Many years ago I went to a seminar where a complementary medicine doctor was speaking on the basic fundamentals needed to live a healthy and happy life into “old age”. He said that life-style studies had shown that the most important elements were:- A firm spiritual basis or faith
- A positive attitude
- A circle of friends (both human and animal)
- An hour a day of being outdoors
- And a healthy lifestyle ( eating right, getting exercise, drinking plenty of fresh water, and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night).
If we look at these tips, the most important factor underlying several of these is stress reduction. In my clinic I see stress as either the basis or a contributing factor in almost all of my patients’ problems. Stress magnifies pain and can be the cause of many internal conditions (IBS, Ulcers, Gastritis, etc.)
The stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine break-down into free radicals, setting up the body for inflammation. That is why it is so important that we supplement with powerful anti-oxidants like Pycnogenol® or astaxanthin to help prevent free radical damage.
However, reducing stress is a far better broad spectrum solution. My first recommendation for stress reduction is always yoga. With the right yoga class and instructor, the benefits for mind, body and spirit are unsurpassed. Meditation is also a powerful way of reducing stress. The last one that I frequently recommend, and the one I personally use, is Active Meditation. This is simply the art of being involved in a physical activity such as walking or working-out while focusing your mind on all aspects of what is around you and not allowing yourself to “think”. I’ve mentioned before that I love to hike with my dogs, Willie & Maxx. Hitting the trail and focusing on the flowers, listening to the birds singing, feeling the wind kissing my cheek, catching the smell of sage, a glimpse of a rabbit or coyote, seeing the joy of the dogs being “out”, and getting out of my head for those 20 minutes or more is the best form of stress reduction for me that I have found.
Stress is truly a silent killer. I encourage you to find the best and most enjoyable stress reduction technique that will work for you and really embrace it as a daily habit. The benefits are priceless.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.