Treatments for Cushing's disease focus on lowering the amount of cortisol in your body. Including vitamin C supplements may prove effective in accomplishing this function. An article published in the April 2003 issue of "Psychology Today" indicates that taking vitamin C reduces cortisol levels. The article cites a German study in which participants consumed a 1,000 mg vitamin C supplement. MedlinePlus notes that adults need 75 to 90 mg of vitamin C each day and warns that you should avoid taking more than 2,000 mg of this nutrient in a day as it can result in stomach upset and diarrhea.
Magnolia bark, long used in Chinese medicine, may decrease your levels of cortisol, treating your Cushing's disease. Research published in the January-February 2006 issue of the journal "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" reports that magnolia extracts, taking with Phellodendron amurense extracts, lowered cortisol levels in overweight, premenopausal women, although more research is needed to determine those effects in the general population. The Nutritional Wellness website notes that a typical dosage for magnolia bark supplementation ranges from three to 10 g, most often taken as a boiled decoction. It is also available in capsule or tincture form. The website warns you not to take magnolia bark supplements if you are pregnant.
Dehydroepiandrosterone, more commonly known as DHEA, may protect you from elevated cortisol levels and ward off Cushing's syndrome. The Life Extension website suggests that DHEA may encourage your body to limit production of cortisol in the adrenal glands. The recommended dosage of DHEA on a daily basis ranges from 25 to 50 mg, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. High doses of DHEA may result in liver toxicity, high blood pressure and increased insulin resistance. The Mayo Clinic warns that taking DHEA supplements may produce side effects related to hormone production, including acne, facial hair and increased sweating.