Wort. These have been shown to have a and insomnia, this treatment may need
positive effect on emotional well-being. to be used for longer periods to achieve
It is important to note that anyone success. Used on a daily basis, it may
taking medication should not change provide regular relief of stress, and then
those medications in any way, unless may be used less often.
advised by an experienced physician
who can guide them.
easy Stress
Reduction Techniques
Lifestyle: Diet and exercise
The Relaxation Response is a classic
Inadequate nutrients lead to inadequate
book by Herbert Benson, M.D., a Har-
brain neurotransmitters and the result-
vard-trained psychiatrist who outlines a
ing mental emotional problems. Eating
technique that can be briefly described
a healthy diet is not just a matter of
as follows. Sit in a comfortable position
enhancing overall health and prevent-
in a chair. Slowly breathe in and out.
ing disease, it also impacts a person’s
Repeat to yourself a mantra, whether a
mental state. The important connection
sound or a group of words, such as “I
between diet and emotions is related
am feeling so relaxed.” Allow yourself
to the nutrient content of the foods we
to feel a sense of relaxation spread from
eat. The common problem of subtle
the back of your neck, down your back,
food sensitivities also comes into play.
to your whole body, the legs and your
Food sensitivities may be “subtle,”
feet. Simply feel the sense of relaxation
since, when one is sensitive to a food
deepen as you practice this daily.
item, the reaction may not be immedi-
I also recommend an excel-
ate. Moreover, there may not even be
lent book by John Kabat Zinn called
the very clear symptoms that one may
Wherever You Go, There You Are. He
think of as the sign of a food “allergy.”
describes the simplest technique of
In fact, when people ingest food they
all, called Mindfulness Meditation.
are sensitive to, the reaction may be as
You simply sit in a chair and follow
vague as tiredness, or the worsening
your breathing, blocking out all other
of a feeling of stress or depression. The
thoughts. Focusing on your breath and
link between nutrients and emotions
nothing else allows you to establish a
Creativity is inventing, experi-
is very clear. Our food must provide
stress-reducing focus that you can initi-
menting, growing, taking risks,
amino acids, which are the building
ate for a brief 10 or 20 seconds, even
breaking rules, making mistakes,
blocks of the brain’s neurotransmitters,
in the midst of a busy day. Any chance
and having fun.
such as serotonin. The other elements
you may have, even for a few seconds,
— Mary Lou Cook
mentioned above—essential fatty acids,
you can focus on breathing slowly in
the B vitamins, and so on— should all
and out, and you will relax. This can
be among the nutrients ingested when
contribute to a general calming effect.
eating a broad balance of healthy foods.
Taken all together, these tech-
Lifestyle refers to exercise, or the
niques provide many people the oppor-
lack of it. Exercising has been described
tunity to follow a more natural lifestyle,
by its practitioners as a natural anti-
receiving help with their emotional dif-
depressant. It has been scientifically
ficulties without resorting to the chronic
demonstrated that with exertion the
use of medication.
brain produces chemicals called ”en-
dorphins,” which give us what has been
Henry C. Sobo is a medical doctor
called “the runner’s high.”
practicing Nutritional / Integrative Medi-
cine. His office, Optimal Health Medical,
Cranial electrical Stimulation LLC, is at 111 High Ridge Road in Stam-
This technology is entirely safe, and ford. Call 203.348.8805, email
uses a tiny electrical current via a small optimalhealth@optonline.net, or visit
device that gets attached to your ear- www.drsobo.com. Feel free to forward
lobes. The mild stimulus can be felt as a this information to family and friends,
small pulsing type of sensation, which who can send inquiries via email, through
is not unpleasant. Many people feel the website, or by phone. Website
a sense of relaxation after only a few visitors can subscribe to Dr. Sobo’s free
minutes. For treatment of depression email health newsletter. See ad pg 12.
23
September 2008
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