The Female Health Solution Podcast

The wired-but-tired feeling is incredibly common, especially for women, and it's one of the most frustrating places to be. You want energy during the day. You want sleep at night. But instead, it feels like your body is doing the exact opposite of what it should.
In this episode, I'm breaking down what's actually happening behind the scenes when you feel wired but tired and why pushing harder, drinking more coffee, or just "trying to relax" usually makes things worse.
When I see this pattern, it almost always points back to dysfunction in the HPA axis, which controls your adrenal function and cortisol output. A lot of women call this adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency.
Here's the key thing most people miss: You can feel exhausted and overstimulated at the same time.
This often happens when:
Your adrenal output is low, so you don't have sustained energy

Your free cortisol is elevated, because life is stressful and you're constantly in reaction mode

You're running on adrenaline instead of real energy

That's why you may feel okay only when there's a fire to put out, then crash hard afterward.
Cortisol can be measured through saliva or urine, but a single snapshot doesn't tell the whole story.
This is where DUTCH testing is so powerful:
It shows free cortisol across the entire day, not just one moment

It shows metabolized cortisol, which saliva testing cannot measure

It reveals whether your body is producing cortisol, using it properly, or struggling to keep up

What I see over and over again with wired-but-tired women is low adrenal function paired with high free cortisol. You're stressed, busy, and carrying a lot, but your system no longer has the reserves to support it.
This pattern doesn't just affect energy. It can disrupt:
Sleep cycles and nighttime rest

Hormone regulation

Muscle recovery and rebuilding

Immune function

Mood, focus, and motivation

This is why advice like "just eat healthier," "go to yoga," or "push through it" doesn't work. Those approaches don't address the root issue.
The first step is understanding what your body is actually doing. That's why I rely so heavily on DUTCH testing. It gives us a clear roadmap instead of guessing.
From there, we can build the right plan for you, whether that means:
Supporting protein and mineral intake

Repairing sleep and circadian rhythms

Addressing stress physiology in a way your body can actually respond to

Rebuilding adrenal resilience instead of draining it further

If you're stuck in that Groundhog Day cycle of exhaustion and overstimulation, this is your sign to stop guessing and start testing.
Click the link below to learn more about the DUTCH test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

Have you ever noticed that your energy is not consistent throughout the month? Some weeks you feel sharp, motivated, and on top of everything, and other weeks you feel exhausted, anxious, foggy, or completely wiped out. That is not random. That is hormones.
In this episode, I walk you through how estrogen and progesterone impact your energy across your entire cycle and why understanding this changes everything. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it.
I break down what a typical 28 day cycle looks like and what your hormones are supposed to be doing at each phase.
What we cover in this episode:
• Why estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest during your period and why testosterone is actually the dominant hormone at that time • How rising estrogen after your period fuels motivation, focus, productivity, and natural energy • Why ovulation is often your peak energy, creativity, and confidence window when hormones are balanced • What progesterone is supposed to do after ovulation and why it should feel calming, grounding, and supportive • Why needing more rest, calories, and recovery in the second half of your cycle is normal • How basal body temperature changes after ovulation and what that tells us about progesterone • The difference between your ovulation window and your fertile window • Why energy crashes, anxiety, irritability, or feeling wired but exhausted are signs something is off • What estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency actually look like in real life • Why irregular cycles and unpredictable energy are not something you just have to live with
I also explain the high hormone phase after ovulation and why this is the most important time to test hormones. This is when both estrogen and progesterone are present and your body has to process them properly.
If you feel great one week and terrible the rest of the month, if PMS is intense, if ovulation feels painful or exhausting, or if your energy never feels predictable, those are all signs your hormones are not being produced or processed the way they should be.
This is where hormone testing matters.
Why I use DUTCH hormone testing:
A DUTCH test allows us to see:
• How much estrogen and progesterone you are actually producing • Whether you are ovulating and producing progesterone consistently • How your body is metabolizing and clearing hormones • Cortisol patterns that affect energy and burnout • Androgen levels, nutrient markers, and methylation
Blood work can show hormone levels at a single moment, but it does not show functional patterns or how hormones are being used and cleared. DUTCH testing gives us the full picture.
I share a real example of a woman who had done everything right. Clean eating, less caffeine, better sleep, no sugar, no alcohol, and still had terrible energy. Her DUTCH test showed exactly why her body could not make energy effectively. Once we saw the data, everything made sense.
Numbers do not lie. Testing removes the guessing.
Your energy should ebb and flow with your cycle, but it should still be manageable. Your hormones should not hold you back from living your life, working toward your goals, or feeling like yourself.
If your hormones are interfering with your quality of life, it's time to test. 
Get your hormone test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

How do you know if it's really your cortisol causing symptoms like exhaustion, burnout, low mood, or low libido? How do you know if it's adrenal insufficiency, adrenal dysfunction, or something else entirely?
In this episode, I break down exactly how to tell the difference between low cortisol and high cortisol, why symptoms overlap with thyroid issues and other hormone imbalances, and why guessing or treating blindly can actually make things worse.
What I Cover in This Episode
• The difference between adrenal function vs cortisol output • Why blood, saliva, and urine cortisol tests tell very different stories • Why DUTCH testing shows the full picture of adrenal function and cortisol metabolism • Common low cortisol symptoms, including – Extreme fatigue and burnout – Low motivation and low mood – Feeling "overcast" instead of like yourself – Low libido (even with normal testosterone) – Dizziness when standing, heart racing, weakness – Sleep issues that don't improve with rest
• Why these symptoms are often confused with – Thyroid dysfunction – Low testosterone – Low estrogen or DHEA – Neurotransmitter imbalances – Gut issues, blood sugar problems, dehydration, or histamine issues
• Why women are often told to "just be less stressed" when their systems are actually running on empty • Why taking the wrong supplement for cortisol can pour gas on the fire • How stress, sleep loss, life changes, and overtraining can stall healing even when you're "doing everything right"
Without the right testing, it's like being lost in the woods with the wrong map. DUTCH testing shows us where you are, what systems are struggling, and what needs support first so your body can actually recover.
Once we know what your system needs, herbal tinctures can be powerful tools during the healing process, especially for adrenal and nervous system support.
Tinctures are not meant to be a forever crutch. They are part of a strategic phase to help calm the stress response, support cortisol regulation, and give your body the resources it needs to stabilize so deeper healing can happen.
If you are feeling • Wired but exhausted • Burned out and flat • Emotionally fragile • Unable to recover from stress • Or like your body just won't respond anymore
Targeted adrenal and nervous system tinctures can help bridge the gap while you address sleep, nutrition, gut health, and lifestyle foundations.
To support you as you move into the New Year, we're offering:
10% off all tinctures + FREE shipping Use code: NEWYEAR Valid Dec 30 - Jan 2
This is a great time to give your nervous system and adrenals some extra support while you work on the bigger picture.
Shop the sale: https://nutritionforyourhormones.com

In this episode, I break down why you can feel exhausted all day but suddenly wired the moment you try to sleep. We talk about how cortisol, melatonin, blood sugar, and perimenopause all play a role, and what you can actually do to get real rest.
What we cover:
1. Cortisol and melatonin basics
Your circadian rhythm depends on high cortisol in the morning and low cortisol at night.

If cortisol spikes in the evening, you will feel "tired but wired."

Taking melatonin will not help if melatonin is normal and cortisol is the real problem.

2. How DUTCH testing reveals the root cause
A DUTCH hormone test shows:
Your full cortisol pattern throughout the day

Melatonin output

Blood sugar, nutrient, and inflammation markers

Estrogen and progesterone levels that may affect sleep

This is why DUTCH is so helpful for women who have tried every sleep aid with no results. One client had perfect melatonin but high nighttime cortisol. Once we targeted that, her sleep finally improved.
3. Simple tools to try tonight
Protein before bed: At least 20 grams to stabilize blood sugar and quiet cortisol.

Nighttime routine: Lower lights, cooler bedroom, weighted blanket, deep breathing, red light, warm bath.

Journaling: Empty your brain before bed so you are not carrying mental clutter into sleep.

4. Perimenopause and sleep changes
Falling progesterone can make it harder to relax or stay asleep. Supporting progesterone naturally and adding magnesium or B vitamins at night can help.
5. Herbal and nutritional support
Adrenal tincture to support cortisol regulation

Sleep tincture to calm the nervous system

Magnesium in the evening to relax muscles and reduce tension

Consistency matters. Sleep often improves gradually over three or more weeks.
Why a DUTCH test is your next step 
If you are done guessing, DUTCH testing shows exactly:
Whether cortisol, melatonin, blood sugar, or inflammation is keeping you awake

What your hormones are doing at night

Which specific areas to target

This saves time, money, and frustration so you can finally sleep again.
You can order a DUTCH test here and get a personalized review and plan: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/
Better sleep starts with understanding what your hormones are doing behind the scenes.

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down one of the biggest frustrations women face: Your labs come back "normal," yet you still feel exhausted, inflamed, moody, or nothing like yourself, and no one can explain why.
Here's what we cover:
Why basic blood work misses the real problem
Regular labs look for disease, not dysfunction.

A standard CBC or hormone panel can't show how your hormones are produced, processed, or eliminated.

Blood tests catch crises, not the early warning signs of perimenopause, adrenal burnout, or estrogen dominance.

What DUTCH urine hormone testing reveals that blood work can't
All three estrogens: E1, E2, and E3

Phase 1 and Phase 2 estrogen detox (your liver pathways)

Methylation which is a major cause of PMS, migraines, brain fog, and mood swings

Cortisol rhythm throughout the day

Nutrient deficiencies and gut-related patterns

This level of detail finally explains why you feel off and what to do about it.
Real client stories
Sara's story: Blood labs said "you're fine." Her DUTCH test showed exactly why she had migraines, poor sleep, and terrible PMS. Within months on a targeted plan, PMS dropped by 50 percent and her menstrual migraines disappeared. At her follow-up, her clinic literally told her, "We don't know how to read this."

Jenna's story: A mom of five determined not to be a "half version" of herself. She researched every option and realized she would have to piece together three times the number of tests to get what DUTCH shows in one report. Once she saw her results, she finally had a roadmap instead of guessing.

Why your hormone issues are never just one thing
Your genetics, stress load, pregnancies, environmental toxins, sleep, and nutrient status all intersect. DUTCH shows which pieces are breaking down: production, processing, or elimination, so you stop guessing and start targeting the right areas.
Why DUTCH is the roadmap your health has been missing
This test shows:
Where the "holes in your boat" actually are

Which systems need support

What is driving your symptoms

And exactly what to do next

Instead of random supplements, you get clarity.
Ready for real answers?
If you're tired of hearing "your labs are normal" while your body tells a different story, it's time to go deeper.
You can:
Order a DUTCH test through us

Get a personalized review and plan from my team

Finally understand your hormone story and what your body has been trying to tell you

Order your hormone test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/