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Stress - Degeneration and Regeneration
If you like this article:
Degeneration
& Regeneration - A Natural Process
In every second our bodies are in the process of degeneration and regeneration. Old cells die, new cells take their place.
Regeneration refers to the ability of the body to renew or reproduce cells and tissue with renewed life and vigor. It is a natural, vital process in the body. Our bodies regenerate at the cellular level. For optimal regenerative processes to occur the environment inside, and outside, our cells and tissues must be optimal. We must have optimal nutrients, chemical constituents and electrical-magnetic energy environments so that our bodies can use all of its capabilities for renewing our life, vitality and energy. Given the proper environments the natural state of the body is one of vigor, vitality and sound, stable energy.
Why then do so many people experience continuous, chronic fatigue and debilitating degenerative conditions like cancer, heart disease and auto immune disease? Unexplained chronic fatigue accounts for 24% of patients who go to see doctors and 100,000 to 250,000 people experience Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with heart disease and cancer being leading causes of death each year.
What has happened to the natural, vital process of regeneration that has allowed degeneration to take the lead in the body?
The Fight Or Flight Response
Stress and its effects on the body are a major cause of degeneration in our bodies today. The first reaction to a stressful event is the fight or flight response. This response is triggered by reactions in the brain that stimulate the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticortropic hormone which stimulates the adrenals to secrete adrenaline and other stress-related hormones. To facilitate the immediate, physical reaction, the heart rate and force of contraction increase to provide blood to areas necessary for response to the stressful situation. Except for the heart and lungs, blood is shunted away from other internal organs and the skin. The blood carries more oxygen to the brain, heart and exercising muscles. Sweat increases to eliminate toxins from the body and to lower the body temperature. Production of digestive secretion is reduced and digestion is significantly slowed. Blood sugar levels rise dramatically as the liver dumps stored glucose into the blood stream. Cholesterol levels and blood pressure are also increased. The stress response is a response to get the body moving and out of trouble. It is designed to be a quick physical response that is quickly dissipated with a surge of physical activity and then the body returns to its resting state.
The Problem With Stress Today
The problem today is that this stress response is out of place. Most of our stress encounters revolve around situations where we can take little or no physical action. It is counterproductive to move blood to muscles that will not be used and to distort important metabolic functions like increasing heartbeat and blood pressure, if they can not be diffused by appropriate physical exertion. Our stress responses are held in the body and continue to produce wear and tear on our metabolic processes, organs and altered cellular functions.
When our external stresses are continual or unable to be completed, they end up resulting in internal stresses. Such internal stress depletes our nutritional and other body resources. When this depletion becomes severe the body is weakened in its ability to recover from stress, energy levels diminish, degeneration takes the lead over regeneration, and disease conditions can develop.
The Alarm Stage
Dr. Hans Seyle formulated what he called the General Adaptive Syndrome where he outlined the stages of stress. The first stage of stress - the fight or flight response - is the alarm stage where the body sets into motion its first line of defense - the sympathetic nervous system response. Due to the activation of the adrenal medullary, epinephrine is released into the blood stream. To increase the energy output, the metabolic rate in the body increases by increasing the activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands. In this stage of stress, the body may manifest acute symptoms such as pain, inflammation and fever. When the stress is resolved, the symptoms resolve and the body returns to homeostasis.
In the alarm stage of the stress response the thyroid and adrenal hormone secretions increase to above normal levels, to maintain high energy. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels are increased, the pulse is rapid, reflexes are quick and calcium and magnesium levels are lowered as a result of the stress. To maintain the needed high energy levels there is excessive tissue breakdown. The body dips into its own energy resources to provide fuel for its fast metabolic rate. An inflammatory process may be present if there is physical injury.
Effects of stress at this level may induce such problems as high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, acute aches and pains, hyperactivity, irritability, emotional sensitivity, a racing mind, and learning difficulties with an inability to concentrate.
Resistance Sets In
If the body can not resolve the initial stress it then enters into a resistance stage of stress where the alarm reactions in the body change. The adrenal cortex is activated and secretes cortisol and other corticosteroid hormones responsible for the body's resistance reactions.
Cortisol secretion indicates that the body is attempting to function at a heightened level. These hormones stimulate conversion of protein to energy so that the body has a large supply of energy after glucose stores have been depleted. It also promotes retention of sodium to keep blood pressure elevated. Endocrine activity is also heightened.
If this stress stage continues to prevail the body mechanisms involved in supporting this stage of resistance will weaken. High circulating levels of cortisol produce damaging effects on the circulatory, digestive, immune and other systems of the body. Continual stress in this state is related to such conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.
There is a general reduction of energy levels and often step fluctuations of energy. Either the thyroid or adrenal glands become overactive. As the body continues to attempt to adapt to stress, adrenal cortical steroid hormones, which are anti-inflammatory, continue to be produced. This process of adaptation takes energy and the body must dip further into its own energy reserves which begins to weaken the body. Nutrients are not assimilated properly, and glycogen reserves in the liver cannot be drawn on properly.
If this resistance state of the body is not resolved the body eventually passes into a steadily declining state of exhaustion.
The Road To Exhaustion & Burnout
This depletion and exhaustion of body resources and functions may manifest as a total collapse and shutdown of body functions or specific organs. Two major causes of exhaustion are loss of potassium ions and depletion of adrenal glucocorticoid hormones like cortisone. When cells of the body loss potassium they function less efficiently and eventually die. When adrenal glucocorticoid stores become depleted, hypoglycemia results and cells of the body do not receive glucose or other nutrients.
Another cause of exhaustion is weakening of the organs. Prolonged stress places a tremendous load on many organ systems, especially the heart, blood vessels, adrenals and immune system.
These biological reactions which accompany this stress response - caused by the general adaptation syndrome - results in short and long term adverse physical changes.
In the exhaustion stage of stress, the activity levels of the adrenal and thyroid glands diminish. Cholesterol rises, toxic metals accumulate in the body and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease may eventually manifest. Metabolism is slowed, glandular depletion occurs, and profound exhaustion ultimately develops. Constipation, allergies, fatigue and hypoglycemia are often present. The body no longer has the energy to deal with the stress and begins to breakdown. Endocrine glands have become overworked and eventually may fail in their attempt to keep up our energy levels.
When one reaches this state the body has to retreat from this stress. In this burnout state the body has to rely on some kind of outside input to maintain any level of energy.
Burnout is an adaptation to chronic stress - by shutting down the body refuses to function under continuing conditions of stress - exhaustion, or collapse may then occur. This exhaustion is not only physical but also shows up emotionally, mentally and psychologically. Symptoms such as apathy, submission, hostility, resentment, anger, frustration and lack of satisfaction may become a constant state. To keep the body going moving between states of depression and elation becomes a common adaptation in an effort to block the awareness of such a low energetic state. The body feels like it is fighting for its survival.
Adrenal burnout leads to a slow metamorphosis that severely imbalances the body chemistry and slowly wears out the body processes resulting in many common conditions such as angina, asthma, auto-immune disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, common colds, diabetes (adult onset - type II), depression, headaches, hypertension, immune suppression, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and ulcers.
Regeneration - Renewing Our Vital Energy
Adrenal glands and other endocrine glands are not like muscles that rejuvenate with rest. They require a sustained nourishing and tonifying nutritional program. To regenerate the body, restore its vital force, and energize the whole body, the body must be cared for in an integrated program.
Nerve integrity with a strong and balanced nervous system, nerve cells, nerve sheaths, brain cells and spinal cord must be restored. The main fluids of the body, the blood and lymph, require proper chemical and metabolic balance. Through the imbalancing of the body chemistry these body fluids may become laden with toxic wastes thereby reducing the functioning of other body organs and tissues.
In order to carry the nutrients to the cells and tissues adequately, the organs of circulation - the heart, lungs and spleen must be restored.
Digestion and assimilation must be returned to healthy working order. All channels of elimination including the skin, kidneys, bowel, liver, lungs and lymph need to be cleared , opened and restored to normal force and function.
Endocrine integrity must be renewed for proper balance and communication in the body. Regeneration and renewal occur in an environment of balanced chemistry and nutrient availability.
Through regeneration, power and vitality are returned to the body.
Herbal Tonics & Regeneration
Herbal programs which work with such stress in the body are multi-layered supporting the repair of all the wear and tear that has occurred.
One particular class of herbs - tonics - are especially useful for supplying the body with substances which bring the body into a nonspecific state of heightened resistance so that it is better able to resist stress and better adapt to its environment. Herbal tonics assist the body in producing an environment conducive to regeneration. Tonics have a nonspecific effect in the body and normalize the physiology. They restore balance and equilibrium, even in the presence of pathological conditions. They are harmless to organs and tissue in the body and assist the body in raising its general performance capacity.
Tonics are a relatively new concept to Western medicine but hold a fundamental place in preventative care in many traditional cultures. It is interesting to note that only whole plants have true tonic abilities. No synthetic, potenized or extracted substances, nor isolated plant constituents can lay claim to tonic effects.
Tonics balance the biochemical and physiological environment of the body. All body processes and functions have an optimum range of operating that are regulated through complex and integrated feedback loops to keep an integrated, synchronized action in the body. Stress results in adaptations that move the body out of this optimum range of functioning. Certain herbs in their whole state are a composite of many directions, forces, and energies that are required to move the body back into the optimal state of functioning. The direction, force, or energy that is most needed by the body at the time will be the one that predominates in the body when the herb is consumed.
An herbal tonic is able to function in the body in a manner in which the current needs of the body are cared for bringing about the optimal state of integrated functioning. Tonics carry more than one message to the body - they are bi- or multi-directional, capable of increasing or decreasing - stimulating or sedating - moving the body along integrated lines of action to bring it back to its optimal state.
Tonics contain opposing groups of constituents and are able to send different signals and facilitate different (even opposing) reactions in the body. The body can recognize these different constituents and utilize the group of constituents that are required, at the time, to restore order, maintain equilibrium, adaptability and integration in the body functions and processes. The tonic sends multiple signals and the body chooses the correct pattern.
Tonics are natural, whole, substances that provide for the repair and maintenance of normal physiology. They do not stress the body and are free of side effects and contraindications. They are generally suitable for long term use in moderate amounts and contain a wide variety of active principles. Rather than canceling each other out, these multiple-actions are brought into play where and when they are needed, responding to the changing needs of the body's state. When a body is under stress, the adaptations required are multiple and multi-directional. The use of tonics are a multi-layered assistance to regenerate and renew equilibrium, vitality and energy to a stressed, degenerated body.
Important herbal tonics include Borage, Chamomile, Nettles, Wild Yam, Burdock, Lemon Balm, Yellow Dock and many others.
All of the above mentioned herbal products are available from Evenstar Herbs.
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© Copyright 1997 - 2008 by Mary Ann Copson and Evenstar. All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at
http://evenstaronline.com
