HEALTH NEWS

by Lynne Gully

November 2008

Stress

I recently read an article about how stress can lead to a decrease in bone density. I’ve always known that high stress levels can cause all sorts of ailments but I wasn’t aware of it contributing to osteoporosis. This is how it happens.

When anger and stress get a grip on you, your body thinks you're in danger. This is part of our basic primeval programming to help us survive. Stress means danger and the body needs to do something about it, whether it's running away from a mammoth or hunting for food. So to help us cope with the danger, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol, which gives us a powerful burst of energy in case we need to run or fight. It also sharpens our mental ability short term, so we can think clearly. It gives us an immunity boost and makes us feel less pain.

Modern lifestyles have increased stress levels in most people, because we worry about money, mortgages, careers, status, trains being delayed, cars not working etc. The result of these increased stresses is that our body could be releasing too much cortisol - and that's a bad thing.

People with too much cortisol in their bloodstream are more open to:

• Muddled thinking

• Decrease in muscle tissue

• High blood pressure

• Blood sugar imbalances

• Decrease in bone density

• Less efficient immune system

If you have Osteopenia or Osteoporosis and are not addressing the issue of too much Cortisol, you are making your bone-building task very difficult. In fact, the excess cortisol coursing through your system could be undoing some of the good you are doing.

If you ignore stress and just put a brave face on it, you could be doing yourself no end of damage.

Anyway, with the problems we're facing, people are bound to be feeling under pressure, which means stress is going to be on the rise. Maybe the current troubles don't affect you... or maybe you're the calmest person on Earth, but if you're feeling at all under pressure there are natural ways to stop stress getting a grip.

You may be thinking that you’re not affected by stress. Let me explain. The brain experiences every sensory input - every sound, every colour, every flash of light. When there are many of these, the brain and nervous system feels on overload. It is stressed.

Of course many people try to address this daily stress. They walk, jog, and work out at the gym. But if you go to the gym, they have music blasting - creating more extreme sensory input.

As a result our nervous system are increasingly on 'overload'. We have too much Cortisol production and it is not getting sopped up through defensive action of 'fight' or flight'. So it is destroying cells.

Just think of how much more stimuli you experience than your parents or grandparents did a hundred years ago. There were no electric lights, no flashing neon signs, no radio, no TV, no telephone, no sirens, no Ipods, no cell phones, no background music, --- the sensory input is interminable.... and often loud. As a result our bodies are producing lots of Cortisol and it is destroying brain cells and our health.

If you already limit your radio and TV, try to think of other ways to limit you sensory input each day.

Some people go through a real 'withdrawal' when they first cut back on sensory input. We just need to find other activities to reduce our stress levels and so reduce the production of cortisol.
 

If you want copies of any previous newsletters you can visit my website at www.optimumhealth.co.uk

Contact Lynne at lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk or tel: 0030 28920 42356

Stress Remedies

I've heard so many people talking about how much the current crisis is bothering them, so I thought I'd remind you of the powerful stress remedies available.

Nutri Calm provides important nutrients that support the nervous system during the stress and pressures of daily life. Nutri-Calm helps soothe frazzled nerves, relaxes muscle tension, and reduces the negative effects of stress upon the body. Each yeast-free Nutri-Calm tablet contains Vitamin C, Folic acid, Vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, Biotin, Niacin and Pantothenic acid. In addition to these nutrients Nutri Calm also contains Valerian root, Passion Flower herb and Hops flowers which are known to help alleviate insomnia, mild to moderate anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, emotional stress and nervous tension, premenstrual/menopausal agitation and tension, hyperactivity, and migraine or tension headaches. Stock no 4798.

Chamomile & Passion Flower Combination Extract

This liquid extract is a mild herbal sedative that helps relieve anxiety, excitability and nervous tension. It is also beneficial for relaxing muscular and nervous tension in the gastrointestinal tract and helps alleviate irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, the herbs help to reduce pain, soothe inflammation and relax muscle spasms in the respiratory and urinary tracts.

Chamomile’s sedative properties have been found particularly beneficial for digestive problems, including colic, morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, and stress-induced dyspepsia and ulcers. The volatile oils in chamomile are primarily responsible for the herb’s analgesic (pain-relieving), anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic effects. Chamomile is especially helpful for relaxing muscle spasms and soothing intestinal inflammation associated with colitis, constipation, diverticulitis, haemorrhoids, and abdominal cramping.

Passionflower’s sedative, tranquilizing and sleep-inducing qualities have been confirmed in studies. Passionflower is widely used for anxiety, hyperactivity in children, hypertension, irritability, and nervous tension. Its relaxing effect helps reduce nervous over activity and panic, and has proven quite effective for nervous tension stemming from hormonal changes associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause.

The liquid extract is formulated in an alcohol-free glycerin base. Stock no 3163.

St John’s Wort

In 1996, the British Medical Journal published results of a review of 23 randomized, controlled trials using St. John’s Wort, involving over 1,750 outpatients with mild to moderately-severe depressive disorders. The review confirmed that St. John’s Wort is equally effective as standard antidepressant drugs, but has no side effects.

Further research suggests that St. John’s Wort may also benefit those suffering from insomnia and fibromyalgia.

Unlike standard antidepressants, which often interfere with and reduce sleep quality, St. John’s Wort has been shown to enhance deep sleep and improve sleep quality without acting as a sedative. Stock no 655.

Biota & Schizandra Combination

This herbal combination is very effective at alleviating nervous fatigue. It is a Chinese herbal combination that strengthens the circulatory and nervous systems, acting as a rejuvenative tonic for weakness and fatigue stemming from stress, emotional burnout, or chronic nervous conditions. The herbal combination promotes circulation and normalizes blood pressure, enhances digestion, relieves depression and enables the body to handle physical and emotional stress better. It is recommended for treating agitation, anemia, angina, anxiety, back pain, confusion, constipation, decreased libido, depression, dry skin, excessive perspiration, forgetfulness, frequent urination, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, impotence, insomnia, irritability, leg pain, nervous exhaustion, restlessness and weak digestion. Stock no 1884.

Perilla & Cyperus Combination

This herbal combination is known as a mood elevator. It is a Chinese herbal combination that acts as a natural anti-depressant to increase vitality and improve a downcast disposition. It contains herbs that strengthen liver function, as the liver is associated with emotional stability and calmness in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also improves digestion, stimulates peripheral and lymphatic circulation, soothes inflammation, eases aches and pain in the body, relieves congestion and excess phlegm. Together, these actions contribute to a greater sense of health and wellness. The herbal combination is neither sedative, nor habit-forming. It is generally used for a variety of conditions including asthma, bronchitis, cold, depression, dysmenorrhoea (period pains), excessive worry, fatigue, flu, headache, hypersensitivity, insomnia, lung congestion, menopause, morning sickness, neurosis, nervous conditions, palpitations, premenstrual syndrome

(PMS), and tinnitus. Stock no 1878.

Astragulus & Ganoderma

This is a Chinese herbal combination designed to improve the body’s ability to respond to stress by building and strengthening the immune system. It acts as a rejuvenative tonic for fatigue, chronic poor health, and general weakness. The herbs also increase circulation, and enhance the body’s healing powers where there has been trauma or a chronic degenerative condition. It is generally used for anemia, arthritis, back pain, chronic poor health, debility, digestive weakness, fatigue, headache, hypertension, impaired immune response, insomnia, menstrual problems, nervous exhaustion, palpitations, recovery from injury or trauma, respiratory problems, urinary dysfunction, vision problems, weakened muscles, and various emotional conditions, including anxiety, depression, irritability, and nervousness. Stock no 1889.

Mega Chel is a high potency multivitamin and mineral supplement, which improves circulation and supports the body in times of stress. Stock no 1821.

To order any of these products– call Nature’s Sunshine Products on 08458 40 50 60 or the main telephone line on 01952 671600.