What is happening on the inside?
We’ve been taught to think of stress as something psychological. Something we should be able to manage if we’re “doing things right”.
But stress is physical first. It’s driven by a network in the body — the HPA axis — that controls how we respond to pressure, threat, urgency, demand.
And, in midlife, that system becomes more sensitive.
• Oestrogen declines, reducing its buffering effect on cortisol and serotonin
• Progesterone drops, meaning less GABA-driven calm in the brain
• The brain becomes more reactive to stress and slower to recover
• Sleep quality declines, reducing the body’s ability to reset
• Blood sugar becomes less stable, increasing cortisol spikes
The result is simple: the same stress lands harder and lasts longer.
The impact on our blood sugar.
Hormonal shifts affect how we regulate blood sugar too, which means we’re more likely to experience energy dips, increased cravings for sugary food and sharper cortisol spikes in response. This also feeds into the way we respond to stress..
Which again feeds back into the stress response.
The role of botanicals in supporting the body and mind.
When we look at stress through a naturopathic lens, there are many lifestyle interventions we can explore. And, there is growing evidence around herbs that have been used in Traditional and Functional Medicine protocols too. Here are a few of the ones we champion in our blends:
1. Ashwagandha (KSM-66®)
Research shows that it can support the HPA axis and helps regulate cortisol:
— Reducing stress and anxiety
— Supporting sleep and recovery
— Supporting the body in responding more proportionately to stress
2. Bacopa Monnieri
Clinical trials have explored how it supports the brain under pressure, pointing to its potential to
— Reduce anxiety
— Improve cognitive performance and memory
— Support neurotransmitter balance
3. Lemon balm
This humble herb has a growing body of evidence to support its impact on the nervous system directly:
— Supporting calm through GABA pathways
— Reducing restlessness and low-level anxiety
— Supporting sleep quality
4. Turmeric (curcumin)
Turmeric’s active component curcumin addresses inflammation linked to chronic stress.
— Broad anti-inflammatory benefits
— Supportive of mood and brain function
The principles of herbal synergy in lifestyle medicine.
Stress affects multiple systems at once, which is why we always work through the lens of herbal synergy.
• Ashwagandha regulates the response
• Bacopa supports mental clarity
• Lemon balm calms the system
• Turmeric supports what’s happening underneath
Together, they support resilience rather than masking symptoms. You can find all these ingredients, along with our unique vegan vitamin and mineral complex in our multi-award winning MOOD-FOOD.
Safety note.
If stress, anxiety or low mood are persistent, it’s important to speak to a medical professional to rule out underlying causes. MPOWDER supports the body and mind — but does not replace medical advice or treatment.
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