Good question. Well, I started taking Cissus a few weeks ago for the joint support and read that it may lower cortisol. However, it was claimed in the USP Labs forum that you can keep taking it and not have to cycle off. I was assuming that if it didn't need to be cycled off, that it's influence on cortisol must not be that significant. So maybe I assumed wrong. I've also been taking Melting Point, and last week added Reduce XT. The joint support is more important to me if I have to choose. Thanks for bringing this up.