Dr. Chloe Horwood-Little, D.C

06/09/2026

06/06/2026

Everybody talks about HIGH cortisol.

But what happens when cortisol becomes too LOW?

One of the most overlooked patterns I see in practice is a slow cortisol awakening response (CAR) — where cortisol fails to rise appropriately in the morning after waking.

This can look like:
• Waking up exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
• Needing caffeine just to function
• Brain fog
• Feeling “wired but tired”
• Low motivation
• Poor stress resilience
• Cravings for sugar or salt
• Difficulty getting out of bed

Cortisol is supposed to rise in the morning to help you feel alert, focused, and energized, then gradually decline throughout the day.

When that morning rise becomes blunted, it can be a sign that the HPA axis (your brain-adrenal communication system) isn’t functioning optimally.

This is why I rarely rely on a single cortisol blood test alone.

A morning serum cortisol can provide a helpful snapshot, but a 5-point salivary cortisol test allows us to see the entire cortisol rhythm throughout the day and identify patterns like:
✓ Slow cortisol awakening response
✓ Flattened cortisol curves
✓ Elevated evening cortisol
✓ HPA axis dysfunction

Because when it comes to cortisol, it’s not just about the number.

It’s about the pattern.

Save this for later and send it to someone who feels exhausted before their day even begins.

06/05/2026

😂 This trend made me laugh.

One of the most common questions I get from patients is, “What should I ask my GP about this?”

The reality is that functional medicine and conventional medicine don’t always use the same language or approach. That isn’t a criticism—there are many incredible GPs who understand and utilize both perspectives.

But sometimes patients leave my office talking about gut health, hormones, histamine, fasting insulin, nutrient deficiencies, bile flow, and thyroid function all being connected… and I can only imagine how that conversation goes. 🤣

At the end of the day, we’re all trying to help patients feel better.

05/21/2026

The goal isn’t just living longer — it’s maintaining quality of life while you do. Energy. Strength. Mobility. Cognitive function. Hormone balance. Healthy digestion. Recovery. These are all markers of longevity. Functional medicine helps connect the dots between symptoms and root causes so we can support the body in a way that’s proactive instead of reactive. Small daily choices compound over time, and your future health is being shaped by what you consistently do today

03/04/2024

09/24/2023

It was an honor to spend time this weekend talking with and learning from both Dr. Terry Yochum and Dr. Alicia Yochum. Fantastic to connect with the greats from our profession