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Tea is much more than a beverage. Not only is it enriching for your body and soul but it’s also a herbal remedy to soothe many ailments.

Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.

-Okakura Kakuzō

The calming ritual of preparing tea and sipping it is a wonderfully relaxing practice in itself. What’s more, even science supports the healing properties of tea. Black, oolong, green, herbal- there are countless options of tea to choose from.

Drinking tea also supports the body undergo a natural detoxification process. Brew a hot or cold tea as a base, and squeeze in the juice of an astringent fruit like lemon or lime to revitalize your taste buds. You can also come up with a concoction of two or more teas.

Here are some of our favorite herbal tea recipes that can be brewed easily in the kitchen and can also cure a bunch of everyday ailments.

Basics of brewing tea

You don’t have to be a master chef in order to create a delicious herbal brew. If you can boil water, you are good to go. Follow these basic steps to brew up some healing in your kitchen:

• Bring one cup of water to a boil
• Crush the selected herb leaves or flowers and place them in your teapot. You can also use tea bags but fresh herbs always taste better.
• Pour the boiled water over the crushed herbs or tea bags. Cover and steep for at least 10 minutes.
• Place a strainer over your cup and pour the tea. Drink it at least three times a day to see visible results.

Now that you’ve learned how to brew tea, we’ll move on to the best brews that heal everything from sleeplessness to anxiety and an upset stomach.

1. Chamomile tea

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Chamomile tea is known for its relaxing properties and delicate flavor. It is a natural source of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic compounds. Chamomile tea is the perfect kind of brew to ease those tired muscles after a long day at work.

Chamomile tea is a herbal powerhouse that contains countless health benefits. Sipping some chamomile tea before bed can get rid you of undue stress and will help you sleep much better. It the perfect antidote for caffeine addiction.

Chamomile tea also boosts your immunity and keeps allergies at bay. It can help women with period pain as well, as chamomile extract contains compounds that relax the uterus and decreases the production of pain-causing hormones. You can also sip it to cure an upset stomach, nausea, and indigestion.

Simply add one tablespoon of chamomile flowers for every cup of boiling water and add honey to enhance flavor. Drink it regularly for at least two months to get rid of chronic problems.

Chamomile & turmeric evening tea

• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons dried chamomile
• 1-3 tsp coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• A pinch of black pepper, optional
• 1 tbsp. raw honey or more to taste

Instructions:

Bring the water to boil in a saucepan. Now add the chamomile and turn off the flame. Steep for 3-5 minutes. After discarding the chamomile, add the milk, coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, (black pepper) and honey. Taste and add more honey or spices according to your preference. Re-heat if needed. Enjoy!

2. Milk thistle tea

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Milk thistle is one of nature’s most precious herbs as it has magical liver cleansing and regenerating properties. It has been used for centuries to treat a variety of liver and gallbladder conditions such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, liver poisoning, hepatitis etc. In fact, milk thistle is still used as a life-saving herb to treat poisoning from the death cap mushroom.

Milk thistle tea benefits are countless. It contains a powerful antioxidant known as silymarin, which not only protects the liver but also improves its function by removing fats and lowering blood sugar. It helps to protect the kidneys and also boosts the immune system.

Milk thistle tea with dandelion root recipe:

• One tablespoon of milk thistle seeds
• Three cups of water
• Dandelion root according to taste

Instructions:

Crush one tablespoon of milk thistle seeds in a mortar and add three cups of water to it. Let it boil well and steep for about 20 minutes. Add dandelion root to double its liver cleansing effects.

It’s suggested to use the seeds of milk thistle to brew medicinal tea.

3. Peppermint tea

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Of all the herbal teas, peppermint tea is one of the most widely used. Not only is it delicious, but it also offers many health benefits. It has been used medicinally for centuries and herbalists recommend it as a treatment for headaches, sinus problems, and upset stomach issues.

Whether you are suffering from stubborn indigestion or nausea, peppermint tea will immediately help relieve the symptoms. It is considered to be a carminative because it helps to release trapped gas in the body. This tea also increases bile flow to encourage faster digestion and healthy bowel movements. The analgesic properties of peppermint help reduce the intestinal pain.

Peppermint tea can be made from fresh or dried leaves. Add one tablespoon of mint leaves in one cup of boiling water and steep for 15 minutes. Add some honey and lemon to make it even more flavorful. Combine mint with fennel and ginger to soothe many a stomach ailment.

Try out this tummy tea recipe the next time you need it:

Tummy tea- special peppermint blend to soothe an upset stomach

• 1 cup dried mint leaves
• 1/4 cup fennel seeds
• 1/8 cup finely chopped dried ginger

Instructions:

Boil one-liter water and add all the ingredients in it. Let it steep for 10 minutes and strain before serving. Add some honey to your tummy tea to make it even more delicious!

4. Cinnamon tea

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Cinnamon is the super spice of the herbal world. Most people associate cinnamon as a topping for their daily cup of coffee or in baking recipes. But cinnamon is a spice that can also be used on its own to create a medicinal tea that helps in losing weight, regulating blood sugar, lowering cholesterol levels and strengthening the immune system.

Cinnamon tea has a sweet and spicy flavor which is not only delicious but also helps soothe many common ailments. To prepare this tea, simply boil a 2-inch piece of cinnamon stick in 1 cup of water and simmer the concoction for 15 minutes to accentuate the taste even further. Add some honey and sip it while it’s still warm.

Try out this tried and tested cinnamon ginger tea recipe which is a definite cold buster:

Cinnamon ginger tea

• 2 inches of ginger, sliced thinly
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder or 3-inch piece of cinnamon stick
• 3-6 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
• 2 cups water
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 heaped tablespoons of raw honey

Instructions:

1. In a kettle, boil ginger, cinnamon, and sliced garlic for at least 15 minutes
2. Add the lemon juice and honey, 1 tablespoon in each cup
3. Pour the brewed tea into the cups. Make sure to strain the solids
4. Drink twice a day to get rid of even the most stubborn cold

5. Hibiscus tea

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Hibiscus tea is a favorite tea to cool off during the intense summer heat. Not only does it taste extremely refreshing, it also has a large number of antioxidants which make hibiscus a therapeutic herb. According to a research, hibiscus can help lower your blood pressure and keep away hypertension.

It also lowers the bad cholesterol in the body and protects against potential heart diseases and stroke. The hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic properties of hibiscus tea make it a perfect choice for people suffering from diabetes and blood sugar disorders. It also acts as a natural anti-depressant and its antioxidant properties help the liver function optimally.

Hibiscus tea can be served hot or cold, but most people prefer to drink it cold. Add some honey or sugar to curb the tart flavors. Try this hibiscus iced tea recipe to impress your guests over the next pool party:

Hibiscus iced tea recipe:

• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cups cold water
• 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup sugar syrup
• Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

Put the hibiscus and cinnamon stick in a large jar. Add water. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 to 12 hours or overnight. Add sugar syrup according to taste. Strain and add ice with a dash of lime, if desired.

You can store this iced tea in the fridge for up to one week.

Conclusion

Herbal teas are naturally sugar and caffeine free and come in a variety of sensual flavors. They have been used for their health-promoting effects since centuries and today, even modern science validates their traditional uses.

Whether you are a seasoned tea lover or a novice, don’t be afraid to try out these herbal tea recipes.

Do you have a favorite herbal tea recipe? Share it with our readers in the comments below and encourage them to try it out too!

The post 5 Powerful Herbal Tea Recipes That Soothe Ailments Naturally appeared first on Natural Revolution.

Heart disease

Researchers have long suspected that the stressed-out, type A personality has a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. We don’t know why, exactly. Stress can directly increase heart rate and blood flow and causes the release of cholesterol and triglycerides into the bloodstream. It’s also possible that stress is related to other problems — an increased likelihood of smoking or obesity — that indirectly increase the heart risks.

Asthma

Many studies have shown that stress can worsen asthma. Some evidence suggests that a parent’s chronic stress might even increase the risk of developing asthma in their children. One study looked at how parental stress affected the asthma rates of young children who were also exposed to air pollution or whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. The kids with stressed-out parents had a substantially higher risk of developing asthma.

Obesity

Excess fat in the belly seems to pose greater health risks than fat on the legs or hips — and unfortunately, that’s just where people with high stress seem to store it. “Stress causes higher levels of the hormone cortisol,” says Winner, “and that seems to increase the amount of fat that’s deposited in the abdomen.

Diabetes. Stress can worsen diabetes in two ways. First, it increases the likelihood of bad behaviors, such as unhealthy eating and excessive drinking. Second, stress seems to raise the glucose levels of people with type 2 diabetes directly

Headaches

Stress is considered one of the most common triggers for headaches — not just tension headaches, but migraines as well.

Depression and anxiety 

It’s probably no surprise that chronic stress is connected with higher rates of depression and anxiety. One survey of recent studies found that people who had stress related to their jobs — like demanding work with few rewards — had an 80% higher risk of developing depression within a few years than people with lower stress.

Gastrointestinal problems

Here’s one thing that stress doesn’t do — it doesn’t cause ulcers. However, it can make them worse. Stress is also a common factor in many other GI conditions, such as chronic heartburn (or gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Winner says

Alzheimer’s disease

One animal study found that stress might worsen Alzheimer’s disease, causing its brain lesions to form more quickly. Some researchers speculate that reducing stress has the potential to slow down the progression of the disease.

Accelerated aging

There’s actually evidence that stress can affect how you age. One study compared the DNA of mothers who were under high stress — they were caring for a chronically ill child — with women who were not. Researchers found that a particular region of the chromosomes showed the effects of accelerated aging. Stress seemed to accelerate aging about 9 to 17 additional years.

Premature death

A study looked at the health effects of stress by studying elderly caregivers looking after their spouses — people who are naturally under a great deal of stress. It found that caregivers had a 63% higher rate of death than people their age who were not caregivers.

Damaged Brain Structure and Connectivity

Neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have found that chronic stress triggers long-term changes in brain structure and function.

Cortisol Can Trigger Stem Cells to Malfunction

The ‘stress hormone’ cortisol is believed to create a domino effect that hard-wires pathways between the hippocampus and amygdala in a way that might create a vicious cycle by creating a brain that becomes predisposed to be in a constant state of fight-or-flight.

Chronic stress has the ability to flip a switch in stem cells that turn them into a type of cell that inhibits connections to the prefrontal cortex, which would improve learning and memory, but lays down durable scaffolding linked to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Unfortunately, in a modern world, chronic stress can hijack the fight-or-flight system and backfire in a daily life in which you are not in physical danger.

Stress and Cardiac Arrhythmias

The importance of psychological factors in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias is well recognized. Among the emotional factors, anger is strongly associated with triggering of ventricular arrhythmias [1]. Negative emotions like anger and hostility increase the risk of atrial fibrillation [2].

Factors and symptoms of atrial fibrillation

Psychic stress was the most common factor triggering arrhythmia (54%). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is nowadays divided into three different forms; paroxysmal, persistent and permanent. Even if the pathological, electrical and physiological phenomena leading to AF have been described in ever more detail.

Most of the patients in a group being treated at a hospital for PAF consider psychic stress to be the factor triggering their arrhythmia.[3]

Atrial fibrillation and managing stress

Stress can contribute to causing heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation. Some studies suggest that stress and mental health issues may cause your atrial fibrillation symptoms to worsen. High levels of stress may also be linked to other health problems.[4]

Several limited studies suggest that psychological distress may be linked with AF symptom severity.
demonstrates the consequence of psychological distress on AF-specific symptom severity

Stress-induced cardiac arrhythmias: The heart-brain interaction

There exists a complex and dynamic interaction between the heart and brain especially in the setting of negative emotions. Stress, anger, and depression have all been shown to have a significant impact on cardiac arrhythmogenesis.

Not only does negatively charged emotion result in coronary ischemia, platelet activation, vasoconstriction, alteration in hemodynamics and catecholamine release but it also has a significant effect on atrial and ventricular electrical indices [5]

Even in the setting of a structurally normal heart, we can identify changes in the neuro-cardiac axis in response to stress and anger but it appears when there is a substrate for arrhythmia these effects can be detrimental [6]. There clearly is a difference between some people being more susceptible to the effects of ANS activation, irrespective of whether a structural abnormality is present [7].

Stress and anger not only impact ventricular arrhythmias but also atrial arrhythmias. Many studies in relation to stress events and arrhythmias are subject to recall bias. A prospective study demonstrating that negative emotional triggers were identified as triggers of atrial fibrillation.

Interestingly, not only does stress increase the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias but also the lethality of ventricular arrhythmias [8]. So focussing on prevention or treatment of stress, anger, and depression could be paramount to the electrophysiologists’ management of their patients.

Whether psychological interventions can result in fewer arrhythmias is not clear but there are small studies to suggest that it may [19,20].

In humans, chronic stressors have long been linked to cardiac morbidity. Altered serotonergic neurotransmission may represent a crucial pathophysiological mechanism mediating stress-induced cardiac disturbances.

Psychological Stress and Cardiovascular Disease

There is an enormous amount of literature on psychological stress and cardiovascular disease. This report reviews conceptual issues in defining stress and then explores the ramifications of stress in terms of the effects of acute versus long-term stressors on cardiac functioning.

According to James Wilson (author of “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome”), chronic stress and lifestyle affect the body’s ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional stress.

Because of the vast influence of the adrenals on the body, symptoms of adrenal fatigue can mimic a number of disorders and isn’t always easily recognizable.

Most sources agree that adrenal fatigue symptoms include extreme fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, insulin resistance and others (more on that below).

While the mere fact you feel fatigued is not necessarily indicative of adrenal fatigue, and adrenal fatigue tests aren’t always straightforward, there is evidence that high cortisol levels found in saliva are associated with a reduced immune function, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and delayed growth in children. (21)

These symptoms and more can be indicative of a few different disorders and are often overlooked by doctors, but more and more people are starting to realize that a combination of these could indicate the onset of adrenal fatigue.
Some people at high risk for the symptoms of adrenal fatigue include busy new parents, students in college or post-graduate studies and caregivers, such as nurses or family members caring for invalid relatives.

If you have adrenal fatigue, it can also be a major cause of excess fat storage and low energy levels. Luckily, you can heal adrenal fatigue with three simple steps: start an adrenal fatigue diet, take supplements and reduce stress.

An Angry Heart Can Lead To Sudden Death

Before flying off the handle the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, consider the latest research that links changes brought on by anger or other strong emotions to future arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrests, which are blamed for 400,000 deaths annually.

New research published in the March 3, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that anger-induced electrical changes in the heart can predict future arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

While previous studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of sudden cardiac death during times of population stress such as earthquake and war, this study provides the first evidence that changes brought on by anger and other strong emotions can predict arrhythmias and may link mental stress to sudden cardiac arrest–which accounts for over 400,000 deaths each year.

“It’s an important study because we are beginning to understand how anger and other types of mental stress can trigger potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias, especially among patients with structural heart abnormalities,” says Rachel Lampert, M.D., F.A.C.C., associate professor, Yale University School of Medicine.

In contrast to exercise, mental stress doesn’t elevate one’s heart rate much, suggesting that changes seen with mental stress may be due to a direct effect of adrenaline on the heart cells. Therefore, mental stress testing could provide an alternative to atrial pacing for patients unable to exercise, according to Dr. Lampert.

More research is needed, but these data suggest that therapies focused on helping patients deal with anger and other negative emotions may help reduce arrhythmias and, therefore, sudden cardiac death in certain patients.

Supplements for Anxiety and Adrenal Fatigue

1. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen herb that is often used as a natural remedy for anxiety because it helps to stabilize the body’s response to stress. In a systematic review that assessed data on the effectiveness of ashwagandha as a treatment for anxiety, researchers found that most studies concluded with significant improvement in anxiety symptoms with ashwagandha therapy. (7)

However, ashwagandha is not only a stress reliever. It also protects the brain from degeneration and it works to improve anxiety symptoms by destroying free radicals that cause damage to the brain and body. Research shows that Ashwagandha helps to improve focus, reduce fatigue and fight anxiety without the side effects of most anti-anxiety medications. (8)

5. Kava Root

Research shows that kava root can be used to treat anxiety because it’s a nonaddictive and non-hypnotic anxiolytic. Kava is used to improve mood, ease anxiety and boost sociability. It works by stimulating dopamine receptors and inducing euphoria. In fact, a randomized controlled trial conducted in Australia found that kava can be considered a first-line therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and it’s shown to be safe for people undergoing treatment. (9)

A meta-analysis reported by Cochrane, which involved 7 trials, suggests that there are significant effects from kava treatment for anxiety with few side effects, which are all considered mild. (10)

Take kava under the guidance of your health care provider, as it can interact with certain medications. Also, do not consume alcohol if you are using kava and be aware of the most common side effects, including a headache, drowsiness, and diarrhea.

6. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

Supplementing with 5-HTP, which is synthesized from tryptophan (an essential amino acid that acts as a mood regulator), can help to treat a number of issues that are associated with anxiety, including trouble sleeping, moodiness and headaches. 5-HTP increases serotonin, which is a calming neurotransmitter that transmits signals between the nerve cells and alters brain functions that regulate your mood and sleep patterns.

Studies show that 5-HTP therapy is associated with a significant reduction in anxiety due to its calming effects. However, it’s important that you do not take 5-HTP with any prescription anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications. (11, 12)

7. GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

GABA is an amino acid that is responsible for decreasing anxiety in the nervous system, and it also helps to relax your muscles. It’s used for a number of conditions, in addition to relieving anxiety, including reducing PMS, relieving insomnia, stabilizing blood pressure, treating ADHD, burning fat and relieving pain.

GABA is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter that can cause a sedative effect, helps regulate nerve cells and calms anxiety. Anti-anxiety drugs, like Xanax and Valium, work to increase the amount of GABA in the brain. There are GABA supplements available in your local health food or vitamin store. Or, another option is to use valerian root, which naturally increases your brain’s GABA level and helps to calm anxiety. (13)

8. Magnesium

Magnesium plays many important roles in the body, and magnesium deficiency is one of the leading deficiencies in adults. So if you’re struggling with anxiety, you may want to try taking a magnesium supplement. (14) Magnesium helps to relax your muscles and calm the nervous system.

Also, it’s vital for GABA function and for regulating certain hormones that are crucial for calming the brain and promoting relaxation.

Magnesium is commonly used to combat anxiety, poor digestion, muscles aches and spasms and trouble sleeping. Look for magnesium in citrate, chelate and chloride, which are forms that the body absorbs better.

However, be aware that too much magnesium can cause diarrhea, so be careful with the dose. Because of this, start with smaller amounts of magnesium and work your way up to a dose that’s effective for you.

9. Vitamin B Complex

B vitamins help to combat stress and stabilize your mood. Vitamin B6, in particular, serves as a natural remedy for anxiety because it works to boost mood, balance blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy nervous system.

In fact, symptoms of a vitamin B6 deficiency include anxiety, irritability, depression, changes in mood, muscle pains and fatigue. In addition, Vitamin B12 is also important for fighting chronic stress, mood disorders and depression.

It helps to improve your concentration, improve energy levels and allow your nervous system to function properly. (15)

10. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil has been shown to reduce anxiety and help relax the body.  A multi-center, double-blind, randomized study conducted in Germany found that Silexan, an oral lavender oil capsule, was just as effective as benzodiazepine, an anti-anxiety medication that usually induces sedation and had a high potential for drug abuse. (16)

Research also shows that using lavender oil topically or inhaling lavender can help to induce calmness and relieve symptoms of anxiety-like nervousness, headaches, and muscle pain. (17) Put 3 drops of lavender oil in your palm and rub it onto your neck, wrists, and temples. You can also diffuse lavender oil at home or at work, inhale it directly from the bottle for immediate relief, and add 5–10 drops to warm bath water to fight anxiety naturally.

11. Roman Chamomile

Roman chamomile essential oil is used to calm nerves and reduce anxiety because of its mild sedative and relaxation-promoting properties. Inhaling roman chamomile works as an emotional trigger because the fragrance travels directly to the brain to help fight anxiety symptoms.

A study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that when chamomile oil is taken orally, it causes a significant reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms when compared to a placebo. (18) Diffuse 5 drops of Roman chamomile oil at home or at work, inhale it directly from the bottle or apply it topically to the neck, chest and wrists. Roman chamomile is also gentle enough for children to use as a natural remedy for anxiety.

Reduce Adrenal Fatigue Stress

The key to restoring your adrenal function is to heed your mind and stress needs. Pay attention to your body!

• Rest when you feel tired as much as possible.
• Sleep 8–10 hours a night.
• Avoid staying up late and stay on a regular sleep cycle — ideally, in bed before 10 p.m.
• Laugh and do something fun every day.
• Minimize work and relational stress however possible.
• Eat on a regular food cycle, and reduce your caffeine and sugar addiction.
• Exercise (even moderate exercise and walking can help). Yoga, in particular, can help to improve quality of life and reduce stress responses. (32)
• Avoid negative people and self-talk.
• Take time for yourself (do something relaxing).
• Seek a counselor or support group for any traumatic experiences.

How to Heal Adrenal Glands

Supplement with vitamin D3, a B complex that’s got extra B5, a fatty acid supplement with DHA and EPA, a good multivitamin powder, and a liquid mineral formula.

Get the diet right. No stimulants like coffee, caffeinated teas, energy drinks, tobacco, etc. In fact, no drugs period. Eat more fresh raw vegetables than anything else, and eliminate refined and processed foods like white rice, HFCS, and even that bag of organic, super healthy, ancient grain, non-GMO quinoa chips.

Adaptogens like ashwagandha, eleuthero, holy basil, maca, Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra, as well as glandulars (desiccated glands), are generally used for naturopathic healing of the pituitary.

(Growth Hormone Production Nutrition). When someone is matched with the right supplements, the right formula can increase IGF-1 levels by 20 percent or more. A good alternative to HGH injections, these supplements are amino acid-based precursor formulas that contain ingredients such as glutamine, tyrosine, GABA, arginine, and lysine.

Let’s talk about “self-talk” for a minute. Our bodies are made to heal. However, the words we say have a great impact on our body and our ability to heal. Regardless of what diet and supplements you take, your environment is one of the most important components.

So, be kind to yourself. Try to avoid saying negative things about yourself and others. It’s important to choose to be around positive people and stay positive about yourself as well.

Many people roll their eyes at such advice, but it’s scientifically proven that it’s possible to reduce pathological worry by practicing “thought replacement,” a positive self-talk practice that involves verbally reciting positive outcomes to stressful situations. (33)

Signs of When to Go to the Endocrinologist for Adrenal Fatigue

Many people go for some time without consulting their general physician or endocrinologist about some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. However, experiencing high cortisol symptoms over a long period of time can really take a toll. In addition, some symptoms can be indicative of more serious conditions.

It’s probably time to visit the endocrinologist if:

• You experience one or a combination of adrenal fatigue symptoms for an extended period of time
• Your symptoms have begun interfering with normal life relationships and/or activities, such as work, family time or school
• Dietary and lifestyle judgments have not significantly improved your symptoms
• Your sleeping patterns have shifted into insomnia and/or you are no longer able to get restful sleep, no matter how long you’re in bed
• You experience hyperpigmentation or patches of darker skin on your body
• You are a woman who has ceased menstruating
• You experience dizziness and/or overall weakness for multiple consecutive days with no explainable cause (such as flu, concussion or excessive exercise)
• You are unsure of how or unable to study adrenal fatigue supplements to safely take them, or unsure of how to structure an adrenal fatigue diet

Because of the controversial nature of this condition, you may need to seek out a naturopath who will help you treat adrenal fatigue with a combination of dietary advice and supplement recommendations, as well as any hormonal or other medications necessary.

Manage your stress

The stress hormone, cortisol, is public health enemy number one. Scientists have known for years that elevated cortisol levels: interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease.

Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels also increase the risk for depression, mental illness, and lower life expectancy. This week, two separate studies were published in Science linking elevated cortisol levels as a potential trigger for mental illness and decreased resilience—especially in adolescence.

Cortisol is released in response to fear or stress by the adrenal glands as part of the fight-or-flight mechanism. The fight-or-flight mechanism is part of the general adaptation syndrome defined in 1936 by Canadian biochemist Hans Selye of McGill University in Montreal. He published his revolutionary findings in a simple seventy-four line article in Nature, in which he defined two types of “stress”: eustress (good stress) and distress (bad stress).

Both eustress and distress release cortisol as part of the general adaption syndrome. Once the alarm to release cortisol has sounded, your body becomes mobilized and ready for action—but there has to be a physical release of fight or flight. Otherwise, cortisol levels build up in the blood which wreaks havoc on your mind and body.

Regular physical activity and mindfulness meditation are two effective ways to reduce stress and lower cortisol. Although this study doesn’t focus on the benefits of reducing cortisol, other research suggests that making lifestyle choices that reduce stress and lower cortisol can improve brain structure and connectivity.

Finding ways to manage your stress may help improve your health and manage your condition.

Stress management ideas

Meditation

Simply taking a few deep breaths engages the Vagus nerve which triggers a signal within your nervous system to slow heart rate, lower blood pressure and decreases cortisol. The next time you feel yourself in a stressful situation that activates your ‘Fight-or-Flight’ response take 10 deep breaths and feel your entire body relax and decompress.

Setting aside 10-15 minutes to practice mindfulness or meditation will fortify a sense of calm throughout your nervous system, mind, and brain. There are many different types of meditation.

Social connection with family and friends

Close knit human bonds—whether it be family, friendship or a romantic partner—are vital for your physical and mental health at any age.  Recent studies have shown that the Vagus nerve also responds to human connectivity and physical touch to relax your parasympathetic nervous system.

The “tend-and-befriend” response is the exact opposite to “fight-or-flight”. The “tend-and-befriend” response increases oxytocin and reduces cortisol. Make an effort to spend real face-to-face time with loved ones whenever you can, but phone calls and even Facebook can reduce stress and cortisol if they foster a feeling of genuine connectivity.

Regular physical activity

Kickboxing, sparring, or a punching bag are terrific ways to recreate the “fight” response by letting out aggression (without hurting anyone) and to reduce cortisol.

Any aerobic activity, like walking, jogging, swimming, biking, riding the elliptical… are great ways to recreate the ‘flight’ outlet and burn-up cortisol.  A little bit of cardio goes a long way. Just 20-30 minutes of activity most days of the week pays huge dividends by lowering cortisol every day and in the long-run.

Fear increases cortisol. Regular physical activity will decrease fear by increasing your self-confidence, resilience, and fortitude—which will reduce cortisol.

Laughter and Levity

Having fun and laughing reduces cortisol levels. Dr. William Fry is an American psychiatrist who has been studying the benefits of laughter for the past 30 years and has found links to laughter and lowered levels of stress hormones. Many studies have shown the benefits of having a sense of humor, laughter and levity. Try to find ways in your daily life to laugh and joke as much as possible and you’ll lower cortisol levels.

Music

Listening to Music that you love, and fits whatever mood you’re in, has been shown to lower cortisol levels. I recently wrote about the wide range of benefits that come from listening to music in a Psychology Today blog title “The Neuroscience of Music, Mindset, and Motivation”. We all know the power of music to improve mood and reduce stress. Add reducing your cortisol levels as another reason to keep the music playing as a soundtrack of health and happiness in your life.

A healthy diet

Eating anti-inflammatory foods can be a natural remedy for stress and anxiety because they are important for neurotransmitters synthesizing and balancing your mood and stress response. In addition, it’s also important to eat healthy fats, unrefined carbohydrates, and lean protein. To improve anxiety symptoms, make sure to add vitamin B foods, magnesium-rich foods, foods high in calcium and omega-3 foods to your diet too.

• wild-caught fish (like salmon, mackerel, tuna, white fish and herring)
• grass-fed beef
• organic chicken
• nutritional yeast
• organic eggs
• yogurt or kefir from grass-fed animals
• organic leafy greens (like spinach, kale, chard and collard greens)
• organic fresh vegetables (like celery, bok choy, broccoli, beets and artichokes)
• organic fresh fruits (like blueberries, pineapple, banana and figs)
• sea vegetables
• healthy fats (like avocado, coconut oil and olive oil)
• beans (such as black beans, adzuki beans, chickpeas and fava beans)
• legumes (like lentils and peas)
• nuts (such as walnuts, almonds and cashews)
• seeds (including flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds)
• unrefined grains (like farro, quinoa and barley)

Stress and Anxiety Quiz

To find out your ranking of stress and anxiety, take this quiz, adapted from a scale developed by Peter Lovibond at the University of New South Wales.

For the first 16 questions, please indicate how much each statement applied to you over the past week. Answer the questions as honestly as possible; there are no right or wrong answers.

The last five questions are about you, and they’ll be used by our research team to better understand how stress relates to factors like marriage and employment. We’ll report next month on what the scores suggest about the Greater Good community.

When you’re done, you’ll get your score, along with resources for combating stress.

Adapted from: Lovibond, P. F, & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). “The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories.” Behaviour Research and Therapy

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Cancer has been a scourge on society for longer than most care to remember, with little to no positive outcomes in conventional chemotherapy treatment.

Though there are chemotherapy patients who use traditional chemical and radioactive therapies have survived their cancer, the overwhelming statistics that show chemo kills more than heals is something one must consider before attempting to go the western medicine route.

The findings of the many studies that show cannabidiol (CBD) can kill cancer cells is a promising therapy that may benefit from it by incorporating into their treatment plan.

BigPharma is trying to corner the market by capitalizing on CBD and turning a natural substance into a synthetic form so they can sell it at outrageous prices. That’s their motto. It’s important to not get trapped in BigPharma’s trap that will have you addicted to their drugs, which oftentimes do more harm than good.

CBD from cannabis, particularly Hemp which have a higher concentration of CBD than varieties with high THC in them, which is legal in all 50 states in the U.S.

CBD not only treats cancer but a host of other ailments and diseases as well. Multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, cancer, atherosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension, glaucoma, obesity/metabolic syndrome, depression, anxiety, and osteoporosis are a sample of some of the many diseases in which CBD has been demonstrated as a new therapeutic strategy aimed at fighting cannabis.

Watch this video which shows how CBD kills cancer.

General

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Blindness is not inevitable for people who have Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD), otherwise known as Macular Degeneration (MD). The same is true for people whom age isn’t the basis for Macular Degeneration, as we are seeing sharp increases in MD among people in their 40’s. The only distinction between the three acronyms is one can be age-related as well, but they are all considered Macular Degeneration.

What you eat, your lifestyle and other aspect influence whether you’ll get MD. Luckily, there are several key factors that can help prevent, and even reverse Macular Degeneration.

There is a large amount of peer review research showing ARMD to be a nutritional and lifestyle responsive eye disease, meaning that you can stabilize and possibly even improve your vision with healthy lifestyle choices.

Most people with ARMD have dry macular degeneration. In dry macular degeneration tiny, yellow drusens develop.

Drusens are accumulations of fatty, yellow material that form in the macula and people with ARMD have more and larger drusens than what is common with aging.

They are thought to be comprised of waste proteins and lipids (oily material) that begin to accumulate due to poor circulation and waste-flushing in the eye.

Antioxidants are important for the normal waste-clearing process. The drusen slowly crowd, distort, or break the cells in the macula leading to deterioration and resulting in blurred vision.

Because drusen also include immune-system regulating molecules, it is thought that they are part of the immune system.³

The second type of macular degeneration is the “wet” form, (also known as choroidal neovascularization) in which new blood vessels begin to develop near the macula, causing fast and serious vision loss. Wet macular degeneration can result from progression of dry macular degeneration, left untreated, and affects about 10% of macular degeneration patients.

If AMD is found first in one eye, the other eye follows the same progression. This is because the nutrient deficiencies and other system-wide problems would exist in both eyes but manifest in one eye before the other.

Pathology of Macular Degeneration

The development and progression of macular degeneration rest upon the occurrence of the following pathological changes in the eye.

• Oxidative stress – the imbalance between free radicals and protective antioxidants. The retina is especially vulnerable to stress from free radicals. Inability of the retina tissue to have enough oxygen available leads to deterioration of the pigmented layer which protects the retina from UV and blue light damage.⁵
• Angiogenesis – lack of oxygen leads to development of new extra blood vessels which distort the retina.⁵
• Apoptosis – cell death is a natural phenomenon in the body as the worn and damaged tissue is removed and replaced. However in the retina excessive cell death is closely tied to oxidative stress.⁵
• Inflammation – the inflammatory response is the body’s attempt to rescue tissue from cell injury. Proteins which are responsible for the immune results are among the constituents of drusen deposits in the retina as AMD develops.⁵

Symptoms

• Lines look distorted or wavy.
• Shapes look blurred, fuzzy, or hazy in central vision
• Colors appear dimmer and less distinct
• Words are hard to read because they are blurred
• Blank or dark areas hide the center area of your vision
• The center of vision looks foggy or cloudy

Other Causes

• Hypertension. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop AMD than those with normal blood pressure.
• Diabetics are more at risk for AMD than others.
• Systemic inflammation, indicated by high levels of c-reactive protein has been tied to increased macular degeneration risk.²

It’s interesting to note that AMD incidence and blood pressure lowering medications, including vasodilators, researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health conducted a long-term population-based cohort study from 1988 to 2013 of nearly 5,000 residents of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, aged 43 to 86 years.

The research is part of the National Eye Institute — funded Beaver Dam Eye Study, found that using any vasodilator blood pressure lowering medications, which open (dilate) the blood vessels — was associated with a greater risk of developing early-stage AMD.³

Among people who were not taking vasodilators, an estimated 8.2 percent developed signs of early AMD. In comparison, among those who were taking a vasodilator medication, 19.1 percent developed the disease.

The researchers also found that taking oral beta blockers such as Toprol, Tenormin, and Lopressor was associated with an increase in the risk of neovascular AMD, a more advanced and vision-threatening form of the disease.

Among those who were not taking oral beta blockers an estimated 0.5 percent developed signs of neovascular AMD. In comparison among those taking oral beta blockers, 1.2 percent developed neovascular AMD.^{4, 5}

Biochemistry

• Free radicals can damage the eyes. They are formed when the blue and ultraviolet sunlight passes through the crystalline lens of the eye. Free radicals also result as natural metabolism byproducts. These chemical are highly reactive and cause oxidation. The result is destabilization of healthy macula cells in the eyes.
• High Homocysteine levels Studies have shown increased plasma homocysteine in patients with age-related macular degeneration.^{6, 7}

Lifestyle and Diet

• Smoking, chronic fatigue, and a weak immune system hasten damage from free radicals. Smoking increases the risk of AMD by 200-300%. In addition, there is a link between Alzheimer’s disease and macular degeneration which is worsened by smoking.
• Poor digestion and nutritional deficiencies – People with ARMD are often deficient in a number of nutrients that are essential to eye health such as lutein, essential fatty acids, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, zinc, bioflavonoids, selenium, and vitamin B-complex.
• Low carotenoid levels. Read more about how carotenoids protect your vision.

Gender/heredity

• Heredity is a risk factor. People who have a family history of AMD are more at risk to develop the condition.
• Women are more at risk of developing AMD.
• Men who are obese have a higher risk than other men. This is associated with Western diets which are relatively high in fat and which contribute to a weak microbiota community in the digestive system. In addition to poor digestion not absorbing nutrients, this means higher levels of long-term, low-grade inflammation in the body which contributes to greater risk of macular degeneration.⁴

Drugs that can damage the retina

• Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine sulfate), often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, has been found to cause permanent damage to the retinal.
• Chloridine (Catapres), for high blood pressure
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs) side effects from regular use include retinal hemorrhages. This group includes ibuprofen, aspirin¹, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, and naproxen sodium. In addition, acetaminophen (Tylenol), though not an NSAID, can harm vision.
• Other drugs. Both prescription and non-prescription can damage the macula. Some drugs that make the eyes more sensitive to light are also harmful. Click this link to find drugs that damage the macula.

About the Macula

The macula contains two areas of unusually high concentrations of cones, which are the photoreceptors responsible for color vision, fine detail, and central vision.

There is a slightly depressed area in the center of the macula called the fovea where there are no retinal cells – only photoreceptors – about 199 to 300 thousand cones per square millimeter. At the center of the fovea is the foveola where there are only cones – no rods.

The gradual breakdown of these cells in the macula results in damage to or loss of your central vision. The macula provides focus in the center of vision where your vision sharpness is most acute. Such deterioration reduces the ability to read and recognize faces, two important tasks that use the central vision.

See Vitamins & Supplements to support the retina and macula

What you can do to protect your eyes

1. Stop smoking. This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent damage to your vision. A 2005 review of research pointed out that 13 separate studies found that there was a statistically significant tie between the habit of smoking and the development of macular degeneration. The risk in smokers was two to three times higher than in non-smokers.⁶ A 2015 study identified damage and inflammation caused by smoking to several layers of the macula: the pigmented layer, Bruch’s membrane, the choroidal stroma.⁷ Additional studies in 2016 verify this finding.
2. Protect against blue light. Wear sunglasses (wear wraparound sunglasses especially if you have been diagnosed with AMD) that are UV resistant to protect your eyes against damage from blue light. Another great way to reduce blue light, especially for those who look at computer monitors daily. These emit high levels of blue light. There is a great tool that can dramatically reduce blue light for those using Windows can download f.lux. f.lux for iPhones or other iOS devices, fl.lux runs on jailbroken iOS devices or on iOS9 with a sideload. For more info, visit their iOS page at justgetflux.com.
3. Leafy greens. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fresh, preferably organic, dark leafy greens. These vegetables are rich in carotenoids, the colored pigments that your eye needs, especially lutein and zeaxanthin. Even if you don’t like vegetables such as collards, kale, and spinach, you can add them to soups, puree them in green drinks, juice them with other fruits and vegetables, or add them to other greens in salads. Many studies report that the nutrients found in these healthy vegetables lower the risk of developing macular degeneration.
4. Low-fat diet. The Western diet, high in fats, is associated with a higher risk of macular degeneration. Researchers have found that a high-fat diet gives rise to weak gut microbiota resulting in poor digestion and long-range, low-grade inflammation in the entire body. These factors appear to be the source of high rates of AMD in men who are overweight.¹³
5. AREDS2. The nutrients tested in 2006 (which added omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin to, and reduced zinc and beta-carotene in the AREDS formula), were found to further reduce the risk of advanced AMD. As a result of AREDS2, the formula was revised to 500mg vitamin C; 400 IU vitamin E, 10mg lutein, 2mg zeaxanthin, 350mg DHA, 650mg EPA, 25mg zinc and no beta-carotene. You can find our choice of AREDS2 here as it doesn’t contain any artificial coloring chemicals added to the formulation.
6. Zinc. A note for vegetarians: The AREDs studies found that zinc is necessary for a healthy macula: 11mg daily for men and 8mg daily for women. Zinc is abundant in meat and seafood. It is also abundant in nuts, grains, and legumes, but not in a readily absorbable form. The body does not store zinc well, so zinc supplementation might be needed for vegetarians and vegans.¹⁴
7.  Astaxanthin. Considered the “King of Carotenoids” astaxanthin is one of the highest antioxidants in the world with numerous studies that show how effective it is in combating oxidative stress. Astaxanthin is 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C; 500 times stronger than vitamin E; 3,000 times stronger than resveratrol and quercetin.¹⁰
8. Omega 3 fatty acids. Many research studies have established that omega 3 fatty acids lower the risk of macular degeneration.¹⁸ Omega 3s have the ability to regulate the formation of extraneous blood vessels that distort vision.¹⁹ Eating fish is a great way to increase omega 3 in your diet.
9. Omega 6 to Omega 3 Ratio. The standard western diet tends to be very high in omega 6 fatty acids, with a ratio of about 10-20:1. The Mediterranean diet has a higher proportion of omega-3; the ratio is about 4-5:1. This ratio is associated with a protective effect against the severe neovascular form of ARMD.²⁰
10. Resveratrol has been found to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in the advanced form of macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization.^{16, 17}
11. Vitamin D3. Low levels of vitamin D3 in the body are associated with increases in macular degeneration symptoms. D3 has anti-inflammation and anti-angiogenic capacities and has the greatest benefit in patients where the genetic risk is greatest.¹⁸ Because D3 has an important role in the immune system and aging process it is important in age-related conditions such as macular degeneration where the retina suffers age-related damage.^{19, 20, 21}
12. Melatonin. A study indicates that melatonin supplements may slow and even reverse the effects of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The research study included subjects with both wet and dry ARMD, and the results were the same: taking a supplement that included 3 mg of melatonin per day in the evening resulted in the stability of age-related macular degeneration after 2 or 3 months in most patients. Nearly all the subjects who stayed in the study for 6-12 months had significant reductions of ARMD and increases in visual acuity.²²
13. Exercise. Exercise is critical for your vision health. A study of about 4,000 older adults over 15 years found that those who were active and exercised three or more times a week were less likely to develop exudative (wet) AMD. Several studies over the last 10 years have found connections between regular exercise and reducing risks for several common eye ailments such as cataracts, wet age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.²³

Conventional Treatment

• One diagnostic tool is the Amsler Test.
• Doctors now acknowledge that at least the AREDs formulations can be helpful as macular degeneration supplements.
• Sometimes laser surgery is the recommended treatment, but it may not completely repair a leaking blood vessel without permanently damaging nerve fibers passing through the retina. The National Eye Institute reports that macular degeneration treatment using laser technology can make vision worse, and benefits towards slowing progress of the condition not appear until at more than a year following surgery.
• Photodynamic Therapy (PVT) is a generally less damaging procedure to seal blood vessels in the eye than traditional laser treatments.
• Antiangiogenesis drugs such as Macugen can be injected into the retina for wet macular degeneration; they help prevent the body from growing new, leak-prone blood vessels in the retina. Lucentis and Avastin are considered more effective injection treatment strategies. Research suggests that the best results are using a combination of Lucentis and PVT to help stabilize wet macular degeneration.
• In the future bone marrow stem cell injections or optogenetics may be used to treat conditions like AMD.
• Drugs can have potentially serious side effects, so the benefits of going on these therapies have to be evaluated with your eye doctor and family.

The best cure is prevention. You can use complementary medicine to address underlying causes of AMD, along with conventional medicine to alleviate acute event damage. Since less than 1% of those with ARMD are legally blind, most people are able to benefit greatly from prevention.

About AREDs Formulations

Most formulas commonly marketed for macular conditions are based on the 2001 AREDS studies and include vitamins C and E, zinc and beta-carotene. The AREDs formula is extremely helpful, but there are other well researched essential nutrients that need to be included to keep your macula healthy. These include lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, bilberry, essential fatty acids and other nutrients. Some of these nutrients were additionally studied in 2006 AREDS2.

References:

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Can a person literally die of loneliness? Is there such a thing as a “cancer personality”? Drawing on scientific research and Dr. Gabor Maté having decades of experience as a practicing physician, these questions about the effect of the mind-body link on illness and health and the role that stress and one’s individual emotional makeup play a vital role in an array of common diseases.

That not only conscious stress but subconscious stress, the kind that you are not aware of, can over a lifetime make you ill because the stress of any kind that is chronic is no good for your body. Stress of any kind that is chronic leads to a situation in which your body cannot relax and allow itself to heal. Healing requires that your immune system is working at its peak to protect and heal your body.

Stress, especially repressed anger, makes us vulnerable to several types of illnesses, from anxiety, depression, autoimmune dysfunction, cancer and a host of others. There is quite a lot of research to document and support these conclusions.^{[1] [2] [3]}

For twelve years Dr. Maté worked in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with patients challenged by hardcore addiction, mental illness, HIV and related conditions. For two years he was the onsite physician at Vancouver’s unique Supervised Injection Site, North America’s only such facility.

He is internationally known for his work on the mind/body unity in health and illness, on attention deficit disorder and other childhood developmental issues, and his breakthrough analysis of addiction as a psychophysiological response to childhood trauma and emotional loss.

Dr. Maté is the author of four best-selling books published in twenty languages on five continents, two of the most notable include When The Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection and the award-winning book In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction.

Based on Gabor Maté’s two decades of experience as a medical doctor and his groundbreaking work with the severely addicted on Vancouver’s skid row, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts radically reenvisions this misunderstood field by taking a holistic approach.

Dr. Maté presents addiction not as a discrete phenomenon confined to an unfortunate or weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs throughout (and perhaps underpins) our society; not a medical “condition” distinct from the lives it affects, rather the result of a complex interplay among personal history, emotional, and neurological development, brain chemistry, and the drugs (and behaviors) of addiction.

Maté’s knowledge of the body, mind and emotional connection is compelling to open one’s mind to their own possibilities of how their childhood and the way they were taught and raised to explore the profound effects it influences a person when they become an adult.

His extensive experience with clients makes for real-life stories which break down resistance to this new information and can, if one is willing to open themselves to the possibilities of what has been discovered, to unlock one’s own ability to have a clearer picture of their past and how they can begin to move forward in a healthy direction into the future.

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