alcohol and try and stay away from as much sugar as possible, a little honey in my tea and some 85% chocolate only. I have suffered serious traumas throughout my life and am working with a therapist. THe insomnia has really affected my cognitive mind, try different nootropics for that and I think they are starting to help a little….but really need to get a handle on this insomnia , it’s been almost 3 years of 2-3 -4 at the most hours of sleep at night. Thank you for all that you do and for any advice you could offer.
Francesca
I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling with insomnia – I know first hand how brutal it can be. I’m afraid I can’t offer specific advice via the blog but can share I only use Seriphos if cortisol is high. And waking with an anxiety attack with usual horrible rumination thoughts is not normal.
I encourage you to read my recent blogs on insomnia too – bright light, ox bile and oxalates. I’ll also point out that regular tea and 85% choc is high in caffeine and 85% chocolate is high oxalate. Other things to consider when sleep is a problem – SIBO/IBS, parasites, EMFs, blood sugar stability, gluten and other food sensitivities, medication side effects (and possible longer term effects from prior SSRI use too).
Hi Trudy, Thank you so much for the quick response. I have read your insomnia blog. I do have and have had IBS for most of my life, I’m not on any medications so it could be the long term use of SSRI’s. Only drink green tea in the morning and a treat of a small piece of chocolate in the morning/early afternoon. I only eat fresh fruits/veggies, chicken, fish and red meat rarely….don’t like the taste, stopped processed foods decades ago. Have been working with nootropics, Passionflower, Holy Basil, Ashwaganda, L Theanine, and Lemon Balm, only on the 3rd week, but they may be helping. Can’t do melatonin, valerian…..Yes I think I have an odd system. Blood work comes back with nothing to show. Onward is all we can do.
I will keep trying, again thank you for all the work and care you offer.
Francesca
Trudy, in the above blog you mention “Salivary cortisol testing is something I do with all my clients.”
How can one become a client of yours? You have so expertly tweaked your program to take into so many factors. My daughter has not slept well for 15 years now, ever since her first pregnancy. She often only gets two hours of sleep and is absolutely desperate after trying out so many approaches. We need your help to figure this out. We don’t know how she can become one of your clients. Please help.
Simone
I’m afraid I’m not able to take on any new clients right now but you can get on the waiting list here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/services/
I’m sorry to hear your daughter is struggling. I recommend she reads my book – so much of it helps with sleep issues too. In addition to high cortisol, we consider diet (gluten, sugar, caffeine), eating for low blood sugar, high copper/low zinc (common after pregnancy), EMFs, low GABA, low serotonin/melatonin, SIBO, low magnesium, parasites, dietary oxalates, liver/gallbladder issues (also common after pregnancy) etc
What has she tried of the above and what has helped?
I appreciate all your concise info in your emails. I started sublingual Gaba a few years ago and it helped. Now, I tried Seriphos for nighttime waking for hours and high cortisol as diagnosed by my naturopath and also a bioenergetic healer. I did not have a saliva test.
I have not read about this effect in your blog and wonder if you have an opinion. I developed constipation, severe bloating and gas . I began with one pill, my dr suggested 2 pills The problem became worse. I have now decided to try opening the capsule and taking half That seems to have helped . I also researched and read that a dose above 300mg can give stomach etc trouble Each pill is 1,000 mg Opinion? Thank you
Susanne
I haven’t had this feedback but we are all unique and there is no one-size fits all. Using less may be a solution (as you’ve found) or using another approach (I’ve shared many on the blog). I would do a saliva test to confirm cortisol is high.
I have done some research on side effects and yes, there are reports of bloating, gas and digestive issues. My dr says it may be from another ingredient the capsule. A smaller dose did not help. I am going to bring the product to my bioenergetic healer next month and also ask a functional medicine dr I will try to pursue this and check on a saliva test .Unfortunately, I purchased two bottles that are now useless . Thank you