Stress
Stress and How to Deal with It
First, What is Stress??
In the common use of the word, when we talk about stress we usually mean mental/ emotional stress that effects our ability to live our “normal” day to day life.
For most of us, stress comes from work, (long hours, work relationship, dissatisfaction, etc.) or from home, (relationship with the family, spouse, kids, parents, living arrangement, special events and traumas).
But let’s not forget that stress on our bodies and minds are everything we get in contact with. Such as: food, air, clothing and shoes, exercises (or not), and so on.
We are dealing with emotional/mental stress, as it is more in the “Energy Realm” which makes it easier to treat.
Stress in TCM
Through Traditional Chinese Medicine, we understand that stress effects on our bodies and is by creating “Qi Stagnation”.
Qi Stagnation is probably the initial cause of most of the conditions I see in my clinic.
In TCM, we can see that Qi Stagnation leads to the formation of heat in the body, and later on to dryness of fluids.
These conditions will lead to conditions like:
- headaches
- sleep problems
- night sweats
- digestion irregularities
- menstruation irregularities including PMS, and cramping
Acupuncture has shown to be a great way to treat Qi Stagnation, and through that, Stress. Most people report feeling very calm and “relaxed” after Acupuncture treatments, and that feeling is more than a short term relief.
Other forms of Stress “treatment” are good diet and regular exercise. Yoga, Tai Qi and Qi Kong are know to some of the best exercises to help relieve stress.
Fighting Stress
The best way to fight stress is by avoiding it!! Reducing work hours, working on the relationship at home and in the office and just slowing down the pace of life. But, for many of us, Stress is a given.
What do we do then?
We eat well and regularly exercise. We take supplements and herbs that reduce Adrenal Fatigue. Vitamins that calm the nervous system and use natural remedies that help sleep.
B Vitamins are very important to support the nervous system, but they work slow, so they are more for the long term.
The 3 herbs that make a big difference are Rhodiola, Ashwaganda and Siberian Ginseng. These all support the Adernal System, give energy, relax and help with sleep.
The last but very important supplement is Magnesium, a mineral that helps the nervous system to relax, helps us sleep and helps Alkalize the body.
Dr. Eyal Lebel is both a Dr.of TCM, Acupuncture, as well as a Master herbalist of “western herbal remedies” in Vancouver, BC.