According to Chinese Medicine, stress affects the whole body through the Heart.
The body has specific hormonal responses to the environment, it uses either the Parasympathetic Nervous System to Rest and digest or the Sympathetic Nervous System to fight or flight
Parasympathetic Nervous System: Rest and digest
Our bodies should be responding to 90% of stimuli via our Parasympathetic nervous System. This system stimulate normal functioning of the smooth muscles of our digestive organs which help regulate digestion.
The parasympathetic system will cause dilation of blood vessels, the blood vessels are less constricted and therefore distribute adequate amount of blood throughout the body. (Those who notice that their hands and feet are always cold should know that it could be due to stress).
The parasympathetic system will cause the body to resume to its normal activity after it had paused during a fight or flight response, including reduction of the heart rate.
Sympathetic Nervous System: fight or flight
The Fight and flight reaction is triggered by stress. In previous generations these instincts served to protect the body from harm due to wild animals, attack, flood etc. This fight and flight response mode enabled man to run away from the tiger...(sharper eye sight, faster breathing, tense muscles for strength, quicker response time).
Heart Rate Viariability: Coherence vs. Incoherence
In today's age many of us are in a constant state of fight or flight mode most likely as a response to technology and environmental factors.
We have to teach our bodies and mind how to relax and return to a state of coherence ‘feeling positive emotions’. Unfortunately, let's be warned that the alternative 'state of Incoherence' being in a constant ‘feeling stressed’ mode may lead to acute and chronic diseases.
Common effects of stress on your body
· Headache
· Muscle tension or pain
· Chest pain
· Fatigue
· Change in sex drive
· Stomach upset
· Sleep problems
Common effects of stress on your mood
· Anxiety
· Restlessness
· Lack of motivation or focus
· Feeling overwhelmed
· Irritability or anger
· Sadness or depression
Common effects of stress on your behavior
· Overeating or under eating
· Angry outbursts
· Drug or alcohol abuse
· Tobacco use
· Social withdrawal
· Exercising less often
(Source: The Mayo Clinic )
The Role of the heart
In Chinese Medicine the beat of the heart give information to the rest of the body and vice versa. Thereby the state of the body is reflected in the heart beat. Ever wonder why your acupuncturist takes your radial pulse as a diagnostic tool? The small beats between the big one (called the R wave) are the "beats" of the other organs! The health of your whole body and mind are channeled through the heart.
How to achieve coherence and manage stress?
Acupuncture has been proven to be very effective in stress management.
Stress reduction through acupuncture : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21168109
Testimonies available: '.
...'Most don't understand the impact grief has on the body!...After few acupuncture treatment's no need for inhaler, B'H '...
...' successfully treated, she had an arrhythmia, from giving too much of her heart ' .
But acupuncture alone is not a long term solution. Here is something you can do RIGHT NOW to impact your heart and health.
1) Breath Deeply
In a comfortable position. With eyes open or closed. Breath in and out through your NOSE. (Keep tissues near by if this is allergy season for you). Concentrate of breathing out completely, really empty your abdomen and lungs. Exhaling this way stimulates your parasympathetic system, so focus on that.
2) Breath From Your Heart
Envision that when your breath goes in and out that your heart is being activated. Imagine that your heart is almost as important as your lungs in this deep breathing exercise. You can keep a hand on your chest to help you emphasize this activity. Acknowledge that your heart is constantly emitting an electromagnetic field and your breath is making it stronger.
3) Harp on the Positive
Choose a real memory that holds a positive meaning for you. A time and place that you actually were present and you were happy. Concentrate on this memory. Try to transport yourself back by remembering the things or people that keep that memory happy. This might actually be difficult. Happy thoughts and feelings can be so fleeting, but ones of anger, grief or sorrow tend to stay. Do your best to be in this happy place for 1-2 minutes while breathing deeply from your heart.
4) Repeat Daily.
Soon it won't be so hard for your body to get into this state of calm. The more often you stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, the easier it will be to prevent stress from affecting you. Do this exercise during acupuncture or healing body work and the effects of the treatment will be greater.
I can't prevent all stressful things from happening to you, but I can help your body and mind cope healthily.
Feel great and enjoy life!
Book an Acupuncture Appointment with Esther Hornstein L.Ac.
call or WhatsApp : 054-719-9600
e-mail : e0547199600@gmail.com
Holistic complementary Therapy, 2nd Nature Healing Center,
34 Nachal Hakishon, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further queries.