PatchWorks - Topical Vitamin Patches

09/11/2025

📝 New blog: Could a Cortisol Detox help you feel better?

Wired but tired 😴, struggling to sleep, and can’t ever seem to switch off? If this sounds familiar, it could be time for a cortisol detox.

Research suggests up to 1.3 million UK adults may have cortisol levels higher than they should, which can lead to all kinds of problems with sleep, mood 😊, energy ⚡, and more...

In our latest blog, we're exploring how a ‘cortisol detox’ could help you reset your body 🧘‍♀️ if you've been living with chronic stress.

And it's easier than you think! ✨

Here's a preview of some of the simple lifestyle changes that could make a real difference:

💪 Move your body (but not too much!)
😴 Prioritise restorative sleep
🥗 Eat plenty of whole foods
🧘 Try mindfulness
🩹 Support your body's stress response with supplements like magnesium, ashwagandha, omega-3s, and vitamin C

Read the full article here 👇

Always feel exhausted, but find it impossible to relax? It could be time for a cortisol detox! Discover what this is, whether it works, and how to do it.

04/11/2025

🍫 Good news for chocolate lovers (sort of)!

New research from COSMOS trial has shown that cocoa extract, rich in natural plant compounds called flavanols, may help reduce inflammation linked to ageing 😋.

🔥 More Cocoa = less “inflammaging”
People taking a daily cocoa extract supplement had around 8% lower levels of inflammation each year (measured by a marker called hsCRP - a signal of chronic inflammation in the body).

❓Why should you want to lower inflammation?
Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a key factor in ageing and age-related health issues, from heart disease, to decreased mobility, and lower energy levels.

🤔 Why is this study such a big deal?
Over 21,000 adults aged 60+ took part in this gold standard randomised trial, one of the largest ever of its kind.

💡 But before you reach for your favourite chocolate bar…
Remember this study was about cocoa extract, not sugary chocolate. The benefits come from specifically from cocoa’s flavanols, plant nutrients also found in berries, green tea and apples.

👀 What’s the main takeaway from the research?
A diet rich in plant-based foods 🌱 and natural antioxidants can help support healthy ageing and keep you younger for longer. Be sure to add cocoa extract to your supplement shopping list.

02/11/2025

🍫 Did you know Cocoa flavanols may help reduce inflammaging?

So what's inflammaging? As we age, our bodies experience low-grade, chronic inflammation known as inflammaging. This state accelerates aging and increases the risk of heart disease, disability, and early death.

Our fave health expert, Dr Rhonda Patrick, recently shared new findings from COSMOS (COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study) - and the results are quite the eye opener 👀.

➡️ Taking 500mg of cocoa flavanol supplements each day reduced inflammation markers by 8.4% per year.

➡️ Cocoa flavanols measurably lowered high-sensitivity CRP (C-reactive protein) - one of the best ways to track chronic, low-grade inflammation, linked to heart disease, diabetes, and faster biological ageing.

➡️ The biggest benefits were seen in people with higher inflammation, including women, and those with diabetes.

➡️ Other inflammatory markers didn’t change, suggesting cocoa flavanols specifically target CRP. Previous research also links cocoa flavanols to better blood pressure, and even heart and eye health.

➡️ Cocoa isn’t a magic bullet - but could be helpful to dial down silent inflammation as you get older. Choose flavanol-rich foods like cocoa, berries, and green tea - that Dairy Milk bar won't cut it!

Find the study here https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article-abstract/54/9/afaf269/8253933

29/10/2025

💛 Vitamin C: the natural way to lower cortisol

Fed up with feeling tired all the time? Your adrenal glands could be crying out for vitamin C, one of the most important nutrients for balancing cortisol 🌟.

Here’s how this vital vitamin could help your body manage stress more effectively 👀:

👉 Supports adrenal health:
Your adrenal glands - the organs that produce cortisol - store and use large amounts of vitamin C. Under chronic stress, these levels drop quickly. Replenishing vitamin C helps your adrenals function efficiently, preventing cortisol from spiralling out of control ✅.
👉 Regulates the stress response:
Vitamin C helps modulate the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis - the body’s stress control centre. By buffering the adrenal response, it helps your system recover more quickly after stress instead of staying stuck in ‘fight or flight’ mode 🙌.
💛 Reduces the physical effects of stress:
High cortisol increases oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce free radicals and the damage caused by prolonged cortisol exposure - supporting your heart, brain, and immune system 💪.
💛 Improves mood:
When cortisol is high, neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can dip. Vitamin C helps synthesise and stabilise these mood-regulating hormones, helping you feel calmer and more emotionally balanced 🌤️.
💛 Helps your body recover faster:
Vitamin C supports recovery from stress by aiding collagen formation, reducing inflammation, and maintaining cellular energy metabolism - helping you bounce back more quickly after busy, demanding days ✨.

27/10/2025

💡New blog: Could cortisol reducing supplements help if your levels are too high?

Feeling wired but tired? Your cortisol could be the culprit 👀.

Did you know up to 1.3 million people in the UK may have undiagnosed high cortisol, and that it’s more common in women? 😮

From unexplained weight gain and skin changes to anxiety, fatigue, and sleepless nights, high cortisol can wreak havoc on your body and brain. But the good news is, there are ways you can support your body naturally 🙌.

In our latest blog, we're sharing:

💡 The surprising signs your cortisol might be too high
🌿 How cortisol reducing supplements like magnesium, ashwagandha and vitamin C can help rebalance your stress hormones.

If you’re constantly running on empty, but can’t switch off, this one’s for you. ✨

👉 Read the full post now for tips on how to bring your cortisol back into balance

Could cortisol reducing supplements help you? Discover the red flags your cortisol levels could be too high and the top 4 supplements to bring them down.

24/10/2025

⚡️ Magnesium: your go-to for lowering cortisol

Always tense and constantly on edge 😣? High cortisol might be to blame.

Here’s how magnesium could help calm your stress response and bring cortisol back into balance 👇

✅ Regulating the HPA axis:
Magnesium helps regulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis - the system that tells your body when to release cortisol. Low magnesium can cause the axis to become overactive, leading to higher baseline cortisol. Topping up helps prevent your body from overreacting to stress 🙌.
✅ Reducing cortisol release from the adrenal glands:
Under chronic stress, the adrenal glands can pump out cortisol continuously. Magnesium supports proper adrenal signalling and reduces excess cortisol secretion, helping you feel calmer and more balanced 🌿.
✅ Supporting relaxation:
High cortisol keeps your nervous system in ‘fight or flight’ mode. Magnesium enhances GABA receptor function, calming overstimulated neurons and signalling to your brain that it’s safe to relax - naturally bringing cortisol down 💆‍♀️.
✅ Lowering inflammation:
Chronic stress and low magnesium both increase inflammation in the body, which in turn triggers more cortisol production. Magnesium acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, breaking this cycle and helping to restore hormonal calm 🔄.
✅ Improving sleep:
Cortisol should drop at night, but stress can keep it elevated. Magnesium helps lower evening cortisol by calming the nervous system and supporting melatonin production; resetting your natural circadian rhythm so you can rest and recover 😴.

22/10/2025

🌿 Ashwagandha: Another supplement secret for lowering cortisol levels.

Concerned your cortisol levels are too high? Taking ashwagandha could help 😊

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen - which means it supports your body in adapting to physical and emotional stress.
Here's how👇

✨ Lowers cortisol & calms the stress response: Studies show taking ashwagandha can reduce cortisol by up to 30%, lowering chronic stress markers and easing symptoms of anxiety. Its active compounds, withanolides, also modulate the body’s central stress system 🙌.

✨ Restores steady energy & mental clarity: Instead of overstimulating like caffeine, ashwagandha supports balanced energy by improving mitochondrial efficiency and reducing oxidative stress. It also helps regulate blood sugar and adrenal hormones, so your energy levels feel stable and focused 🧘.

✨ Improves sleep quality: Ashwagandha improves sleep onset and how deeply you snooze by increasing the activity of GABA receptors, which promote relaxation and reduce neural excitability. Combined with its ability to lower nighttime cortisol, this leads to more restorative sleep 😴 .

✨ Supports mood:
Chronic stress depletes key neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Ashwagandha helps normalise these levels, promoting mood stability. Some studies also link its antioxidant effects to protection against stress-related inflammation in the brain - a major factor in anxiety 🧠.

✨ Balances hormones & thyroid health:
Ashwagandha supports endocrine balance (especially the thyroid) by moderating cortisol’s suppressive effects. Research shows it can even boost thyroid hormones in people with suboptimal thyroid function 🌸.

19/10/2025

🐟 Omega-3: A must-have to help lower high cortisol

If your cortisol levels are too high, you might feel constantly stressed, wired, or worn out 😖.

Here’s how Omega-3 could help 👇

💙 Reduces cortisol spikes: Omega-3 fatty acids help regulate your body’s stress response, calming overactive stress signalling in the brain and reducing inflammation - closely linked to cortisol surges. No more feeling permanently on edge 🙌.

💙 Supports mood and mental health: EPA and DHA help maintain healthy brain chemistry by balancing mood-related neurotransmitters like serotonin. This means less stress-related mood swings 😊.

💙 Improves sleep quality: Omega 3 supports melatonin production (your sleep hormone) and reduces inflammation that can disrupt restful sleep. You'll fall asleep more easily and wake feeling rested 💪.

💙 Boosts brain function: The fatty acids in Omega-3 can also protect the hippocampus (your brain’s memory centre), which can be affected by long-term high cortisol. Less time struggling with brain fog or forgetfulness 🎉

💙 Supports heart health under stress: Omega-3 helps lower blood pressure and strengthens your cardiovascular system, making it more resilient to the effects of chronic strain ❤️.

17/10/2025

😩 Do you constantly feel wired, but also completely wiped out?

High cortisol could be to blame. Here are 5 common symptoms that might mean your levels are off:

1️⃣ Trouble sleeping 😴 : Too much cortisol can disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle, keeping your body in 'alert' mode when it should be winding down. Sound sleep feels impossible and you can end up shattered, but unable to switch off.

2️⃣ Weight gain ⚖️: Cortisol tells your body to store fat (especially around the abdomen) as part of its long term stress response. You could have THE most healthy diet, but that stubborn belly fat just won’t shift.

3️⃣ Anxious or snappy 😡: Elevated cortisol overstimulates your nervous system, making you more reactive and emotionally up and down. One minute you're fine, the next you’re teary or losing your temper.

4️⃣ You're constantly ill 😷: Chronic stress and high cortisol suppress immune function, making it harder for your body to fight off bugs. You always feel under-the-weather and run down.

5️⃣ Brain fog 🤯: Prolonged high cortisol can interfere with concentration by affecting the hippocampus, the area of the brain linked with learning and forming new memories. Leaving you feeling forgetful, unfocused, and distracted.

⚠️ Heads up: Low cortisol can have similar symptoms to high. If you also experience extreme fatigue check with a medical professional if yours are low.

15/10/2025

🧠 Everything you need to know about cortisol

This month, we’re taking a deep dive into high cortisol, and the best cortisol reducing supplements to help you feel your best! 👇

You’ve probably heard of cortisol, called the “stress hormone”, because your body releases it in response to stress. But did you know it also plays a key role in regulating your energy levels, blood pressure, sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, and even your immune function?

When your cortisol levels are out of balance, it can wreak havoc on all these things. Watch out for symptoms like:
😩 Trouble sleeping or waking up tired
😠 Anxiety, irritability or low mood
⚖️ Weight gain (especially around your middle)
💔 Low libido
🍫 Sugar cravings and energy crashes

But don’t panic, there’s lots you can do to help your body rebalance. 💚

Including cortisol reducing supplements like ashwagandha, which studies have shown can reduce cortisol levels by up to 30%. Magnesium, known for calming the nervous system and improving sleep quality. Omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower inflammation, in turn reducing stress-related cortisol spikes. Antioxidant-rich vitamin C to support adrenal health, or L-theanine, ideal for promoting relaxation without making you drowsy.

Lifestyle plays a big part too. Prioritising good quality sleep, and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol can both help regulate your stress response and improve mood.

✨ Stay tuned for more expert tips and advice on the best cortisol reducing supplements to help you feel calm and energised again.

12/10/2025

🤧 New blog: Are Cold and Flu tablets really the best option now it's sniffle season?

Every autumn, millions of us in the UK reach for over-the-counter cold and flu medicines the moment we feel a sniffle. But what if they’re only masking your symptoms, and not actually helping you get better 😬?

👉 New research shows that common ingredients like phenylephrine might not even work, and some cold remedies could prolong illness or increase your chances of spreading it.

So what’s the alternative?

💪 Think immune support, not symptom suppression.

Our latest blog explores natural, science-backed ways to boost your immunity and feel better faster.

We’re sharing the essential vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system and help clear up pesky symptoms 🤧. You can find out about herbal helpers 🌿 like echinacea - which one study found could reduce the duration of a cold by an impressive 67% - along with top tips for getting the deep, restorative sleep 😴 your body needs to recover.

Plus, discover why a varied, nutrient-rich diet 🥦 and regular, moderate exercise 🏃‍♀️ are key to staying well and avoiding sick days this winter ❄️.

Click to read the full blog 👆

Cold and flu tablets are selling out now it's cold and flu season, but they just mask symptoms. Discover how to support your immune system so you stay well.

10/10/2025

✨No more sick days!

Help support your immune system this cold and flu season with our handy Vitamin C Plus patch, which also contains zinc 💥!

Here’s why these two essential nutrients work better together:

🌟Vitamin C:
✅ Supports white blood cell function to help fight off infections
✅ Acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from damage so they can resist bugs better 💪
✅ Strengthens the skin barrier, your first line of defence against germs

🌟Zinc
✅ Essential for the development and function of immune cells
✅ Can help reduce the severity and duration of colds
✅ Supports healing and helps control inflammation

Why take them together?
Vitamin C can help your body absorb zinc more effectively, and together they provide stronger immune support than either nutrient alone 🙌

🩹 Why choose a patch over tablets?
🧡 No fillers, sugars or unnecessary additives
🧡 Ideal for sensitive stomachs: no nausea or digestive upset
🧡 Provides a steady, all-day dose through the skin

Get yours here 👉 https://linkly.link/2GCZZ