Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health tip introduces her newest addition to Dr Jocelin’s Practitioner Grade Essential Oils – Headache Soother Roll On. Plus she gives the hint that more Roll Ons are in the works.
Tag: Stress
Ways to Naturally Eliminate Migraines
Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache after tension headaches. And, just to be clear, a “primary” headache is a headache that is not caused by another disease or condition.
Along with debilitating pain, migraines can generate blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Often without much warning, migraines can happen once a year, monthly, or several times a week. And, unfortunately, migraines can either occur with an aura – which is known as the classic migraine – or without an aura, which is called a common migraine.
What can trigger a migraine?
The possible migraine triggers not only vary from one individual to another, but encompass a whole range of common substances. This can include hormonal imbalances, synthetic fragrances, processed cereals (or other junk foods), and skipping meals. A simple drop in blood sugar can cause all kinds of health issues including head pain.
The list of possible triggers is so long – it often appears impossible to eliminate the so-called causes. In the food category alone the list is extensive and includes ripened and aged cheese, poor-quality chocolate, citrus fruits, conventionally-raised (processed) meat with nitrites such as hot dogs, MSG, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.
Food additive such as nitrites, sulfites, and aspartame can be the culprit behind a migraine. In fact, studies show a large percentage of migraine sufferers point to specific foods as the trigger.
Non-food triggers include changes in the atmosphere such as drops in barometric pressure, high temperatures, and bright, fluorescent lights. Many women get migraines monthly due to hormone fluctuations or the use of birth control pills.
However, one of the most common migraine triggers seems to be chronic stress. It is a known fact that anxiety, worry, depression, and mood changes can all release specific brain chemicals – which can trigger a migraine.
Sadly, Western medicine promotes the use of analgesic migraine medications – including both prescription pain relievers and over-the-counter drugs – which produce “rebound” headaches. The point here is simple: no pill will ever solve the (underlying) problem associated with chronic head pain.
A better way to achieve freedom from chronic headache pain
Even with many drugs, lifestyle techniques, and surgical options available to treat and prevent the onset of a migraine – finding the right combination of therapies to manage migraines can be difficult. Fortunately, there is growing scientific evidence to suggest that natural means are just as effective as prescription medication and, many times, even more effective.
#1 – Massage: Keeping the muscles more relaxed, less inflamed, and helping maintain structural alignment can help reduce the triggers that often cause migraines.
#2 – Melatonin: Two-thirds of study participants who took melatonin before going to bed every night for 3 months said the number of migraines they experienced dropped by 50%.
#3 – Magnesium: Studies have shown that migraine sufferers have low brain magnesium during migraine attacks and may also suffer from a magnesium deficiency. It is thought magnesium deficiency may play a particularly important role in menstrual migraine.
#4 – Diet: It pays to avoid headache-inducing substances, including nitrites in processed meats, sugar, processed foods, chocolate, nuts ,aged cheese, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) used in foods as a flavor enhancer. It’s also worth mentioning that dehydration is a major cause of headaches. Even though food may not be the underlying cause of a migraine, a poor diet does contribute to the problem by depleting vitamins and minerals – which are meant to help ward off an attack.
#5 – Upper cervical chiropractic treatment: The most recent research is showing that the most plausible cause of migraine headaches resides in the autonomic nervous system. The swelling of the blood vessels in the brain and the drop in neurotransmitters are secondary and mainly occur in response to the changes in the autonomic nervous system.
#6 – Reduce Emotional stress which is a well-known trigger for migraine. Japanese researchers have found that people living in fast-paced business centers in Tokyo tend to have an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system – specifically, an inhibition of the parasympathetic system that is active during relaxation, and an excitation of the sympathetic nervous system, which governs our response to stress.
#7 – Balance Your Hormones Naturally: If hormones are the base trigger, working with a Naturopathic Doctor to balance your hormones naturally can help reduce or eliminate the hormone based triggers.
Pick up your magnesium and melatonin supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market along with scheduling your appointment with Dr Jocelin to get to the root trigger causes!
Portions of this health tip are from NaturalHealth365.
Sleep and Stress
With everyone being so highly stressed, sleep can be hard to calm down and enjoy. Sleep is crucial to being health, having a productive day, and having a good mental outlook.
A recent study showed the danger of traditional sleeping pills to help you sleep. Half the participants in a study investigating the main class of prescription sleeping pills, which includes Ambien and Halcion, slept through a fire alarm.
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., said that poor sleep is a huge problem, causing “fatigue, pain, and immune suppression, as well as contributing to 16% of fatal car crashes.”
Instead of drugs, Dr. Teitelbaum recommended natural alternatives. “Natural oils—such as lavender and ravensara, mandarin, and lemon balm—found in combination in Terrific ZZZ by Terry Naturally—and herbals/natural mixes such as valerian, passion flower, lemon balm, 5HTP, theanine, and hops are safe, low-cost, and outstanding for insomnia.”
Pick up your sleep supporting supplements including Terrific ZZZ, Rest-ZZZ, and Calms Forte on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
The Toll of Stress on Your Immune System
Stress Weakens Your Immunity
We all know that stress can affect us, causing headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and other health problems. And now, new research provides further evidence that stress can be extraordinarily harmful, resulting in serious damage to the immune system.
Stress Research On Autoimmune Disorders
The study, which was conducted at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, found that people who experience considerable stress may have a greater likelihood of developing an autoimmune disorder. These results were based on an extensive assessment of the medical records of men and women residing in Sweden between 1981 and 2013. The subjects were 106,464 adults who had sought treatment for a stress-related psychiatric problem, and the control groups were 126,652 of their siblings and more than one million unrelated individuals, none of whom were experiencing a stress-induced disorder.
Among the participants with stress-related issues, who had an average age of psychiatric disorder diagnosis of 41, the likelihood of 41 kinds of autoimmune diseases occurring was much greater than that of their peers or siblings with no psychiatric history. Certain psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a significantly higher risk of autoimmune dysfunction than others, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sufferers facing an increased chance of developing more than one autoimmune disorder, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, some types of autoimmune diseases were more closely correlated to high stress levels in the subjects than others. For instance, the risk for celiac disease was greater than that of rheumatoid arthritis.
PTSD & Autoimmune Disorders
While the study was not designed to prove that mental stress directly results in the development of autoimmune diseases, it did show a strong association between the two. Similar links have been found in earlier research, such as a 2015 study at the University of California, San Francisco that determined a connection in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD and greater rates of autoimmune diseases.
Long-term Damage of Stress
Although we do not know everything about how stress affects the body, we do understand enough to be certain that it takes a damaging toll over time. Prolonged stress raises the body’s cortisol levels. This hormone is associated with a number of problems, such as weight gain, elevated blood pressure, memory difficulties, and impaired immune function. Cortisol helps regulate inflammation throughout the body, so when it is not functioning correctly, systemic inflammation can occur. Inflammation can contribute to or speed the progression of many conditions, ranging from the common cold to cancer.
On top of all that, chronic stress often translates to unhealthy behavioral changes. When you’re facing the serious illness or death of a loved one, potential job loss, or another major life stressor, it is likely that you are losing sleep, you might slack on your exercise routine, and you may not be as conscientious about what you eat. All of these factors can also make a difference over time, and possibly help set the stage for an autoimmune disease as well.
Ways To Reduce Stress
So, what can you do to protect yourself? Since there is no way to avoid having stress in your life, especially these days, your best protection is to learn ways to cope with it and insulate yourself as much as possible from its effects. That means living the kind of lifestyle that helps you optimize your health both mentally and physically all the time so that, when a stressor arises, your immune system doesn’t start to go haywire. There are also lots of natural methods of stress reduction that are effective. First, you may need to take a break from the news for a bit and read a relaxing book, stretch, get some fresh air, or take time out to enjoy a hobby or creative project at home. Eating blueberries, using a supplement that contains herbs such as Valerian root, Kava Kava, and ashwagandha, as well as nutraceuticals such as L-theanine, not to mention having down time daily and getting regular physical activity are all great ways to ease stress and lessen the damage it can do to you.
Pick up your stress reducing supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this Health Tip are from Baseline of Health.
Women Stress More Than Men; however, Stress for Both Can Lead to Health Issues!
A recent survey of 2000 women by Garnier Fructis found that the average woman doesn’t have enough hours in a day to complete her tasks. In fact, she needs 82 more minutes daily than are available to get everything done. Seven in 10 women said they always feel rushed when they leave their homes. A full 38 percent said they hadn’t had an afternoon to themselves in more than a month. If they were given more time in the day, about half the women said they’d use it to sleep, indicating they aren’t getting enough z’s. Thirty-six percent would use the time to read, and about a third would use it to exercise.
Although, according to some measures, men and women report similar stress levels, a 2016 study published in the Journal of Brain & Behavior reported that two times as many women experience severe stress and anxiety compared to men. A 2006 study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found 51 percent of women reporting high levels of stress compared to 43 percent of men, and women repeatedly score higher in annual APA stress studies.
According to research published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, women react more to stress than men do. The article noted, “Although there was no difference in the number of life events experienced in the previous two years, the women rated their life events as more negative and less controllable than the men. The results of this study suggest that women suffer more stress than men… “
Women tend to get anxious and depressed when exposed to stress, whereas men tend to act out by drinking or carousing, according to one study. Another study found that women experience nervousness, a desire to cry, and lack of energy. Men, on the other hand, develop insomnia, irritability, and anger—once again acting out, rather than internalizing stress reactions. Perhaps because women are more likely to internalize, twice as many women suffer from depression compared to men.
Likewise, stress drives women to the doctor more than it does men, and women report higher rates of stress-related illnesses such as hypertension, depression, anxiety, and obesity. An American Psychological Association study found that 41-percent of women report stress headaches versus 30 percent of men. Thirty-two percent experience stress-related digestive issues, versus only 21 percent of men. But interestingly, men are more likely to die as a result of stress than women are. Dr. Beverly Thorn of the University of Alabama explains, “The really interesting gender difference is that women… present for treatment more frequently and have a greater number of stress-related disorders than men, but men die more frequently of stress-related illnesses — heart disease, cancer, and auto-immune disease.”
Biochemical reasons underlie the gender differences in stress reactions. In women, stress causes a significant amount of the hormone oxytocin to be released in the brain, but men release much less. Oxytocin modulates the pinch of stress to some degree, and women tend to react by doing what experts call “tending and befriending.” In other words, they reach out to friends or care for others. Many men on the other hand, explode, get angry, irritable, or try to numb out by drinking.
As we’ve written often, stress is a precursor to numerous illnesses and must be managed. Although women may suffer more stress than men, they’re also more likely to do something about it, which may be the real reason they tend to survive stress more readily. Experts recommend combatting stress by:
- Practice Self Care. Exercise is a great stress buster, as is getting enough sleep and eating healthy food.
- Get Help. When stress becomes a problem, seek support. It’s essential to get perspective on your situation and to develop coping strategies.
- Take a Break. Even if only a long bath or a 30-minute reading respite.
- Avoid Triggers. It might take working with a therapist to even figure out what the triggers are, but once you know what sets off your stress reaction, you can strategize about how to lessen contact.
- And our personal favorite – Take Stress-Busting Supplements. Natural products containing herbs such as ashwagandha and St. John’s Wort can be extremely helpful in taking the edge off. You can find these and more in top quality formulas at Whitaker’s such as Adaptra, Adrenaplex, Mood Support, Calms Forte, Stress Release Essential Oil Blend, and more! And don’t forget to take a good immune-building formula (such as Elderberry and Propolis) to ensure you stay healthy during stressful times.
Stress and AutoImmune Disorders
We all know that stress can affect us, causing headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and other health problems. And now, new research provides further evidence that stress can be extraordinarily harmful, resulting in serious damage to the immune system.
A recent study, which was conducted at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, found that people who experience considerable stress may have a greater likelihood of developing an autoimmune disorder. These results were based on an extensive assessment of the medical records of men and women residing in Sweden between 1981 and 2013. The subjects were 106,464 adults who had sought treatment for a stress-related psychiatric problem, and the control groups were 126,652 of their siblings and more than one million unrelated individuals, none of whom were experiencing a stress-induced disorder.
Among the participants with stress-related issues, who had an average age of psychiatric disorder diagnosis of 41, the likelihood of 41 kinds of autoimmune diseases occurring was much greater than that of their peers or siblings with no psychiatric history. Certain psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a significantly higher risk of autoimmune dysfunction than others, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sufferers facing an increased chance of developing more than one autoimmune disorder, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, some types of autoimmune diseases were more closely correlated to high stress levels in the subjects than others. For instance, the risk for celiac disease was greater than that of rheumatoid arthritis.
While the study was not designed to prove that mental stress directly results in the development of autoimmune diseases, it did show a strong association between the two. Similar links have been found in earlier research, such as a 2015 study at the University of California, San Francisco that determined a connection in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD and greater rates of autoimmune diseases.
So how do you deal with stress? Having a strong faith in the Creator and healthy family relationships is the beginning of a strong foundation. Seeking counseling when needed and support groups are another great option. Taking advantage of the fabulous AnxioCalm by Terry Naturally designed for relief of stress, tension, anxiety, and restless sleep. Also, try Dr. Jocelin’s Stress Release Essential Oil Blend which is her #1 selling essential oil. As well as check out the rest of our stress reducing products.
