Last Updated on 28 April 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Cortisol Test Australia – How to Measure Your Stress Hormones at Home
A cortisol test in Australia provides insight into your adrenal function, energy patterns and stress response. If you’re feeling burnt out, wired at night, or struggling with chronic fatigue, testing your cortisol levels can help explain what’s going on. At Brisbane Livewell Clinic, we offer home-based cortisol testing using saliva or urine kits—providing a full picture of how your body is handling stress, and how that may be impacting your mood, hormones, sleep and overall health.
Key Takeaways
Cortisol is your primary stress hormone, influencing energy, focus, inflammation and metabolism.
At-home cortisol testing is available through Brisbane Livewell Clinic using saliva or dried urine samples.
We assess adrenal patterns across the day to detect high, low or dysregulated cortisol.
Testing is useful for fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, thyroid dysfunction and chronic stress.
Your test results guide a personalised plan to support adrenal recovery and long-term health.
Introduction
When stress becomes chronic, it affects everything—your sleep, energy, immune system, hormones and mood. Cortisol is the hormone behind this response. Produced by the adrenal glands, it helps you wake up, stay alert, manage inflammation and respond to pressure. But when cortisol is too high or too low for too long, it leads to burnout.
At Brisbane Livewell Clinic, we use home-based cortisol testing to understand your daily hormone rhythm. We then use this information to create targeted treatment strategies that help restore energy, focus, and balance.
Why Test Cortisol?
Cortisol isn’t just a stress hormone. It affects:
- Blood sugar and energy levels
- Sleep-wake cycles
- Immune function
- Mental clarity and motivation
- Hormone balance and thyroid function
- Inflammation and pain response
Too much cortisol can cause anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, or high blood pressure. Too little can cause fatigue, low mood, brain fog and inflammation. Testing helps identify which pattern you’re in—and how to correct it.
Symptoms That Suggest Cortisol Imbalance
Common reasons people test cortisol levels include:
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Difficulty waking or getting through the afternoon
- Feeling wired at night but exhausted in the morning
- Poor sleep quality, despite feeling tired
- Anxiety or panic symptoms
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Cravings for sugar, caffeine or salty foods
- PMS, thyroid or hormonal symptoms
- Frequent illness or poor recovery from exercise
If you’ve been told your blood work is normal, but you still don’t feel right, cortisol testing may fill in the gaps.
Cortisol Testing Options in Australia
There are two primary ways we test cortisol at Brisbane Livewell Clinic:
Saliva Cortisol Testing
- Collected at four points during the day (morning, midday, evening, bedtime)
- Shows daily cortisol rhythm (circadian pattern)
- May include DHEA for adrenal balance
- Useful for fatigue, anxiety, hormone issues and perimenopause
- Collected easily at home
DUTCH Hormone Testing (Dried Urine Test)
- Offers a full picture of cortisol metabolites
- Includes sex hormones, melatonin and adrenal function markers
- Best for complex cases or those with overlapping symptoms
- Collected at home with dried urine strips over 24 hours
- Interpreted by functional pathology experts
Both options provide clinically useful data, depending on your health history and goals.
What Your Cortisol Test Results Show
Cortisol results help us identify if you’re in one of the following phases:
- Hyperactive (High cortisol) – common in early stress response or anxiety
- Hypoactive (Low cortisol) – linked to burnout, adrenal fatigue and chronic illness
- Flatlined (No rhythm) – poor sleep, hormone issues, and brain fog
- Reversed curve – wired at night, exhausted in the morning
We use this information to guide your supplement, diet and lifestyle plan.
What’s Included in Cortisol Testing at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
- A take-home saliva or urine test kit
- Comprehensive practitioner interpretation
- Personalised Wellness Plan including diet, herbs and nutrients
- Ongoing support to track progress and adapt your strategy
- Access to high-quality practitioner supplements if required
You’ll understand not only what your cortisol is doing—but why—and how to fix it.
Cost of Cortisol Testing in Australia
Pricing depends on the type of test:
Test Type | Price Range | Medicare Covered? |
Saliva cortisol | $150–$250 | No |
DUTCH test | $400–$600 | No |
Consultation costs are separate and may be partially reimbursed by private health cover.
Who Should Test Cortisol?
Cortisol testing is especially useful if you:
- Are dealing with chronic stress or emotional strain
- Struggle with sleep despite feeling exhausted
- Experience ongoing anxiety or mood changes
- Have unexplained fatigue or weight changes
- Are recovering from illness or burnout
- Have thyroid or hormonal issues that don’t resolve
- Want to optimise energy and stress resilience
It’s also valuable for athletes, shift workers, busy parents or anyone under prolonged stress.
What Happens After the Test?
Once your results are in, your Naturopath will:
- Review your adrenal rhythm and symptom timeline
- Explain how cortisol may be impacting other systems (thyroid, gut, hormones)
- Recommend adaptogenic herbs, nutrients and lifestyle strategies
- Suggest sleep or nervous system supports
- Adjust your plan over time based on improvements
You’ll get a written strategy and ongoing care—not just a test result.
Conclusion
Cortisol testing in Australia is an accessible, evidence-based way to understand your stress response and energy patterns. At Brisbane Livewell Clinic, we offer home-based cortisol testing and personalised interpretation to help you feel less wired, more rested and better equipped to manage what life throws at you. If stress is affecting your health, we can help you uncover what’s going on and give you a plan to rebuild from the inside out.
FAQs
1.What does a cortisol test measure?
A cortisol test measures your stress hormone levels across the day. It shows how your adrenal glands respond to stress and regulate energy.
2. Can I do a cortisol test at home in Australia?
Yes, Brisbane Livewell Clinic provides home kits using saliva or dried urine. These tests are non-invasive and easy to complete.
3. What are symptoms of low cortisol?
Low cortisol causes fatigue, brain fog, low motivation and poor recovery from stress. It may also lead to dizziness or low blood pressure.
4. Is saliva testing better than blood for cortisol?
Yes, saliva testing tracks cortisol across the day, not just one time point. It’s more accurate for chronic fatigue or adrenal issues.
5. Can I test cortisol without a GP referral?
Yes, you can order cortisol testing privately through Brisbane Livewell Clinic. No referral is needed.
6. What affects cortisol levels?
Chronic stress, poor sleep, blood sugar imbalances and stimulant use all affect cortisol. Illness or overtraining can also play a role.
7. Can I use cortisol test results to treat adrenal fatigue?
Yes, we use your results to build a personalised plan with herbs, nutrients and lifestyle changes. This helps support adrenal recovery.
8. How long does it take to get results?
Most cortisol tests return results in 2–3 weeks. Your Naturopath will contact you to review them and build your Wellness Plan.
9. Can cortisol testing help with anxiety?
Yes, it helps identify if anxiety is linked to high cortisol or adrenal exhaustion. We then use natural strategies to regulate your stress response.
10. Are cortisol tests accurate?
Yes, when processed through reputable labs. We use validated tests through trusted functional pathology providers.
11. How do I order a cortisol test in Australia?
Book a consultation with Brisbane Livewell Clinic. We’ll recommend the best test and organise delivery of your kit.
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