The PolyBiotics Journal

Stress isn't just about feeling overwhelmed. Heat, poor sleep, under-eating, over-exercising and major life changes can all place demands on the body. We explore how stress interacts with your hormones, what the science really says about childhood trauma and PCOS, and why building resilience, rather than trying to eliminate stress entirely, may be a more helpful approach.

Cortisol has become the internet’s favourite hormone to blame. But is cortisol really the problem, or is chronic stress the bigger issue? In this article, we explore what cortisol actually does, the difference between true medical conditions like Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease, the relationship between stress and magnesium, and why the wellness industry’s obsession with “lowering cortisol” may be oversimplifying women’s health. We also examine the rise of adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola, and the lack of robust research in premenopausal women.