Dealing With Stress Naturally

The Term "Stress" refers to any reaction to a physical, mental, or emotional stimulus that upsets the body's natural balance. Stress is an unavoidable part of life. It can result from many things, both physical and psychological. Pressures and deadlines at work, problems with loved ones, the need to pay the bills, and getting ready for the holidays are obvious sources of stress for many people. Less obvious sources include everyday encounters with crowds, noise, traffic, pain. Extremes of temperature, and even welcome events such as starting a new job, or the birth or adoption of a child. Overwork, lack of sleep, physical Illness, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking are common physical factors that put stress on the body.

Some people handle stress well. Others are very negatively influenced by it Stress can cause fatigue, chronic headaches, irritability, changes in appetite, memory loss low self-esteem, withdrawal, tooth-grinding, cold hands, high blood pressure, shallow breathing, nervous twitches. lowered sexual drive, insomnia or other changes in sleep patterns, and gastrointestinal disorders. Stress creates an excellent breeding ground for illness. Researchers estimate that stress contributes to as many as 80 percent of all major illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, endocrine and metabolic disease, skin disorders and infectious ailments of all kinds. Many psychiatrists believe that the majority of back problems -one of the most common adult ailments in North America - are related to stress.

While stress is often viewed as a mental or psychological problem, it has very real physical effects. The body responds to stress with a series of physiological changes that include increased secretion of adrenaline, elevation of blood pressure, acceleration of the heartbeat, and greater tension in the muscles. Digestion slows or stops, fats and sugars are released from stores in the body. Cholesterol levels rise, and the composition of the blood changes slightly. making it more prone to clotting. Almost all body functions and organs react to stress.

The pituitary gland increases its production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the release of the hormones cortisone and cortisol. These have the effect of inhibiting the functioning of disease-fighting white blood cells and suppressing the immune response.

The increased production of adrenal hormones is responsible for most of the symptoms associated with stress. It is also the reason that stress can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Increased adrenaline production causes the body to step up its metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to quickly produce energy for the body to use. Further, the body does not absorb ingested nutrients well when under stress The result is that, especially with prolonged or recurrent stress, the body becomes at once deficient in many nutrients and unable to replace them adequately.

Stress also promotes the formation of free radicals that can become oxidized and damage body tissues, especially cell membranes.

Many people attribute their stress-related symptoms to "nerves," and in fact stress usually does affect the parts of the body that are related to the nervous system first, especially through the digestive organs. Symptoms of stress-related digestive disorders may be a flare-up of an ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome

Stress can be either acute or long-term. Long-term stress Is particularly dangerous. A state of continual stress eventually wears out the body. Because of its effect on immune response, stress increases susceptibility to illness and slows healing.

What is Stress? Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which is understood to be a threat. It can be any force or pressure put ...

Natural Stress Relief

sleep

One of the main causes of stress on the body is lack of sleep. We are only fooling ourselves when we thing we can get away without it. Somewhere from Six to nine hours is what's recommended.

exercise

A good program 3-5 times a week is what is recommended , but remember that walking and swimming are the best and safest. What a difference it can make in promoting good sleep patterns.

Reflexology & Massage

Give your self a treat while obtaining all the health benefits of these and other modalities.More and more passive hands on therapies are being recognized by the medical community. Now we just have to work on the insurance companies.

prayer and/or meditation/laughter

Science is now proving what many people have known for thousands of years. These all relieve stress and depression both emotional and physical.

The Chi Machine. As seen on 'The Doctors'. An amazing passive aerobic exerciser that puts the body into a wonderful state of relaxation with just 5 -15 minutes of use. While laying on the floor, you ankles rest on the machine while it 'wiggles' you in a gold fish type movement. Not only does it relax you, but it have been reported to help with sleep problems, pain, swelling, circulation and detoxifying the body.

It has been government approved and comes with a trial use option and a great guarantee.

Here are some other Stress Busters (compiled by David T Shields)

The two strongest factors associated with chronic stress are low social support, resulting in isolation and a sense of powerlessness or lack of control.

TEN 1-MINUTE STRESS BUSTERS

1) Alter your situation or accept it 2) Reorder your day and be reasonable about it! 3) Intentionally slow your breathing 4) Lose your mind for a minute, immersing yourself in what you hear, see, smell, feel and taste 5) Visualize a scene from your favorite vacation 6) Stand and lift one knee, touching it with your opposite hand. Alternate sides for 1 minute 7) Slow your talking pace, walking pace and blinkslowly for one full minute 8) Force a smile, whether you mean it or not (trust me on this one - it's scientifically proven!) 9) Give yourself a "Do-Over" or "Mood Makeover"

Decide to reset your mood immediately. Push apart of your body just like you would a button.

10) Give yourself a mini neck and shoulder massage

Here are some Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs Providing Numerous Benefits for Optimal Brain Function

ZeaMays-(marketed as Seroctin, Serotonin support)

A new nutraceutical being market as Seroctin or Serotonin Support, has been introduced recently . It is a corn grass, from a particular type of bamboo plant.. The first studies were done with Panda Bears, showing remarkable results in the mating habits and reproduction of the animals in captivity.

Many studies are being done now with humans with equally rewarding results. Stress causes depression, fatigue,OCD, panic attacks, low libido, ED, PMS, and memory loss . ZeaMays assists the pineal , the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands . Studies show that ZeaMays has the unique ability to optimize serotonin and melatonin production in our body. Serotonin has widespread and often profound implications, including a role in sleep, appetite, memory, learning and mental focus, ,mood, sexual behavior, cardiovascular function, and depression.

Personal testimonies are pouring in daily on the positive changes in mood disposition and overall well being, as well as improvements of sleeping habits, depression, and even ADD. Although this botanical is completely natural and non-toxic, your health professional should be consulted, especially if you are on any anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication.

Available in supplemental form , Serotonin support and Serotonin Support Plus capsules are only sold through direct sales in the United States and Canada. I have many clients using it.

St. John's Wort

Can be As effective as drugs, without significant side effects. Caution when mixing with medications

Dozens of scientific studies attest to the benefits of St. Johns Wort in treating depression. Many studies were conducted in Germany where the herb is available only by prescription, and is prescribed far more than Prozac and other anti-depressants.

* A highly respected review of 23 clinical trials reported in the Aug 3, 1996 issue of the British Medical Journal concluded that St. Johns Wort is more effective than placebo in treating mild to moderately severe depression. More impressively, the authors found chat St. Johns Wort appears to be comparably effective to many pharmaceutical anti-depressants while producing fewer side effects.

Most researchers now believe that the medicinal benefits of St. John's Wort are the result of a number of components working together; these components include hypericin, pseudo-hypericin and related compounds, as well as flavonoids, xanthones, and cinnamic acid. Recent studies have indicated that St. Johns Wort, like Prozac, inhibits serotonin uptake, while other studies have suggested that other components of St. Johns Wort affect GABA receptors in the brain.

It's critical to point out, that all these studies used Standardized 0.3% Hypericin (St. John's Wort), not Non-Standardized. There have been no reliable studies using the non-standardized form, which is 30 times less expensive and far less potent. (Check the label first to be sure you're getting standardized 0.3% hypericin.)

Kava Kava:

The safe, non-addictive, anti-anxiety herb

Kava comes from the root of the Piper methysticum, a member of the black pepper family. It has been in use in the South Pacific for centuries.

Inside the human body, Kava imparts the greatest relaxing effect of any plant known. The Kava plant yields a safe, non-addictive group of compounds whose benefits have increasingly been the subject of major scientific studies.

The relaxing activity of Kava is attributable to a group of compounds known as the kavalactones. While as many as 18 kavalac-tones have been discovered, only six appear in Kava in any significant amount.

The kavalactones have emerged as superior muscle relaxants, which work in the amygdala, two almond-shaped organs in the limbic system of the brain. The amygdala is the seat of anxiety, which sheds some light on why Kava has proven in clinical studies to relieve anxiety.

In both scientific studies and centuries of anecdoral evidence in humans, Kava root and its extracts have been shown to be of great value in promoting relaxation and peace of mind. Human clinical studies show that Kava is every bit as effective as an anti-anxiety aid as the prescription drugs administered for that purpose, and without the attendant side effects. In some studies, Kava root extract has been shown to relieve depression and the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Many women report relief of menstrual cramps upon consumption of Kava root extract.

OTHER HELPFUL SUPPLEMENTS:

- Vitamin C and the B Complex known as the STRESS Vitamins - Sam-e--- although rather expensive, has been show to be very effective - Minerals-such as calcium, magnesium and zinc

Linda Basta is a Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP), as well as a Certified Foot Reflexologist. She has studied the the health and nutrition field for over 30 years. She has owned and managed a local Health Center, hosted her own interactive radio show, wrote for various newspapers , and has lectured at local community groups and adult education.