For many of my patients – and people I talk to all over the world when I speak – the stress of modern life is piling up. There seems to be so much pressure on us even when we do things that are supposed to be fun, like leisure sports. And the cost of living is skyrocketing. It’s heaping debt, insecurity and stress on so many of us.
That kind of stress can have very negative health consequences. And that’s why I’m writing to you today. I want to give you two tips that will help you ease the stress and bring your body back into balance.
A study I read in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that people who recently lost their jobs had a 200% increase in risk for heart attack and stroke.1
This makes perfect sense. When you experience stress, your body thinks it’s coming from something that poses a threat to your survival. So you release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol.
The problem is that our bodies are designed for stresses that pass quickly. Then we release the hormone DHEA which helps us recover.
But what happens when the stress goes on and on? With financial stress, the anxiety, worry, and stress are constant and chronic. And unless you do something about it, it doesn’t go away.
That means you need something to help deal with the stress first, so you can cope with the financial stresses with a clear mind.
Your mind plays an important part in this. When I was a young man struggling to make money for food for my family, I felt like I was doing OK. I didn’t consider my work stressful, even though it was hard. And that’s the thing that protected me – my mental attitude.
Did you know that studies show that if you perceive yourself as doing ok, then your health will be better than if you think you’re doing poorly? And that’s true regardless of your actual financial situation.2
Studies also show that what you choose to do about it can also help you live longer and stay disease-free.3
Cadence Relaxing Breathing
The first thing I want to help you do about helping your body deal with stressful times is to help you breathe. Every ancient health system has a breathing component because the ancients knew breathing is rejuvenating. I do breathing exercises every morning.
They’re very effective. Modern science has proven the ancients right. Did you know that these kinds of exercises can help you become as good as elite Special Forces soldiers and Olympic athletes in your ability to handle stressful situations?4 Powerful stuff.
To start, simply find a comfortable spot, and control your breathing. Bring it back to deep breaths, in and out.
First: Empty your lungs until there’s no more air. Exhale completely. Force out every drop.
Second: Inhale deeply for at least a slow count of 4. Fill your lungs until you can’t inhale any more.
Third: Hold your breath for at least a slow count of 7. Anticipating the exhalation like this creates a calming and rebalancing effect.
Fourth: Now exhale for at least a slow count of 8. Empty your lungs fully, then push out any remaining air. This is the part we usually forget, but it’s the most crucial. As you exhale, you will feel yourself relax.
By adding this exercise to your daily routine you’ll not only boost you’ll be able to effectively deal with problems like anxiety and isolation that cause excessive stress.
African Herbal Relaxing Adaptogen
The second way I want to help you is to tell you about a unique adaptogen – an herb that helps your body adjust to stress.
It’s called kanna. It’s not very well-known outside of Africa. But it’s been used for hundreds of years by the hunter-gatherer peoples to elevate mood and reduce stress. The traditional healers I’ve met in Uganda tell me they use it to treat anxiety, too.
It has a component called mesembrine, which studies show may help lessen the effects of stress. It’s a small plant that was usually chewed. But now you can get it as an extract powder. There are a few good places to get it online, and at local health food stores.
You might see the extract under the trade name “Zembrin,” which is the extracted and standardized form from South Africa. You can also find it blended with another South African tea leaf, rooibos.
To use kanna powder, try adding about 1/3 of a teaspoon into a cup of tea.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
1. Gallo W, et. al. “The impact of late-career job loss on myocardial infarction and stroke: a 10-year follow-up using the Health and Retirement Survey,” Occup Environ Med 2006. Consumer Interests Annual Vol. 51.
2. Geyer S, Spreckelsen O, von dem Knesebeck O. “Wealth, income, and health before and after retirement.” J Epidemiol Community Health. 2014. pii: jech-2014-203952.
3. Nandi A, Glymour M, Subramanian S. “Association among socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and all-cause mortality in the United States.” Epidemiology. 2014;25(2):170-7.
4. Mockenhaupt B. “A State of Military Mind” Pacific Standard. psmag.com. June 18, 2012. Retrieved Jan 21, 2014.