“Above all be the heroine of your life, not the victim" - Nora Ephron

Introduction:

Social media can twist the ‘truth’ so much that a simple line is made into a tight pretzel.

The sad part is, as a society we are so ‘plugged’ into the pain and suffering without filters flooding our scroll that it has a snowball effect.

One of the biggest targets of this is a woman going through perimenopause and menopause and her much needed hormone cortisol. YES… it is critical in certain body functions. Without a doubt, there is a hormonal flux during the transition, but marketing has overtaken medical facts.

The reality is, our often ‘self imposed’ not so healthy lifestyle habits in both body and mind, can keep the throttle stuck on what is known as “fight or flight”.

So if you're constantly feeling wired but tired, snapping at little things, or waking up at 3 a.m. in a swirl of thoughts… you might assume cortisol is the culprit. But is it the whole story?

A deeply personal note

Each week when I write these blogs, I share my professional experience and wisdom, some personal snippets, but it is deeply rooted in the fact I share with these writings with compassion, because I will never forget where I came from. That is my gift that I share with you each week.

A snapshot of my early life..

I was an abused child, a runaway teen. I had catastrophic health problems (remember STRESS the precursor for disease), I was diagnosed with aggressive endometriosis age 19, 14 operations, nasty hormone treatment and finally a hysterectomy age 29. By age 33 I was bedridden with 5 autoimmune conditions, my body was failing FAST!

And then I became my solution, and life was never the same again.

I was a qualified Medical Scientist by the age of 24, then left western medicine age 34 to take an eastern holistic health and integrative nutrition and fitness path as an entrepreneur. I had been exposed to the Eastern philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a teenager, so I had done full circle. As my life transformed, I coached and mentored thousands of women along with me.

Fast forward to now, age 56.. health, happy, lean and strong, I continue to expose the power of an East-West combined perspective and crafted my own 'Way'.

The Western take on cortisol

My profession as a Medical Scientist taught me that STRESS is the precursor to disease., that is, any kind of stress… environmental toxin exposure, poor diet, bad lifestyle habits, acute illness, chronic pain, broken sleep… the list goes on.

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. It helps regulate your metabolism, blood sugar, and inflammation — and it spikes when you're under pressure. In short bursts, it’s essential. But when stress becomes chronic, cortisol stays elevated, which can lead to:

• Belly fat

• Fatigue or burnout

• Sleep issues

• Anxiety

• Hormonal imbalances

Functional medicine often focuses on lowering cortisol through supplements, adaptogens, or lifestyle changes like better sleep and exercise. But what if there's more to the picture?

The Eastern perspective: It's about balance, not 'blame'

Holistic health practices and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doesn’t single out cortisol — it looks at the deeper energy systems that regulate your stress response.

If you are not familiar with Yin Yang, this may be a little ‘out there’, but just come along to learn a new concept, and note that it sounds ‘interesting’....

In TCM, chronic stress depletes Kidney Yin and Liver Qi, leading to symptoms like that you will be familiar with:

• Irritability and frustration

• Insomnia (especially between 1–3 a.m.)

• Hormonal shifts

• Digestive upset

• Feeling "hot" or ungrounded

On the flip side, restoring the internal ‘balance’ often dramatically improves these symptoms, and can even result in finally shifting stubborn ‘hormonal’ weight. I have seen this so many times, helping thousands of women get their mojo back after 40 and transform into strong, lean, healthy happy power-houses and love the skin they are in.

Back to cortisol.. rather than target cortisol, TCM aims to restore internal harmony by nourishing your Yin and smoothing your Liver Qi. That might look like:

• Slower, mindful movement (like Qi Gong, or gentle yoga)

• Warm, cooked foods that ground your energy

• Herbal support or acupuncture (I love acupuncture!)

• Deep rest and breathing techniques and rituals

So, is cortisol really the 'Bad Guy'?

Not exactly. From a Western lens, yes — it's a key marker of chronic stress. But from an Eastern view, cortisol is just a symptom of a deeper energetic imbalance. And blaming it might lead us to miss the real root of our stress patterns.

Let me list 10 amazing functions of cortisol that you don’t get told about. It's essential for survival and well-being when balanced. 

Here's 10 key benefits of healthy cortisol levels:

1. Boosts energy: Helps mobilize glucose and fat for immediate energy during stress or activity.
   

2. Sharpens focus: Enhances alertness and cognitive performance in short bursts.
   

3. Regulates metabolism: Supports the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
   

4. Reduces inflammation (short-term): Acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps manage immune responses.
   

5. Follows a natural rhythm: Peaks in the morning to help you wake up and feel alert.
   

6. Maintains blood pressure: Supports healthy blood pressure levels.
   

7. Helps appetite control: Works with other hormones to regulate hunger and energy intake.
   

8. Supports homeostasis: Helps the body adapt and return to balance after stress.
   

9. Plays a role in fetal development: Essential in the development of fetal organs during pregnancy.
   

10. Supports the circadian rhythm: Helps coordinate sleep-wake cycles and daily energy flow.

What you can do this week ....

1. Breathe Before You React — pause, inhale, and exhale slowly 3x when you feel triggered.

2. Add One Yin-Nourishing Meal — think soups, stews, with lots if leafy greens.

3. Unplug by 9 p.m. — dim the lights, light a candle, and reclaim your inner calm.

I would love to leave you with a free 🎁 gift ... imagine in 10 minutes you can de-stress and fall into a safe deep relaxation 🎧. I have created a beautiful 10min Body Sweep Relaxation Meditation. Click HERE >> De-stress Relaxation Meditation

I got you, Namaste 🧘‍♀️

ALWAYS IN YOUR CORNER

BIG LOVE & GRATITUDE

Lisa X

Disclaimer: This information is not medical advice and is for education purposes only. For all medical concerns, consult your physician.

Watch this short video as Lisa reveals 10 Truths about cortisol.. Is it really to blame? East vs West perspective on cortisol and the stress response.