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Natural Medicines - Homeopathy Learn about STRESS – how does it affect our health & how to treat stress-related conditions NATURALLY By Dr. Brindusa Vanta, BSc, MD (Eur), HD (Hon), DHMS 1. ABOUT STRESS Stress is a condition or circumstance that can disturb the normal physical and mental health of an individual. In medicine 'stress' is defined as a perturbation of the body's homeostasis. According to the American Institute of Stress, between 75 and 90 % of all visits to physicians result from stress related disorders! Stress is often termed as a twentieth century syndrome. With the rapid diversification of human activity, we come face to face with numerous causes of stress and the symptoms of stress. Contemporary stress tends to be more pervasive, persistent and insidious because it originates from psychological rather than physical threats. 2. WHAT CAUSES STRESS? We’ve probably all felt stress. Sometimes it is brief and situational, like being stuck in traffic, meeting deadlines or during an illness. Other times, it is prolonged and complex—relationship problems or work related stress. In both situations our body reacts in the same way to stress –“the fight or flight” response (the blood pressure and heart rate are increased, blood sugar is raised, blood is shunted away from digestive organs to extremities to provide us strength). In small doses, stress factors can increase our energy, make us more alert and focus on the problem at hand. This is called “positive stress”. Stress becomes dangerous (the “negative stress”) when it interferes with your ability to live a normal life for an extended period of time. You may feel “out of control”, tired and unable to focus even if the cause is relatively minor. We all react differently to a stressful situation. Therefore it is more important to understand how an individual perceives and copes with a stress factor-rather than looking at the stressor itself, its intensity or frequency. 3. HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT THE HEALTH? The most common manifestations of stress are: sleep disturbances, back pain, headaches, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, weight gain or loss, muscle tension, fatigue, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, sweaty palms or hands, hair loss, skin problems (hives, eczema, tics, itching), and reproductive problems. On the emotional level, stress can be expressed as nervousness, anxiety, frustration, lack of concentration, feeling out of control and substance abuse. Stressful situations can deteriorate our relationships with family, friends, co-workers, because stress may increase arguments, cause isolation from social activities, conflict with co-workers and frequent job changes. Please note that all these symptoms can be caused by other medical conditions and is therefore important to get professional advice for a correct diagnosis! Unmediated chronic stress has been medically associated with numerous conditions including: Hypertension, Heart disease, Vertigo, Ulcers, Gastritis, IBS, IBD, Diabetes, Headaches/Migraines, Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne, recurrent yeast infections, loss sex drive, Infertility, Impotence, Chronic Prostatitis, Chronic Back Pain, Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, muscle aches, TMJ problems, recurrent colds, Bronchitis and Pneumonia, Asthma. Prolonged stress causes immune impairment, which is linked to diseases such as Mononucleosis, food and environmental allergies as well as autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, thyroid dysfunctions, and Multiple Sclerosis. 4. HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE CAN EFFECTIVELY TREAT STRESS-RELATED CONDITIONS-IN A NATURAL WAY ! Homeopathic medicine is the #1 form of natural medicine used worldwide. It works by stimulating the body’s own healing power. Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic extracts of plant, mineral or animal substances that assist your system in eliminating any expressions of imbalance caused by stress. Homeopathic remedies are also safe and free from any side effects therefore can be used by everyone including children, pregnant women, debilitated patients and pets. Homeopathy is based on the philosophy that the body, mind and emotions are fully integrated. That concept explains why prolonged emotional stress can cause physical problems but also that the opposite is true. (Illness and physical problems can result in anxiety or emotional distress). Homeopathy treats mind and body as one and is an ideal treatment for stress-related conditions. Rather than suppressing symptoms, homeopathy seeks to recognize and remove the underlying cause of these symptoms. Symptoms are the language of a disease — the body’s attempt to balance itself. Therefore homeopaths use symptoms as information about how one is perceiving and reacting to stress. The remedies prescribed will improve a person’s ability to cope with stress and thus enable the body to heal the symptoms naturally.