We have talked about stress and how chronic stress elevates our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which can lead to many types of diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, Alzheimer’s disease, aging, and early death. So, what options do we have? The one most familiar to us would be to consult with our medical doctor to see what drugs he/she might prescribe to combat the symptoms we are facing. But in many cases, the medications only treat the symptoms and do not deal with the underlying problem(s). In addition, these drugs may come with side effects that makes using them less desirable. For example, even something like Motrin (ibuprofen) used to treat muscle pain, inflammation and headaches can cause heartburn, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, gas, diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. For me, this brings to mind the Huey Lewis and the News song recorded in the 80’s entitled “I Want a New Drug”.
That option doesn’t sound so good, so what’s our next option? As we have discussed before, the research has shown there are more natural ways to deal with stress, help the body’s healing process and eliminate the potential for life threatening diseases. Some of these practices are as old as recorded history or older. I have explained, in previous post, the importance of the following:
Movement – such as taking a hike can reduce stress. The working tissues draw nutrients and oxygen in, and expel toxins and other metabolic waste.
Forest Therapy – by walking through a wooded area for twenty minutes, we will breathe in the beneficial chemicals emitted by trees. These chemicals will provide a calming effect on us and they will lower our blood pressure and pulse rate.
Massage – can eliminate the stress caused by pain and improve the quality of our sleep. Some hospitals are using this as a form of postsurgical pain management.
Meditation – in as little as five minutes, mindful meditation can reduce mind chatter and minimize stress in dealing with pain.
Sleep – is the time for our body’s rejuvenation. By improving the quality and length of time for sleep, we can reduce our chances for cancer, depression, heart and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Grounding – like our computers we are electrical beings. Through barefoot contact to the Earth, we open ourselves to the free electrons that will bring our bodies back into balance, allow healing and reduce inflammation. As discussed in the post on Inflammation, this is the common thread for most life threatening diseases.
Sun Exposure – if given a chance our largest organ (the skin) will meet the body’s need for vitamin D through photosynthesis. As noted before, breast cancer has been labeled the “vitamin D deficiency syndrome”. This deficiency also puts us at greater risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cardiovascular diseases and other forms of cancer.
Grain Consumption – before the arrival of farming (grain production) about 10,000 years ago, our predecessors consumed meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. By eliminating our consumption of modern grains which cause inflammation, we can improve our health and reduce the likelihood for cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, mental health diseases, gastrointestinal problems and many autoimmune conditions. There are many books, written by medical doctors, supporting this message. They themselves, having some form of autoimmune disease, were failed by conventional medicine. Some of these books can be found listed on my website under the heading: Inspiration.
If we were to incorporate these forms of therapy listed above into our daily lives (making them habits), we would have an outlet for dealing with stress and other chronic issues. If you are dealing with some of these conditions now, then perhaps working with a functional medicine doctor would be best to ensure you are doing everything possible to remedy your condition. A practitioner can be found at The Institute for Functional Medicine. Here the doctor will look at your body as a whole since all parts are in constant communication with one another, and how your lifestyle maybe impacting your gene expression.
With Spring upon us, we will look at coping with seasonal allergies in next week’s post.
Click here to review post references.
Click here to view “The Widowmaker” trailer. How some doctors in the medical community treat a heart attack which is another preventable disease.
If you would like to share your comments about this post, then please contact me at myorigins@kenpledger.com or leave a comment below.
If you found the information helpful, please share with your friends and family.
This post is for educational purposes. The author of this instructional post is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any adverse effects arising directly or indirectly as a result of the information in this post. Reading the information in this post does not create a physician-patient relationship. The author is not a licensed practitioner, physician, or medical professional and offers no medical treatments, diagnoses, suggestions, or counseling. Full medical clearance from a licensed physician should be obtained before beginning or modifying any diet, exercise, or lifestyle program, and physicians should be informed of all nutritional changes.