The SHP is a saliva-based test done at four time points across the day: morning, noon, afternoon, and bedtime. This gives a complete picture of how your stress hormone cortisol rises and falls over 24 hours. This test captures your diurnal cortisol rhythm, giving a window into HPA-axis function to see your stress burden and adrenal output.

Why saliva testing is more accurate than blood testing for hormones:

Saliva testing shows the real, bioavailable hormones your body can use and gives us a more accurate picture than blood tests, which mostly capture bound, inactive hormone levels. This makes it the most reliable way to see how cortisol, DHEA, sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), and even melatonin are actually functioning day to day. Blood can’t capture this daily rhythm, which makes saliva the gold standard for stress and sex hormone evaluation in functional health.

What it measures:

• Cortisol 4x sampled over the day

• DHEA-S: An anabolic hormone that balances cortisol

• Cortisol/DHEA ratio: Indicator of stress resilience or burnout

• Secretory IgA: Key immune marker showing how stress is impacting gut/immune defenses

• Melatonin: Your sleep hormone, showing nighttime regulation

• Sex hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone

Symptoms it can help clarify:

• Low energy, poor recovery, or “tired but wired” feeling

• Weight gain around the belly despite diet and exercise

• Sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking refreshed)

• PMS, menopausal hot flashes, or low libido

• Anxiety, irritability, or mood swings

• Frequent illness or low immunity

• Feeling sluggish in the morning or more alert at nighttime

 The services provided are for nutritional, educational, and lifestyle support purposes only. We do not diagnose, treat, or cure any disease and our services are not a substitute for medical advice from a licensed physician.