Stress is highly prevalent in today’s
lifestyle; the mere drive to work can stimulate your adrenaline in the light of
the traffic congestion. Stress can be
activated through various stimuli: physical, mental and emotional, which in
turn produce the fight or flight response. We all experience this
everyday. Adrenaline and noradrenaline
are hormones produced by our adrenal glands every time we encounter stress. Adrenaline has a number of effects on our
bodies: it raises the blood pressure, produces anxiety, depression, elevates
blood sugar as well as cholesterol levels.
Chronic, excessive release of adrenaline can have a profound effect on
some major body systems, such as, the heart, blood vessels, immune system and
adrenal glands. With prolonged stress
one feels exhausted, tired, depressed, starts to have circulatory problems and
increased frequency of colds and flues as well as makes your organism more
prone to allergies.
So what can you do to protect yourself from
the adverse effects of stress? Here are
some tips you might find helpful.
Relaxation
It is important to keep in mind that every person is different and therefore
you will have to find out which relaxation method works best for you.
Exercise
Although exercise is a physical stressor,
in moderation, it is a wonderful stress relief method especially for those of
you who experience a lot of mental or emotional stress. Exercise also has several physiological
benefits such as: better cardiovascular function by improving heart muscle
contraction and decreasing heart rate, decreasing blood pressure and
cholesterol levels. In addition,
exercise improves oxygen and nutrient utilization by all tissues in the body,
improves your endurance, energy, self-esteem and enhances your mood. With
moderate exercise your body will reduce the secretion of adrenaline and
noradrenaline so that you can cope with stress better.
Botanicals
This section is very important for all
people undergoing acute or chronic stress, especially those who are very busy
and cannot find any time for exercise or relaxation techniques. Botanical (herbal) medicine has a lot to
offer; however it is important to get the right botanicals in the right
dosage. There are several categories of
botanicals that play a key role.
First category is called adaptoges. Adaptogens facilitate the body to adapt to
stressful situations by improving adrenal function, improving immune system and
tonifying the nervous system. Such botanicals are: Astragalus, Panax ginseng
and Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian Ginsing).
The second group of botanicals helpful in
coping with stress are the adrenal tonics.
These herbs act directly on the adrenal gland making it work more
efficiently. Examples of adrenal tonics
are: Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) and Borage officinalis.
The third group of botanicals is nervines,
which work to calm and tonify the nervous system. These include: Avena sativa
(Oats), Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower), Scutellaria lateriflora
(Skullcap), Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm), Hypericum perfoliatum (St. John’s
Wort) and Humulus lupulus (Hops).
With all botanicals it is important to consult
a health professional who can warn you about any possible drug interactions.
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Homeopathy
Homeopathy is the use of natural substances
of multiple dilutions, and is believed to provide an “energetic” stimulus to
the body’s inherent healing ability. This
type of medicine is very useful in terms of stress reduction; however, the
remedies are determined on the basis of individual’s mental, emotional and
physical symptom picture. Therefore, to
have the right homeopathic remedy you should consult a licensed naturopathic doctor or a homeopathic
practitioner.
Nutrition
Nutrition is another big player in
combating the effects of stress. It is
often times ignored or forgotten in our busy lives but we must remember that
“we are what we eat”.
All chemical reactions that take place in
our bodies need coenzymes or vitamins and minerals. Our body functions well as long as it has all
the building blocks for these reactions to occur. As soon as your diet is not sufficient to
supply your body with vitamins and minerals especially in times of high demand
(i.e. stress), the metabolism slows down, fatigue and tiredness set in.
With respect to stress there are certain
necessary factors for proper adrenal hormone production. They are: Vitamin C, B6, B5 (Pantothenic
acid), potassium, zinc, magnesium and antioxidants. Out of those, pantothenic acid is the most
important one and it can be found in whole grains, legumes, salmon, liver,
sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
Stress is a part of our everyday living and
we need to know how to cope with it and support our body when it needs to. The key in keeping yourself healthy through
stressful times is to realize that all aspects of your health: emotional,
mental and physical, need to be addressed at all times.
