Stress
Synopsis of Stress
Stress is the body’s natural response to perceived challenges or threats, whether emotional, physical, or environmental. It triggers a cascade of hormonal and neurological changes—primarily involving cortisol, adrenaline, and the sympathetic nervous system—that prepare the body for action (the "fight-or-flight" response). While short-term stress can be beneficial by enhancing focus and energy, chronic or unmanaged stress contributes to numerous health issues including anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, cardiovascular disease, and weakened immunity. Stress can arise from external situations or internal pressures and affects people differently based on their coping capacity and lifestyle.
Types:
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Acute stress: Short-term reaction to immediate challenge or threat
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Chronic stress: Ongoing stress from persistent problems (e.g., work, relationships)
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Emotional stress: Driven by grief, anxiety, or unresolved emotions
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Physical stress: Results from injury, illness, or intense exertion
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Psychological stress: Triggered by internal conflict or mental overload
Common Causes:
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Work overload or job insecurity
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Financial worries
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Relationship conflict or loss
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Major life transitions (e.g., moving, divorce, parenthood)
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Poor time management or lack of boundaries
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Social isolation or information overload
Severity Causes:
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Prolonged exposure to stress without recovery periods
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Lack of sleep or poor nutrition
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Underlying mental health disorders (anxiety, depression)
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Excessive screen time or constant connectivity
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Lack of social support or healthy outlets
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Suppressed emotions or poor emotional regulation
When to See a Doctor:
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Persistent fatigue, insomnia, or low mood
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Panic attacks or overwhelming anxiety
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Changes in appetite, weight, or blood pressure
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Physical symptoms like chest pain, digestive issues, or frequent illness
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Inability to function in daily life or maintain relationships
Natural remedies for Stress
Ashwagandha: A powerful adaptogen that helps regulate cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and promote calm without sedation.
GABA: A calming neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability and helps quiet the stress response, especially in moments of overwhelm.
L-theanine: Found in green tea, it promotes relaxation without drowsiness and enhances alpha brain wave activity linked to calm focus.
Magnesium: Supports nervous system balance and muscle relaxation. Deficiency is strongly linked to heightened stress sensitivity.
Chamomile: Traditional herb for calming tension and aiding relaxation. Consumed as tea or supplement, it reduces both mental and physical symptoms of stress.
Probiotics: Balance the gut-brain axis, which is essential in managing mood, anxiety, and resilience to stress.
Vitamin B6: Involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, including serotonin and dopamine. Deficiency can worsen emotional instability under stress.
Mindfulness and breathwork: Deep breathing, meditation, and grounding exercises regulate the autonomic nervous system and reduce physiological stress.
Consistent routines: Maintaining sleep, meals, and exercise habits reduces internal chaos and boosts resilience to life’s demands.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Stress
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
7-Keto-DHEA
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Agarwood
Agastache
Agmatine
Agrimony
Akebia
Albizia
Algal protein
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-pinene
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
anise
Anserina
antler
Antrodia camphorata
apigenin
Aralia
Arginine aspartate
arjun tree
arjuna
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
baccosides
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
banana
banyan
Basidiomycota
bee pollen
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
biota seed
bird\'s nest
black ginger
Black spruce
black tea
bonito peptide
borage
brahmi
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
C-phycocyanin
calamus
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
Canscora
Capitate Valerian
cardamom
caterpillar mushroom
catnip
catuaba
Celastrus
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chaga mushroom
chamomile
cherimoya
Chinese fleeceflower
Chinese mountain ant
chocolate
chuchuhuasi
Clary sage
Clerodendrum phlomidis
coca
cocoa
Codonopsis
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
coriander
corktree
Corydalis
cowslip
curcumin
Cymbopogon martini
cypress
damiana
date
devil\'s club
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
dismutase
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dong quai root
eleuthero
emblicanin
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Eplotab
Erythrina
Eurycoma Longifolia
Ficus religiosa
fish
fish protein
flavones
fo-ti
fragrant rosewood
frankincense
Fumaria parviflora
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
galactooligosaccharides
gardenia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
Ginsenosides
Glycine
goji berry
goldthread
gotu kola
green tea
Griffonia simplicifolia
guayusa
gum
heartwood
Hemidesmus
hericium mushroom
hibiscus
Homalomena
honeybush
Honokiol
hops
Hypericum
isoliquiritigenin
Japanese kadsura
jasmine
Jatamansi
jiaogulan
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
kola nut
kuding tea
kudzu
Kukicha
L-ornithine
L-taurine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactalbumin
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactucarium
Lactucopicrin
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lemon balm
Lentinula edodes mycelia
Leptadenia
limonene
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
longan
lotus
lupulinum
Lycium
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
mandarin
mangiferin
maral root
Marjoram
Matcha
Mate
Meadow sage
Melatonin
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesembrine
Methylxanthine
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mint
Mistletoe
Monkey flower
Motherwort
Muira puama
Mulberry
Mulungu
Mung bean
Myrcene
Nardostachys
Night jessamine
noni
Nymphaea caerulea
oat
oolong tea
orchid
oriental arborvitae
Oxindole alkaloids
passionflower
Passionfruit
Patchouli oil
Pentatropis capensis
Pepper Bark Tree
Peppermint
perilla
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
pine bark
Piper chaba
Pistachio
Polygala
polygala root
poppy
pregnenolone
Purple Monkeyflower
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
quail egg
Rauvolfia
Rehmannia
relora® (proprietary)
Rhodiola
Rooibos
Rosabin
rosavins
rose
rose oil
Safed musli
saffron
Safranal
Salidroside
Sandy Everlasting
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Semecarpus anacardium
sesame
Shankhpushpi
Shataverins
Shilajit
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
skullcap
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spikenard
spinach
St. John's Wort
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
star of Bethlehem
suma
Sumbul
Sweet Woodruff
Tagara
Taurine
Taxillus chinensis
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Tetrahydropalmatine
Traveler's Joy
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
Uncaria
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
Vanilla
velvet bean
Verbena
Vetiver
Viburnum
Vine tea
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
Vitexin
Waterhyssop
whole adrenal glandular
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xanthine
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba mate
Ylang ylang
Yohimbine
Yumberry
Yuzu
Zinc
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