Stress Care
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger – whether it’s real or imagined – the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response. The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges.
But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. Stress is a normal part of life, but if you feel overwhelmed by continual stress it can have a negative effect on your body. Stress can weaken your immune system and lead to mental and physical disorders, such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart problems.
All types of stress can affect the body, causing physical symptoms to appear, or aggravating pre-existing conditions. Physical symptoms include:
• muscle tension – where muscles of the neck and back are held tightly for an extended period of time resulting in pain and tension that may be difficult to release
• headaches – triggered by excess tension in the forehead or neck muscles, or by general over-activation of the body, loss of sexual desire, diarrhea or constipation
• insomnia – a frequent complaint at times of worry and anxiety, making it harder to handle stressful situations
• Appetite changes – often during times of stress there may be a strong desire for comfort or high-energy foods such as fat and sugar, which could lead to weight gain. On the other hand, some people experience a total lack of desire for food.
Ayurvedic herbs used in Stress Care products are mainly nervines, or herbs that act on your nervous system, and adaptogens, which affect your endocrine system and help your body resist stress. Stress Care products will help restore emotional and hormonal balance, strengthen your immune system and allow your body to cope better with stressful situations. You can also combine this with mental practices like yoga and meditation to enhance stress relief.