2006-04-11 06:37:00

Stress is a universal human experience that involves a complex interaction of many variables. For instance, most people may consider it a highly stressful experience to jump out of an aeroplane with a parachute. Yet for some, it is a sport that they enjoy tremendously.

According to Ayurveda, good health is when our body is in perfect balance - physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

Socialising and regular physical exercise is the best way to reduce stress at the physical and mental levels. A change in one's overall outlook or attitude is another useful way to reduce stress, said Dr Vikram Chauhan, a consultant physician for planetayurveda.

There are various herbs that can be useful in managing stress. For instance, you could dilute 3 grams of the root powder of ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) into a drink or dilute one teaspoonful of a clarified butter preparation made from ashwagandha ghrit into milk at bedtime to fight stress.

Regular use of herbs like brahmi (bacopa) and shankhpushpi (convolvulus) helps both the body and mind to combat stress effectively and scavenge free radicals from within the body.

Regular consumption of amla juice (Indian gooseberry juice) can also lead to free radical scavenging from the body. Amla is a rich natural source of Vitamin C.

A nutritious diet and yoga can also help to mitigate stress.

A certain degree of stress has been shown to be helpful to drive us forward. However, when stress becomes overwhelming and continuous, it may overwhelm the body, throwing it off equilibrium and disrupting the smooth flow of qi (energy) in the body, said Ms Jinny Chang, community pharmacist at Alchemy Pharmacy.

Although not all diseases are caused by stress, some are a result of stress.

According to TCM, stress affects the liver, which is supposed to regulate the flow of qi in the body. When the liver is not functioning properly, qi will not flow freely. The result: Physical symptoms such as worry and anxiety, which - in time - could manifest into other symptoms such as chronic fatigue and disturbed sleep.

Treatment of stress is geared towards restoring the smooth flow of energy to encourage both the body and mind to relax.

Diet plays an important role on how we cope with stress. When the body is under stress, it tends to act like an overheated engine. Avoid spicy or hot food and stay away from greasy, fatty, sugary and processed foods that are also difficult to digest. Also, eat regular meals.

Exercise circulates qi and exercises such as tai chi and swimming are helpful. Qigong is believed to help both the body and mind to function at an optimum level, increase vitality and encourage self-healing mechanisms. Tuina or reflexology massages use small circular movements of the thumb to bring relief and can be very relaxing.

Supplement your diet with herbs such as rhodiola rosea (golden root), cordyceps and panax ginseng (ginseng root). These herbs can help to fortify the stress response system in your body and are potent antidotes that help you cope with today's hectic world.

In simple terms, stress has three distinct components, said Danny Ng, a consultant psychologist with Raffles Hospital.

The first is an environmental experience or an event that causes a person to feel aroused or tense (a stimulus). Stress also comprises of a subjective response to this stimulus or event (the disposition). The final component is a translation of these two components to a physical reaction in the person towards this demanding or damaging intrusion (a response).

Stress is linked to heart disease, insomnia and an increased risk of cancer and other illnesses because of a compromise in the body's auto-immune system.

In terms of one's psychological well-being, stress manifests itself in the form of anxiety, anger or panic attacks. In some prolonged and severe cases, clinical depression may set in.

Stress is also known to affect interpersonal relationships. Continuous and unrelieved job or occupational stress can lead to a debilitating psychological condition known as "burnout".

Burnout is characterised by depleted energy and a loss in the drive to work. In turn, this can result in increased absenteeism and inefficiency at work.

The management of stress requires proper time management, quality rest, adequate exercise and good diet and nutrition.

In short, self-care is of great importance in managing stress in our lives. - TODAY

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