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Stress and the Immune System


Stress causes physiological changes in the body that can have a real, and adverse effect on your health. It is important to mention that although there is good stress, bad stress like fear, worry, anxiety, sitting for prolonged periods and lack of movement or exercise all belong on the not so good list.

We have an amazingly complex and beautiful system that controls automatically for us processes of blinking, breathing, digestion and immune function to name a few. Our bodies autonomic nervous system (ANS) handles all of this for us. There are two states to this system, Sympathetic and parasympathetic, but we can be in only one of these states at a time.

Thanks to Covid-19 many of us remain in a heightened state of alert with the added stress of uncertainty. Sympathetic is sadly winning.

Let me explain what these two systems do for us a little bit here. Sympathetic is our "fight or flight" system. It directs the body's rapid involuntary response to dangerous or stressful situations. Heart rate and blood pressure increase. Blood is diverted from the digestive organs and to the extremities such as arms and legs.You are wound up tight like a spring ready to go as though being chased by a lion. When we are in this state for a prolonged period of time we start to, first, begin believing this is normal, and secondly we start to experience symptoms of restlessness, low energy, sleepless nights, irritable bowel and digestive issues. Not only is the quality of our sleep compromised (no deep REM sleep required for healing and restoration), we are not absorbing the nutrients we eat for optimal benefits. You can eat all the organic healthy food you like but if our bodies are not assimilating it properly, you might as well save your money.

The parasympathetic setting is when your body is taking care of itself. It is our rest and repair system. The immune system is functioning optimally, combating and clearing away pathogens; digestion and excretory functions are occurring smoothly without interruption, your cells and tissues are receiving adequate nutrition, vital, life giving blood and oxygen so that they can continue functioning at their best.

Awareness and Balance are key. Now more than ever is a good time to slow down, pay attention to what makes you feel good and do that. Make time to take care of yourself as though you were you very own best friend. No one can do this better!

Of course I also have to throw in a plug for therapies such as Reflexology and Reiki. I have personally seen and experienced the wonderful benefits of how working pressure points on the feet, hands and sometimes ears while stimulating energy pathways have a direct affect on the nervous system and general well being. Reflexology stops the fight or flight response quickly, allowing our bodies to move into the parasympathetic state of rest, repair and healing. The effects last for several days following treatment and healing begins to occur on all levels of our being (physical, mental/emotional, spiritual). Energy levels increase allowing us to vibrate at a higher frequency and our Mental/Emotional states also directly improve but don't just take my word for it, try it for yourself!!

I also highly recommend practices of yoga, prayer and meditation.

Namaste,


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