D’ADAMO
NAP PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Cortiguard® (Boerhaavia-Bacopa Complex)
60 Veggiecaps per bottle.
Suggested retail price: 18.95
Studies of cortisol and blood groups showed
that groups As and Bs had higher and more
rapid rises in cortisol levels than the other
blood groups when subjected to stress: In this
case having to “mirror-write” while listening
to a tape loop of a baby crying. An increasing amount of evidence
indicates that individuals of differing blood groups have extremely
different responses to the same stressor. Equally surprising, the
genetics of blood group also appear to alter susceptibility to
developing certain neuro-psychiatric disorders. This formula
is designed to enhance the health of the nervous system and
strengthen resistance to the physical effects of stress, especially in
those individuals who are groups A or B.
Clinical Indications
• Hypo-adrenalism
• Metabolic syndrome
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Episodic stress
Product History
This product was introduced by NAP in 1999 after first being
specifically designed for use in The D’Adamo Clinic.
Description/Background
®
Cortiguard contains the following therapeutic components:
Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng)
• The combination of its historical reputation and the abundance
of animal research (some human research as well) have
elevated Panax ginseng (often just referred to as ginseng)
to being virtually synonymous with the term adaptogen. It
appears fairly certain that ginseng can actually help the
adrenal gland to respond to stress by actually either making
the adrenal gland bigger (so more capable of a response) or
decreasing cortisol when it is already too high.
• But, maybe even more importantly, ginseng appears to make
the body more sensitive or responsive, perhaps thereby
allowing the body to make more cortisol when it is required
but allowing a quicker normalization of cortisol once the
stress is removed. These activities lie at the very core of the
definition of adaptogen, which implies a capability for a bi-
directional or normalizing effect on physiological function in
the face of stress.
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
• Eleutherococcus is better known by its common name,
Siberian ginseng (and is occasionally seen in health food or
vitamin stores as Ci Wu Jia). Although it is called ginseng,
technically speaking, it not a ginseng at all and is, botanically
speaking, not a close relative of Panax ginseng.
• Russian researchers in the 1940’s and 1950’s did a great
deal of research on plants that function as adaptogens.
Eleutherococcus was arguably the plant that consistently
produced the best adaptogenic effects in their research. The
data gathered indicated that ingestion of extracts from this
plant increased the ability to accommodate to adverse physical
conditions, improved mental performance, and enhanced the
quality of work under stressful conditions.
• This plant also appears to have an overall normalizing effect
on the stress response, allowing better performance in the face
of more stressful conditions, and similar to Panax ginseng, a
greater sensitivity or enhanced ability to reestablish hormonal
balance after stress. This herb also has a strong reputation for
preventing stress-induced exhaustion.
Boerhaavia diffusa
• The alkaloid fraction of the root of Boerhaavia diffusa has
a dramatic effect in buffering against elevation of plasma
cortisol levels under stressful conditions. Subsequent to
this buffering of cortisol, Boerhaavia alkaloids also prevent
a drop in immune system performance. Indicating a bi-
directional adaptogenic activity, these same plant alkaloids
also act to reverse the depletion of adrenal cortisol associated
with adrenal exhaustion. Since blood group A (and B) is most
impacted by the tendency to over produce cortisol, this herb
is tailor made for these blood groups.
Bacopa monniera, Linn
• Bacopa (‘Brahmi’) is an Ayurvedic botanical with apparent
anti-anxiety, anti-fatigue, and memory-strengthening effects.
Bacopa monniera, Linn. (Brahmi: Scrophulariaceae) an
Ayurvedic medicine is clinically used for memory enhancing,
epilepsy, and insomnia and as a mild sedative. The results
suggested that Brahmi is a potent antioxidant. (Indian J Exp
Biol 1996 Jun;34(6):523-6)
• Administration of extract from Bacopa monnieri, to children
with mental retardation, was reported to significantly improve
short-term and long-term memory. (Ann Acad Med Singapore
2000 Jan;29(1):37-41)
 • Modern research has validated the Ayurvedic claims
indicating that Bacopa monniera can improve performance
in various learning situations. (J Ethnopharmacol 1982
Mar;5(2):205-14)
• Results suggest that Bacopa, like the anti-Parkinson drug
deprenyl, exhibits a significant antioxidant effect after
subchronic administration, which, unlike the latter, extends
to the hippocampus as well. The results suggest that the
increase in oxidative free radical scavenging activity by
BM may explain, at least in part, the cognition- facilitating
action of Bacopa, recorded in Ayurvedic texts, and
demonstrated experimentally and clinically. (Phytother
Res 2000 May;14(3):174-9)
• Bacopa has additional effects on both bowel disturbance
and allergy. Among 169 patients with irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS), standard therapy, a compound Ayurvedic
preparation containing Bacopa monniere, along with a
matching placebo were given in a double blind randomised
trial for 6 wk.
• The Ayurvedic preparation in 57 patients was found
effective in 64. 9 per cent, while standard therapy (60
patients) was useful in 78.3 per cent. Patients on placebo
(52 patients) showed improvement in 32.7 per cent only.
Ayurvedic therapy was particularly beneficial in diarrhoea
predominant form as compared to placebo. (Indian J Med
Res 1989 Dec;90:496-503)
• Bacopa has also been shown to stabilize mast cells, an
anti-allergy mnechanism of action not unlike that of many
conventional anti-allergy medications. Extracts of Bacopa
monnieri were tested for mast cell stabilizing effect.
They exhibited potent activity comparable to disodium
cromoglycate, a known mast cell stabiliser. (Fitoterapia
2001 Mar;72(3):284-5)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
• Glycyrrhiza glabra is best known as an herb for stress-
induced exhaustion, but in appropriate amounts, licorice
has a harmonizing effect on the stress response.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Apparently, even dating back to anecdotal reports of
Europeans interacting with the Native American Indians,
it is reported that eating an animal’s adrenal gland could
reverse symptoms of scurvy.
• Not surprisingly, medical science has found that the
adrenal glands are a place of extremely high body levels
of vitamin C, and under stress, the requirement for this
vitamin goes up.
• Evidence also shows that vitamin C, in amounts greater
than the RDA, is needed to optimally support the adrenal
glands function and buffer against high cortisol when you
are exposed to a lot of stress. In effect, a deficiency of this
vitamin will raise cortisol levels and make it much more
likely someone will remain in the “resistance” stage of the
stress response.
B Vitamins (vitamins B1, B5, B6 and lipoic acid)
• While without question, an absolute deficiency in any of the
B vitamins would be detrimental; several of these vitamins
are critical for a healthy response to stress. Experimental
and clinical results have shown thiamin (vitamin B1)
to be an effective nutrient to protect the adrenal gland
from functional exhaustion when undergoing stress. A
combination of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and vitamins
B1 and B6 has been shown to improve the stress response
and simultaneously normalizes the rhythmic activity of
cortisol.
• Pantethine is the most physiologically active form of
vitamin B5. Deficiency of this nutrient or its precursor,
pantothenic acid, results in a decrease in adrenal function
with the most noted symptom of deficiency being fatigue;
while evidence indicates supplementation normalizes the
adrenal glands capacity to respond to stress.
• Lipoic acid, primarily known as a superior antioxidant, has
been shown to prevent the accumulation of stress hormones
in heart tissue secondary to stress (very important for A’s
with their higher risk for heart disease). Lipoic acid also
enhances the elimination of some stress hormones and can
partially restore some of the immune suppression, which
occur secondary to high cortisol levels.
• Phosphatidylserine, found in trace amounts in lecithin, is
a useful supplement to help regulate the stress-induced
activation of the HPA axis. It appears to act primarily to
make an individual more sensitive to the cortisol stress
response. Current evidence suggests that it tends to help
prevent large increases in cortisol and helps to return
cortisol to a more normal level after stress.
Actions and Indications
When discussing stress, it is useful to look at the model created
by the noted stress researcher Hans Selye. He provided the
classic model for the progression of our adaptation to stress. He
observed that given any source of external biological stress, an
organism would respond with a predictable biological pattern
in an attempt to restore its internal balance. He termed this the
General Adaptation Syndrome or Biological Stress Syndrome
and divided the response into 4 categories. the “alarm reaction”
characterized by an immediate activation of the nervous
system and adrenal gland a “resistance phase” characterized
by hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA activation a “pre-
exhaustion” stage characterized by adrenal enlargement, ulcers,
and immune system under-activity an “exhaustion phase”
Alarm would be the “fight or flight” or initial responses. In an
ideal world, once the stressful event has passed we would then
shift away from “alarm” and reestablish our internal balance.
Unfortunately real life situations do not always allow for this
recovery. This is especially the case for blood type A’s, who
seem to internally switch into “fight or flight” with even minor
stress and live in the “resistance” stage of the stress response.
Because of this, from a health perspective, the importance of
calming the nervous system or reducing stress is paramount for
individuals who are bood group A. Strategies to move them out
of the “resistance” stage (to sensitize their ability to regulate
cortisol levels) are imperative, as are strategies to prevent an
arrival at “exhaustion”. Herbal adaptogens and extra nutritional
support can help buffer against excessive elevation of cortisol,
to resensitize the body to better regulate the cortisol stress
response, and to protect the adrenal gland from functional
exhaustion.
The main effect of Cortiguard is to assist in the proper
modulation of cortisol. In general, it works well in groups
A and B, although it also has some utility in group AB as well.
Indications for its use are well known:
• Sleep disturbance (awakening after 2-3 hours of sleep, and
experiencing difficulty in resuming sleep)
• Poor response to exercise
• Lowered immunity due to stress

Dosage
Typical dosage is 1-2 capsules twice daily, best taken away from
meals. Ideal times for administration are between 7-10AM and 7-9
PM.

See Also
• Cholesterol and triglyceride levels, ABO blood groups and
secretor status
• Cortisol
• Cortisol and Catecholamine Response Differs By ABO Group
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
• Signal transduction
• Stress and ABO Blood Groups
References
1. Rasmusen BA, Christian LL. H blood types in pigs as predictors of stress
susceptibility. Science 1976 Mar 5;191(4230):947-8
2. Locong AH, Roberge AG. Cortisol and catecholamines response to
venisection by humans with different blood groups. Clin Biochem 1985
Feb;18(1):67-69
3. Neumann JK, Arbogast BW, Chi DS, Arbogast LY. Effects of stress and
blood type on cortisol and VLDL toxicity preventing activity. Psychosom
Med 1992 Sep;54(5):612-619
4. Masugi F, Ogihara T, Sakaguchi K, et al. High plasma levels of cortisol
in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Find Exp Clin
Pharmacol 1989 Nov;11(11):707-10
5. Bellastella A, Pisano G, Iorio S, et al. Endocrine secretions under abnormal
light-dark cycles and in the blind. Horm Res 1998;49(3-4):153-7
6. Esterling BA, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, et al. Chronic stress, social support, and
persistent alterations in the natural killer cell response to cytokines in older
adults. Health Psychol 1994 Jul;13(4):291-8
7. Hashimoto S, Kohsaka M, Morita N, et al. Vitamin B12 enhances the
phaseresponse of circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure
in humans. Neurosci Lett 1996 Dec 13;220(2):129-321994;79:506-516.

Model: NP006
* Manufactured by: Genoma Nutritionals

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