Stress

Symptoms

We are continually on the lookout for time-saving tools that not only make life faster, but busier. It is no wonder stress is an increasing problem. Nevertheless, not everyone reacts to stress in the same way. We do not even react to stress the same way every day. Without any stress, life becomes boring; with too much, it becomes overwhelming.

Stress is the non-specific response of the body to stressors. Every disease or negative condition is caused by a stressor of some type. Stressors are emotional, chemical or physical. Emotional stressors include such feelings as love, hate, oppression, anger or envy. Chemical stressors can be viruses, bacteria, poisons, lack of oxygen, drugs, nutrient deficiencies, pollution, cigarettes, alcohol and junk food. X-rays, ultraviolet light, sound waves, loud noises, gravity and temperature are some of the physical stressors that could be at play. Stressors do not necessarily develop into stress. The stress response depends on genetic make-up, immune defenses, nutritional status and psychological attitude.

The body possesses various coping mechanisms designed to deal with stress. The fight or flight reaction of the body typically determines the result of extreme stress. The heart pounds faster and harder, increasing blood pressure. Extra volumes of blood are sent to the brain, muscles, lungs and heart to work faster, while those for digestion and other organs not needed for the fight slow down. This efficient mechanism is not always suitable for modern-day stress. It is also a temporary measure. However, the effects of stress can be lasting. Tense muscles, headaches, stomach cramps, teeth clenching, exhaustion, lumps in the throat and sleeplessness are all signs directly attributed to stress. On an emotional level, stress can cause memory problems, depression, emotional outbursts and panic attacks. Stress can deplete the immune system’s resistance, increasing vulnerability to all kinds of illnesses. Long-term effects of stress are unknown, but are thought to play a role in many chronic illnesses, including cancer and heart disease.

Causes

Often, we cause our own stress by having exceptionally high standards and workaholic behavior. This kind of attitude is the typical type A personality, known as the prime candidate for heart attacks. Drugs mask the initial stress responses, allowing us to continue on despite the warning signals. Painkillers for headaches and coffee to fight exhaustion are typical ways in which stress signals are removed, but against which the body continues to struggle. Another common problem is an unhealthy lifestyle. Sleeping and eating irregularly and infrequently do not allow the body to rejuvenate enough to cope with stress. Lack of physical activity also increases the level of stress, since exercise helps create an internal balance, and relaxes the stressful mind.

Nutrition

Foods rich in B vitamins, such as whole grains, green vegetables, eggs and lean meats help build resistance to stress. Nutritional yeast is a good food source of B vitamins. To help alleviate symptoms of stress resulting from excessive adrenalin production, eat lima beans, tomatoes and salmon. They are high in potassium, which helps the adrenal gland balance sodium and potassium levels in the body. To maintain this balance, avoid salt. These foods also contain pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), the most important nutrient needed by the adrenal gland to produce its hormones.

Nutritional Supplements

A healthy lifestyle and diet are the foundations for stress relief, but supplements do offer additional protection from the effects of stress. They also strengthen the nervous and immune systems to better withstand illness.

Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients. This vitamin supports the adrenal glands and the immune system. It protects the body from infection and damage from free radicals as well. Consume it to bowel tolerance (For more information, see Section 6, Nutritional Supplements). The B vitamins lend the nervous system extra support. Additional calcium and magnesium help calm the nervous system if anxiety or insomnia are present. To provide extra energy when needed, royal jelly, a substance secreted by honey bee workers and fed to future queen bees, can be helpful.

Daily dosages:

Most Important

Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg

Vitamin B complex, 50 mg three times daily

Royal jelly, 3 tsp.

Helpful

Calcium, 1,000 mg

Magnesium, 500 mg

Herbal Remedies

To alleviate the symptoms of stress, take herbs that relieve tension and rebuild the nervous system.

Brew a herbal tea with 1 tsp. of black cohosh root, cayenne, lady’s slipper, skullcap, St. John’s wort or valerian root. Use these herbs singly or in combination, added to 1 cup of boiling water.

A lavender oil bath will relax tense muscles and calm the nerves. Add 5 drops of oil to bath water.

Homeopathy

See anxiety for appropriate remedies.

Tissue Salts

Tissue salts can help alleviate particular symptoms of this condition. For remedies, see these sections: blood pressure, depression, headache, memory problems, panic attacks, stomach pain and teeth grinding.

External/Physical Therapies

Regular walking, swimming or cycling for at least half an hour three times a week will greatly help to reduce stress. The fresh air and increased circulation will give you a new perspective on problems.

Practice deep-breathing exercises twice a day.

Garden work is not only healthy for the body, but provides rejuvenation for the spirit.

Sleep interruptions or prolonged sleep withdrawal can deplete the nervous reserve energy and cause an excessive amount of stress.

Relax with a good book or enjoyable music.

To relax and rid your mind of worry, engage in absorbing hobbies or games.

Take a short, leisurely ride to a nearby park or the mountains; get out of the car and go for a relaxing walk or hike. This will invigorate the circulatory system, and the time spent in a clean environment refreshes and relaxes.

Noise can also have a deteriorating effect on health and become extremely stressful:

65-decibels noise can lead to psychological disturbances. 90-decibels can have emotional and vegetative consequences. 120-decibels can disturb the emotional and vegetative nervous system and damage hearing.

Reflexology

Work the reflexes of all the endocrine glands with slow, gentle pressure to encourage the glands to produce hormones that will relax the body. Also work the entire spine reflex. Place thumb on solar plexus reflex, hold pressure for ten seconds and repeat.

Available Brand Name Products

Nutritional Supplements

Bio-Strath Herbal Yeast Supplements

(Bio-Strath AG)

Ascorbate/Non-acidic Vitamin C

(Ester-C)

Co-Q-Max (Flora)

C Extra (Natural Factors)

Calcium and Magnesium Citrate

(Natural Factors)

Coenzyme Q10 (Natural Factors)

E 400 IU Mixed Tocopherol 100% Natural (Natural Factors)

Hi Potency Multi (Natural Factors)

Stress B Formula (Natural Factors)

Super Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Ultra Multi Plus (Natural Factors)

Designer Protein (Next Nutrition)

Super Once A Day (Quest Vitamins)

Super Stress (Quest Vitamins)

DHEA (Scandinavian Naturals)

B-Stress w/ Ginseng (Sisu)

Other Nutritional Supplements

Peace River Bee Pollen (Natural Factors)

Pollen Plus (Natural Factors)

Royal Jelly (Natural Factors)

Herbal Remedies

St. John’s Wort (Albi)

Medicinal Tea: Nerval Tonic (Flora)

Salus Camomile Tincture (Flora)

Salus Herbal Calcium/Magnesium Liquid (Flora)

Salus Mistletoe Tincture (Flora)

Salus Salusan (Flora)

Schoenenberger Nerval Tonic Kit (Flora)

St. John’s Wort Oil Extract Capsules (Flora)

Greens+ (Greens+)

Power Ginseng 9×2500 (Inno-Vite)

Nerve and Stress (Natural Factors)

Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer Extract

(Natural Factors)

Sleep Relax (Natural Factors)

St. John’s Wort Extract (Natural Factors)

Valerian Root Extract (Natural Factors)

Black Cohosh Root (Nature’s Herbs)

Cayenne-Power (Nature’s Herbs)

Herbal Calm (Nature’s Herbs)

Hops-Valerian Combination

(Nature’s Herbs)

Scullcap (Nature’s Herbs)

St John’s-Power (Nature’s Herbs)

Valerian-Power (Nature’s Herbs)

Ginkosan (Pharmaton)

Ginsana (Pharmaton)

Herbal Relaxant (Quest Vitamins)

Homeopathy

Bach Flower Remedies

(Bach-Karooch Ltd.)

Rescue Remedy/Bach Flower Remedies

(Bach-Karooch Ltd.)

Be-Tranquil (Nelsons Homeopathy)

External Therapies

Basil Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Chamomile Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Clary Sage (Karooch Essentail Oils)

Jasmine Absolute (Karooch Essential Oils)

Lavender Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Mandarin Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Marjoram Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Neroli (Karooch Essential Oils)

Rose Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Rosewood Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Sandalwood Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Vetivert Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)