STRESS
Stress can be defined
as any activity or events that injure one’s ability to cope. Why stress? According
to Suinn, 2001 the leading cause of death and disability (health related
diseases and stroke are certainly linked to stress, furthermore immunity to
infections is awfully affected by stress. In 1978 Bengt Arnets conducted a
research on the effect of psychological stress on the body’s ability to fight
disease. His study was carried out on Swedish women who had lost their jobs for
the past nine months and compared it with women with secure jobs. It was found
out that the women who were unemployed for the past nine months had white blood
cells that were less reactive to infections.
Again that same year,
Janice Kiecolt-Glaser and others also conducted another research on the immune
system of married and divorce women. It was found out that the immune system of
recently divorced women functioned less effectively than those of married women
but with gradual improvement occurring over the first years after divorce.
However immune functioning was poorest for those women with unhappiest
marriages. Since stress is unavoidable and too much of it threats our
psychological and physical wellness, coping well with stress is of great
significances. In this world there are some types of stress we can remove and
others that we can’t remove, so all we need to do is to cope with it.
According to Benjamin
Lahey, in the eighth edition of his book Psychology, stress can be classified
under the following sources.
- Frustration- when you are not able to satisfy your motives.
- Conflict-when you cannot satisfy two or more motives because one interferes with the other
- Approach-approach conflict-refers to a type conflict where an individual must choose between two positive goals of approximately equal value.
- Avoidance-Avoidance conflict-conflict choosing between two or more negative outcomes
- Approach-Avoidance conflict- occurs when a positive goal results in a negative outcome.
- Multiple Approach-Avoidance Conflict-arise when an individual must choose between two alternatives which both consist of negative and positive consequences.
- Other life event that can cause stress may include
Crime
Loss of a beloved one
Examination fever or
hassle
Natural disaster etc
Many a times we worry
and burden our self with our relationship, our marriages, our children’s
education, our jobs, our education etc making our sleeps punctuated with the if
equation, that is. What if i fail the exams? What if is lost my job? What if my
landlord says I should pack out? This mild stresses brings about the release of
stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, glucocorticoids etc) which flood our
body systems leaving us with nothing but a myriad of sickness and diseases such
as hypertension, cardiovascular related diseases, allergies, body pains,
headaches and more you can thick off.
According to Dr.
Kathleen Hall our body systems produces at least twenty (20) different endorphins,
these endorphins
- Helps to relieve pains
- Help reduce stress
- Help in the enhancement of the immune system
- Help delay aging process
What are endorphins and how do they operate?
Endorphins are the body
natural analgesics or better still the body’s painkillers. They are part of the
brain chemicals know as neurotransmitters aiding in the transmission of
electrical signals within the neuron system. Endorphins lock themselves up onto
cells known as opioid receptors, blocking the transmission of pain signals by
medical experts.
Endorphins are being
release when we exercise or laugh. That is why the quickest way to release
stress is to release endorphins through exercise by experts.
When one acquires a new
job, just imagine the kind of hassle the person goes through just to please the
administrative body of such a company-the kind of emotional and psychological
stress the person goes through. Similarly, students also go through the same
hassle when examination is just around the corner. Can you imagine the kind of
emotional stress parents goes through just to pay their wards school fees and
give them pocket money, provisions and others petty things when school resumes.
A doctor once said, ̒ every stress leaves an indelible scar and the individual
pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older ̓
̓ meaning when you stress yourself you kill yourself a bit or better still you
decrease your age by a certain margin
Brethren thanks to
these three wonderful herbs I call the threeta herbs (Dandelion, Turkey
berry and Garlic). Let’s look at the role each plays in our smoothei.
Dandelion also known as
(Taraxacum officinale) leaves has
been found to contain high level of vitamin B and C etc, potassium, iron, it also
has a high fiber content which help to reduce blood pressure. Again it,
- Helps to maintain bone health
- Helps in bone strengthening due to its high calcium content
- Helps in combating a whole lot of liver threatening sickness such as hemorrhaging, hepatitis, liver detoxification… it also helps to maintain proper flow of bile.
- Helps diabetic patients by aiding in the production of insulin, bringing about the lowering of the blood sugar level
Turkey berry also known
as (Solanum torvum) fruit acts as an
antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal agent, antidiabetic,
cardioprotective, tonic, supports new blood cell formation, anticancer, nervous
system strengthen, memory improvement. It
has also been found to contain essential nutrients such as proteins, zinc,
iron, copper, carbohydrate, manganese and Vitamin A, C, E and B-complex. Turkey
berry fruit is used in Ghanaian communities as a source of blood tonic for
anemic patients, and they are used in most of the Ghanaian villages as food for
pregnant women. In India the fruit is use to relieve stomach pains and improve
eye sight, in China its plant is use to relive pains not forgetting it uses in
other countries like Indonesia for curing prostate cancer, and using it as part
of daily cuisine and soups in Thailand, Ivory coast etc. Their use varies from
country to country. Turkey berry also helps in regulating menstruation and also
help to bring about regular menstrual periods, it helps in overcoming flu and
cold when used in soup, and it helps in the prevention of stroke…etc
Garlic (Allium sativum) is an antioxidant which
protects us from infection and also helps in strengthening our blood vessels.
Garlic, apart from its antioxidant activity, is found to be very rich in selenium,
calcium, iodine, potassium, proteins, silicon, sulphur, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3
and C by experts. Garlic help improve cholesterol level..
How to cope with stress and grow younger
Three herbal products
are involved here. I call this herbs the threeta herbs, Making a smoothie of these three herbal products will
prevent you from killing yourself because of stress.
You need;
Dandelion leaves (a
sizeable quantity)
Garlic (3pieces) and
Turkey berry/ ̒ ̒abedru
̓̓ ̓ (about a handful)
Wash the herbs with salt and after with water. Blend all together with
a little water just to aid the blending and filter. Drink a glassful before you sleep and
drink the rest in the morning before going to work. The left over shouldn’t be
refrigerated more than 24hours.
Consult your doctor if
you have been put under certain medications.
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