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My ACTH skyrocketed on Cordyceps

Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
I have low ACTH of 6 (which is borderline low) and my cortisol is low normal. I tried Cordyceps and re-checked my ACTH and it was 398 (normal range 6-50)!
I wonder if it really that effective or if something in cordyceps interferes with the essay... Unfortunately, I did not check my cortisol at the time. But I stopped and a week later ACTH was back to 6 - which seems to work better for me, high cortisol makes me feel worse.
 
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pamojja

Senior Member
Messages
2,384
Location
Austria
I wonder if it really that effective or if something in cordyceps interferes with the essay..

Which cordyceps you used? I used mainly from LEF, and these have been my results:
(Cordyceps in mg/d, ACTH pg/ml; AM cortisol 6-20 µg/dl normal range; urinary cortisol 56-286 µg/24h normal range)

Code:
year cordy ACTH cort-AM cort-24hrs ttest
2009   -     -    13.7       -       -
2010   -     -    17.1       -      400
2011   -    18    17.6       -      220
2012   70    -    16.8       -      262
2013  170    -     -         -      320
2014  340    3    17.3       -      340
2015  370   35    13        308     351
2016  370   45    19.7      299     469
2017  620   45    18.4       -      632
2018  500    -    11.7      219     681

PS: added total testosterone (300-1000 ng/ml normal range) in a further column, since there seems a more clearer association there.
 
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Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
Which cordyceps you used? I used mainly from LEF, and these have been my results:
(Cordyceps in mg/d, ACTH pg/ml; AM cortisol 6-20 µg/dl normal range; urinary cortisol 56-286 µg/24h normal range)

Code:
year cordy ACTH cort-AM cort-24hrs ttest
2009   -     -    13.7       -       -
2010   -     -    17.1       -      400
2011   -    18    17.6       -      220
2012   70    -    16.8       -      262
2013  170    -     -         -      320
2014  340    3    17.3       -      340
2015  370   35    13        308     351
2016  370   45    19.7      299     469
2017  620   45    18.4       -      632
2018  500    -    11.7      219     681

PS: added total testosterone (300-1000 ng/ml normal range) in a further column, since there seems a more clearer association there.
Hmm... strange. Mine clearly seems to have been associated. I've been using 750 mg by NOW 3 times per day. Not sure what to make of it...
 

Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
Which cordyceps you used? I used mainly from LEF, and these have been my results:
(Cordyceps in mg/d, ACTH pg/ml; AM cortisol 6-20 µg/dl normal range; urinary cortisol 56-286 µg/24h normal range)

Code:
year cordy ACTH cort-AM cort-24hrs ttest
2009   -     -    13.7       -       -
2010   -     -    17.1       -      400
2011   -    18    17.6       -      220
2012   70    -    16.8       -      262
2013  170    -     -         -      320
2014  340    3    17.3       -      340
2015  370   35    13        308     351
2016  370   45    19.7      299     469
2017  620   45    18.4       -      632
2018  500    -    11.7      219     681

PS: added total testosterone (300-1000 ng/ml normal range) in a further column, since there seems a more clearer association there.
Do you have any idea why your ACTH went from 3 to 35 in 2015 if it wasn't from Cordyceps?
 

pamojja

Senior Member
Messages
2,384
Location
Austria
Mine clearly seems to have been associated. I've been using 750 mg by NOW 3 times per day. Not sure what to make of it...

At first sight 3x750 mg = 2250 mg seems of course a much higher dose, LEF however uses a standardized extract. Therefore my higher doses would amount to that much in simply powdered form too.

Do you have any idea why your ACTH went from 3 to 35 in 2015 if it wasn't from Cordyceps?

Really no idea. With 2016 I reversed a 60% walking-disability from PAD. That doesn't explains it of course (unless one believes time isn't linear). I took however a very comprehensive approach in supplementation through all these years, and rather than going high-dose with one herb, I combined a lot at lower doses for a long time. There might have been synergies building up over time, I can't be really aware of. And thereby bringing ACTH up to more healthy levels. In this case something else, like Ashwagandha, might have blunted the ACTH effect you might have experienced. If it wasn't simply a mistake by your lab, or maybe something else taken at the same time you've forgotten?
 
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Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
It might have been a mistake. I didn't feel like my cortisol was super high the way I felt on prednisone but then maybe I was able to handle it better since I've improved overall since then.

Good idea to combine lower doses. I'll keep Ashwaganda in mind if I decide to try again.
 

Paralee

Senior Member
Messages
571
Location
USA
Oh my gosh! I'm going to try some cordyceps! Having a 4-5 cortisol level in the morning is keeping me in bed trying to breath. Thank you!
 

Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
Well, I'm not sure if that number was a fluke or just a transient spike that I caught because I've never reproduced that result. But Cordyceps certainly does have a strong effect on me - though not 100% positive. I suspect it's something to do with adenosine. I'll be curious to hear what your experience will be!
 

Paralee

Senior Member
Messages
571
Location
USA
@Iritu1021 , don't know if you were speaking in general or to someone, but what does adenosine have to do with it?......dreading answer.....
 

Iritu1021

Breaking Through The Fog
Messages
586
@Iritu1021 , don't know if you were speaking in general or to someone, but what does adenosine have to do with it?......dreading answer.....
Cordyceps (C.sinensis but not C.militaris) has a high concentration of adenosine in it, and adenosine is one of the neurotransmitters involved in regulating hypothalamic function. Itnplays a role in cardivascular function as well.
 

Paralee

Senior Member
Messages
571
Location
USA
@Iritu1021 , I think I'm overloaded with adenosine, from what I can tell from my variants. Thanks for letting me know. I think I checked this out before, and that's why I didn't go on with getting some. Thanks again.
(I have the rare variant from AMPD1)