1. First the hypothalamus gets the message that something is wrong. This could happen when someone criticizes you, when you get angry, when you watch an action film or cartoon or when you play a video game. It then sends the chemical CRF to the pituitary gland.

2. The pituitary gland then releases ACTH and sends a message to the adrenal glands.

3. The adrenal glands then release cortisol, which the hypothalamus and the pituitary are then responsible for regulating (Spelman).

However, when this "loop" or "axis" is constantly being bombarded with messages of stress, the glands can become desensitized to the levels of cortisol in the body and can, over time, require more and more levels to be satisfied. Spelman says this is akin to how a person can become desensitized to noise or the taste of salt. In the same way, the hypothalamus and the pituitary get used to high levels of cortisol and can no longer manage the levels effectively (Spelman).

However, stopping this cascade from happening is easier than most people realize. Spelman says the most important thing to remember is that the higher brain centers start this cascade of stress, so prayer and meditation are essential to keeping these areas under control. He says he can easily check how a person is dealing with stress by asking them, "Is the universe a safe place?" Their answer, he says, gives him a good idea about how the person's higher brain cells are sending messages to the glands (Spelman). As Muslims, we know that keeping our five prayers a day are obligatory and that our faith in Allah (swt) and his wisdom are required of us. However, Spelman tells us that these are not only required but necessary factors for breaking the stress loop. Furthermore, since excess cortisol in the system decreases T-cell and general immune system functions, avoiding the stress loop is also essential to our health (Spelman). 

Cortisol also regulates metabolism, lipids and proteins; therefore, problems with weight gain or diabetes can be made worse by stress. Furthermore, anger and stress can actually alter a person's DNA, creating an unhealthier strain of diseases that may be passed on to children (Spelman).

Along with meditation, yoga, and prayer, Spelman recommends the use of adaptogens to help both the physical body and the mind. Adaptogens are a class of herbs that "adapt" to the body and regulate it into a state of homeostasis (Knight, p.1). For example, a typical adaptogen would raise blood pressure in someone with low blood pressure, but decrease it in someone with high blood pressure. Adaptogens are usually safe to take over a long period of time and usually take a few months for their effects on a chronic problem to become apparent. There have been 1500 studies on adaptogens in Russia alone, and many more have been done in America and Europe since 1947 (Walker, p.4). Some effective adaptogens are byronia, ashwaganda, nettles, saw palmetto, hawthorne berry and ginseng.

One must commit to adaptogens for three months or more in order to see a significant effect. One reason for this is because adaptogens must be taken in low doses. At first, they will bring the cortisol level of the body up; but if used over a long period of time in high doses they can deplete the body of cortisol. Adaptogens have many benefits other than lowering the stress threshold. Adaptogens can:

1. Assist in the production of lipids in the body.
2. Limit cortisone production.
3. Regulate energy levels.
4. Improve circulation.
5. Help increase energy levels.
6. Improve quality of white blood cells.
7. Increase free amino acids in the muscle.
8. Help the body become more aware of the warning signs of over-stress (Spelman, Knight)

Adaptogens are used most often in the following cases:

1. Where a person has used steroids (for asthma or sports) over a long period of time and created a strong stress-loop reaction in the body.
2. For people with chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
3. For depression due to anxiety or burnout.
4. For bi-polar disorder.
5. For overwork.
6. During chemo and radiation therapy.
7. For emotional trauma.
8. For GI conditions associated with the emotions.

Dr. Morton Walker, in his article "Adaptogens: Nature's Answer to Stress," states that, "It's well-known that 80% of all illness and disease is stress-related. The three best-selling drugs in the United States, tranquilizers, painkillers, and gastro-intestinal remedies, were developed to counter stress. Two-thirds of all visits to family physicians stem from stress. It's the root problem for anxiety, alcoholism, headaches, hypertension, irritability, and many other common ailments" (Walker, p.1). 

With this in mind, we may all want to make a stronger effort to perform our required and recommended prayers each day; and consider the use of a good adaptogen.

Karima Burns, MH, ND attended an herbal and natural healing conference the weekend of August 18th, 2001. At the conference she met many well-known and respected herbalists and healers. During the next few weeks she will be sharing with you some of the latest trends, insights and movements within the natural health field.


Sources:

Knight, Juli. "Adaptogens" Herbs for Health. About.com. December 12, 1998.

Spelman, Kevin. "The Stress Axis as a Physiological Crossroads in Disease." Frontier HerbFest. August 2001.

Walker, Dr. Morton. "Nature's Answer to Stress." Townsend Letters for Doctors. 1994