Search results matching tag 'stress'

Stopping to Smell the Roses Really Can Relieve Stress

Dquixote1217 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:28:59 GMT

Feeling stressed? Stop and smell the roses. Or perhaps get a good whiff of lavender, lemon, mango, mint, coriander or other fragrant plants.

We`ve all heard the old adage that we should take breaks and "stop and smell the roses" to relieve stress. Now, scientists in Japan have reported the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances does indeed alter gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that can reduce stress levels.

The study, which appears in the American Chemical Society`s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool, which is a fragrance found naturally in lavender, mint, coriander, bergamot, lemon, mango and many other fragrant plants. After inhaling linalool, the rats which were exposed to stressful conditions had stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes return to near normal levels (both neutrophils and lymphcytes are key parts of the immune system).

In all, linalool is found in over 200 species of plants, mainly from mints, scented herbs, laurels such as cinnamon and rosewood, and citrus fruits. It is also found in some birch trees and other plants and has even been found in some fungi. The majority of the fragrant plants which contain linalool are noted for having a floral scent with a touch of spiciness.

The scientists also found that inhaling linalool reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that are normally significantly elevated in stressful situations. The findings could form the basis of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say. While linalool has been one of the most widely used substances to ease tension and emotional stress, until the new study the ways in which linalool affected the body had been an unsolved puzzle to scientists.

Aromatherapists have long believed in the power of fragrance to lower stress levels - and aromatherapy for stress relief has been popular for ages, although until the Japanese study there`s been little scientific evidence to support it. Now it appears that just like the advice our mothers and grandmothers gave us to "eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away", the advice "stop and smell the roses" from time to time may be yet another popular bit of old time wisdom that rings true.

In time, perhaps we will also discover proof that many fragrances soothe stress and have other health benefits as well. Who knows, we may even find that fragrances bring back pleasant memories of simpler times, such as the odors of fresh baked breads, apple pies, cinnamon rolls and a nice hot bowl of stew.

Sources Included:

The American Chemical Society`s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144041.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linalool
http://www.physorg.com/news167478449.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1996170/can_fragrance_reduce_stress_levels.html?cat=5

Re: migraine help

xocai-Lady — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:33:07 GMT

I have suffered with migraine for over 40 years until I heard about the benefits of Xocai healthy chocolate from my sister in Autralia. All my family use to suffer from migraine so I couldn't just put it down to hormonal every month. Doctors gave me all kinds of pills potions and injections till I was blue in the face. I'd suffered from polio as a child and I wasn't about to take migraines lying down. So when I heard about this healthy chocolate being full of antioxidants I decided to give it a try. My sister said she was having great results so she sent me a months supply the first couple of attacks were lessoned sickness which was horrible had stopped. I continued to take these 3 little squares every day and 1 months later I haven't been to my doctor for any drugs what so ever.

Its no ordinary chocolate its made in a special way to lock in all the antioxidants and sweetened with acai berry and as such is packed with health benefits. If you've never heard of it before you need to go and get yourself informed because I don't believe there is anything like it and you can't buy them in the shops.

I signed up to be a distributor because they've helped me and I now want to help others.

website: http://www.healthyfutures4all.com

Health Blog: http://healthychocolate-dameashy.blogspot.com

Kind regards

Angela Ashton

Re: Parasite infection or IBS?

albert — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:58:27 GMT

Hi Suzie

nothing to panic about, panicking will stress the bowel and have the IBS effect. Have a quick look at www.Bio-Health-Screen-Co.co.uk some nice pictures on parasites. By having a Bio-Health-Screen you will be able to identify the parasite signatures and be able to sort them out by using the e-Lybra technology. Do you live in the Uk ? Odnt worry about the stone overweight for now, that will soon be sorted out. please do not hessitate to email me as i have dealt with this before, not only on others, but initially on myself !! i never reccommend anything that i havnt tried. One of my firends went from a 14 to 10-12 in one month and had no negative side effects, except for the first few days where die off occured she had a thick head. she did admit that with the constant intake of water the side effects are minimised. She is a happy grandmother who now has her energy back to cope with her grandchildren. There is help out here and i am sure by now you have found the right formula for you, if not why not have a look at the web site. I hope to hear from you soon. I wish you the best of health whichever route you choose to take. Kind Regards, Albert

Meditate yourself healthy

jowddty — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:33:00 GMT

In today’s fast-paced society, more and more people are turning to meditation to help deal with the stresses and strains of everyday life. But meditation is more than just a way to switch off and relax. As the latest research shows, this age-old technique is in fact a powerful tool that’s proving to be beneficial for an array of health conditions — from insomnia and anxiety to cancer and heart disease.

Although there are individual differences among meditation techniques, they all share some core features. The following is a simple basic technique.

Sit in a comfortable position either crosslegged on the floor or in a chair. Be sure to sit up tall, keeping the spine straight, the shoulders relaxed and the chest open.
Rest the hands on the knees with the palms facing up. Lightly touch the index finger to the thumb. Relax the face, jaw and belly. Let the tip of the tongue rest on the roof of the mouth just behind the front teeth. Allow the eyes to lightly close.
Breathe slowly, smoothly and deeply in and out through the nose. Let the inhaled breath start in the belly and rise gently up into the chest. As the breath slows and deepens, let go of any thoughts or distractions, and allow the mind to focus on the breath. Feel the breath as it moves in and out of the body — through the nose, throat, windpipe and lungs. Feel the body as it rises and falls with each breath.
Keep your awareness and attention focused on the body and breath. If external thoughts intrude, let them gently pass by, and return the focus back to the body and breath.
Practise this for 10–20 minutes.
To end, gently let the eyes blink open, and inhale, bringing the palms together in front of the chest, then exhale and gently bow. Take a moment or two before resuming your usual activities.

Meditation is the subject of the Mind Health report in the November issue of ‘What Doctors Don’t Tell You’. It will be with subscribers on Saturday November 1st. If you would like to subscribe, please click here.

Re: Panic attacks

alawler — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:36:07 GMT

Hi,

I'm really sorry your friend is suffering from these panic attacks and anxiety. I'm a specialist in stress management and used to have problems with these conditions myself. My subsequent training in stress management, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and Reiki have given me tools to work with for myself and my clients. Usually this kind of anxiety is the result of long-term undue stress, where the body is caught in a perpetual state of 'fight or flight'.

As a result of my own experience and training I have developed a deep relaxation/hypnotherapy CD/download, "Calm in a Box" which you can see try a 1 minute sample of on www.breathingspacetherapies.com and you can buy it online if your friend likes it. I'd also be happy to send supporting ideas on affirmations etc free of charge to you or your friend if you would like those as a bonus. As a kick start, ask your friend to use deep breathing & relaxation techniques every day and say to him/herself as many times during the day as possible, "I am completely safe and completely relaxed in all situations."

I do hope this helps and please contact me if you have any further queries.

With love and light

Annie

Re: Panic attacks

krharrison — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:06:07 GMT

The following is from personal experience when I was much younger.

Rule 1: Don’t try to fight the panic – give in! The more you try to fight the feeling and pretend everything is normal, the worse it gets.

Rule 2: Understand that stress comes from two sources: too much pressure from your environment or not enough. Try to avoid either situation.

Rule 3: Never never accept valium or anything similar. It doesn’t help much at all (and then not for long) and it is highly addictive. A little alcohol helps but be careful not to let this slide out of control.

Rule 4: Get a good book on the subject and become an expert so that you end up sorting out your own problem. I recommend ‘Self Help for Your Nerves: Learn to Relax and Enjoy Life Again by Overcoming Stress and Fear’ by Claire Weekes.

Re: Throat problem making my daughter feel sick

Jenny Lynn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:11:21 GMT

I wanted to report my own clinical experience of treating people with lumps in their throats or thyroid issues but was waiting for someone else to mention the stress reaction!! Thank you!!

Tying mind and body together is unpopular, but in my opinion, essential if we are to understand the full reason for an illness being with us. I say 'full' not the 'only'. Body and mind working together in symphony as an organic whole is an important consideration in holistic treatment and wellbeing.

Thyroid or throat problems in my experience as a therapist, working with all levels of the conscious and unconscious, are to do with emotions that we censor ourselves from having. Often there are problems in this area when a person is unable to express themselves clearly or unable to admit they have emotions that are unacceptable to them.

This might happen in times of great stress when we are experiencing a range of feelings that are unacceptable to us. In order to maintain our composure, we lock those emotions away safely in the body. The throat represents the bottle neck (literally) to those emotions!!

I have come across lumps in the throat with people who are grieving, who cannot, but more often will not be public about their feelings. And I have come across many thyroid problems where a person has become headbound (analytical and so on) and, rather than express a (perceived) unacceptable emotion, it is suppressed in the body.

I wonder what unconscious pressures your daughter might be feeling? What is different about her life recently? What had happened around the time it started? Kids are like radar....they pick up stuff adults can't see......did something happen to you that you have kept from her for her wellbeing? She could be reacting to an event that you have reacted to in the subtle energies that surround you.

This is my experience and obviously is not a medical opinion. I work closely with the mind and the body with most of my clients. The throat I have found quite difficult to work with.....it feels that by the time it's become a throat problem, the body has been storing up emotions for a long time. Hopefully, the younger a client, the more easily they can release trapped emotions in the body through the neck and mouth.

Best wishes

Jenny Lynn
www.openmindtherapy.co.uk
www.theopenmindguide.com

The metaphysics of stress

bshubbard — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:24:00 GMT

Somebody dies suddenly from a heart attack. “Ah, well,” says a close friend, “I’m not surprised, really. He was always stressed.” Stress, it seems, is the great killer of our times, and medical researchers are confirming our worst fears with studies that establish a link between stress and heart disease, hypothyroidism, breast and prostate cancers, and others besides.

And when we think about stress, we conjure up images from our day of rushing for the train, getting shouted at by the boss, missing the train home, eating a fast-food meal on our laps, and collapsing into bed for a restless sleep.

But stress is our reaction to events like these, it’s the effect and not the cause. Some people don’t get stressed by any of life’s little inconveniences, others get totally stressed because they put a little too much feed in the goldfish bowl. This is supported by one study that concluded that stress is the result of a multitude of minor daily events that are each irritating little stressors.

While that’s true, I also believe that stress is something metaphysical. It’s all about your view of the world. Is it a hostile, or friendly, place? Are people in the main helpful, or are they trying to cheat you at every turn? I’ve researched the subject for the latest issue of ‘What Doctors Don't Tell You’, and I’ve concluded that – fundamentally – our levels of stress equate to our level of ‘feeling at home’ in the world. Stress is a disease of our sense of isolation and distance, not the result of the daily hurly-burly.

• The full study on stress and isolation is contained in the May 2008 issue of ‘What Doctors Don't Tell You’. To start your subscription, and so receive the report, please click here.

Re: Panic attacks and tremors

fmeverett — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:59:56 GMT

Sue,

I experienced panic attacks when I had put my back out, but didn't realise I had - I felt stiff, tired and wrong, but not particularly in pain. A friend recommended chiropractic treatment and the x-rays confirmed what the chiropracter could feel. I responded amazingly quickly to treatment. Now I recognise when it is out and get it treated asap, so no return of panic attacks.

As your daughter hasn't felt right since the third birth, it is possible her back was affected by it, so I think it is worth her getting it checked over. The Osteopathic Centre for Children recognise the damage to backs done by pregnancy and birth and treat antenatal and postnatal mothers. While they are unlikely to treat your daughter so long after the birth, they would certainly be able to advise her and point her in the direction of osteopaths in her part of the country with specialist training for children/mothers. Osteopaths carry out very similar manipulations to chiropracters on the spine and neck, but also cover other parts of the body.

It is very scary when you are already having panic attacks allowing someone you don't know to start manipulating your body. I think your daughter would find it reassuring if she was given help finding an osteopath in her area by this highly reputable organisation.

When I am feeling mega stressed my hands shake a lot: I wonder if your daughter can identify a pattern around her hands starting to shake.

Others have sent excellent advice around nutrition, etc. and these are worth exploring too. After so long it may be there are several aspects of her health that need tackling.

Regards,

One does

Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome

rjmilsted — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:57:02 GMT

Advise him to contact a local support group for ME / CFS.

also look at the various CFS/ME sites on the internet.

There are no magic bullets.

The younger he is and the earlier the dignosis the better chances there are for recovery.

Cognitive behaviour thereapy together with pacing are the keys for a stable individual.

also a supportive Doctor/GP