Monthly Archives: July 2018

Changing Perspectives

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I am a planner, not a worrier and I was discussing this with my mother recently. She is a worrier and as she grows older, she worries more than plans. Although, she intellectually knows that worrying wastes time and energy and resolves nothing, she cannot help herself. I was a worrier in my teens and early 20s and it made me physically ill. In fact, my headaches got so severe, normal pain relievers wouldn’t do the trick.  I ending up going to a neurologist and had a CAT scan that revealed nothing more than I was experiencing vascular headaches. My body was reacting to my over anxiousness and worrying.  That’s the point when I chose to focus my energy on planning and being proactive. After some time, perhaps years (it’s easier to intellectualize than to put into practice), I didn’t worry about the things I couldn’t control, which are a lot. What I did was think about options or solutions to problems. For example: if I need to leave town, who will take care of Mathew while Mike works. It’s a lot like buying insurance, sometimes you need it, other times you don’t. I would rather invest my time in finding solutions than waste my energy in worrying. It alleviates the powerlessness and anxiety that worrying creates.

Not only is worrying unproductive, too much of it can really be physically debilitating, triggering a host of health problems.  When we are anxious or feel that we are in danger our body has an automatic physiological reaction called the “fight or flight” response that releases a surge of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol into our bloodstream and sets our bodies on red alert, preparing our body to “fight” or “flight.”  The chemical release causes our body to undergo a series of very dramatic changes. Our respiratory rate increases. Blood is diverted away from our digestive tract and directed into muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for running and fighting. Our pupils dilate, awareness intensifies,  sight sharpens, impulses quicken,  perception of pain diminishes and our immune system mobilizes with increased activation. We become prepared—physically and psychologically—for “fight or flight.” We scan and search our environment, “looking for the enemy.” This served our ancestors well as the “fight or flight” response protected them from dangers such as wild animals that wanted to eat them. For the most part, we don’t encounter wild animals these days, but our bodies still sense “dangers.”  They’re there in the form of a demanding work schedule, deadlines, balancing home and work life, a challenging child, climate change, misguided leaders, a dispute with a loved one, even a scary movie or exciting adventure ride can trigger the response.

Once a perceived threat has passed, hormone levels return to normal. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal levels, and the other systems resume their regular activities. It’s okay if the perceived “danger” or stressor is time limited. The problem occurs when “fight or flight” is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. The overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all of our body’s processes. Therefore, putting us at an increased risk of numerous health problems, including:

  • Digestive issues
  • Heart disease
  • Sleep problems
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Weight gain
  • Memory and concentration impairment
  • Suppression of the immune system
  • Muscle tension
  • Depression

Although these effects are a response to stress, stress is simply the trigger. As I learned the hard way, whether or not you become ill depends on how you handle stress. Your body is profoundly influenced by your coping style and your psychological state. It isn’t the stress that makes you ill, it’s how you deal with it. If you are prone to excessive worrying, you’re  putting your body in a constant “fight or flight” response, your body will not get the opportunity to get back into balance; this is not a good thing. This perpetual state of emergency with no rest can bring on physical illness. Something has to change to maintain a healthy body. There are lots of things you can do, exercise, take breaks, meditate, forest bathing, waterfall therapy ~ but I think the only way to profoundly stop the continuous “fight or flight” response is to change your point of view. For me, it was to start planning for issues/problems that might arise and accept that I am powerless to control life. Other people need to accept their role in creating stressful situations, whether they never say no and forget there is simply only 24 hours in a day or live in a constant state of perpetual fear of something happening.  Whatever it is that puts you in continual state of stress, simply needs to go. I know it is much easier said than done. Hey, it took me years to put this point of view into practice even though I intellectually knew it. Nevertheless, there is no day better than today to start changing your perspective. Your life really does depend on it.

Goldenrod is always there when you need it

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My savior

I woke up the other morning with thick, watery, itchy eyes, a lump in my throat and a heavy feeling. I had one of those WOW moments. These were obviously allergies symptoms, which have thankfully become strangers to my body. Although, I could remember when we were close roommates for years, they have been now just a memory since I met Goldenrod (Solidago, spp.), who turned my life around. I have not felt this way in such a long time.

There was a time when I couldn’t get a handle on my allergy symptoms; I was a mess.  I took and tried everything, I used the neti pot, took Claritin, Nasacort, Allegena (homeopathic tincture for pollen allergies) and Benadryl (I’m one of those weird people that Benadryl actually keeps up), all at once.  Nothing seemed to give me relief; my symptoms were barely under control. I walked around in a fog, barely functioning. It seemed like I was allergic to everything that emerged from spring through autumn.

I tried Goldenrod tincture along with a boatload of synthetic allergy medicines, but it did nothing. Nevertheless, one day, something told me to take Goldenrod without anything else and it made such a huge difference. Always go with your instincts folks.  By the fourth day, I felt human again and have been that way ever since. That was over seven years ago. At first I was taking Goldenrod tincture daily to ameliorate my allergy symptoms, but over the years I’ve been able to titrate down. I always think using the least amount is best. No reason to take something you don’t need. This year, I have barely taken it at all, perhaps a couple times a month, if that. Some people ask me if Goldenrod cures allergies, I still do not have a clear answer, but it certainly strengthens the body so it can deal with them better.

Of course, I went into my apothecary, took some Goldenrod, and felt human again. It works best with symptoms of red, inflamed eyes, postnasal drip, allergy induced nose running, sinus headaches, general congestion in sinus and upper respiratory and asthma. It is important to keep in mind that Goldenrod works in concert with body’s natural immune system. Most synthetic allergy medicine alters our immune responses so Goldenrod becomes ineffective when taking with synthetic allergy medicine.

So how does Goldenrod work?

  • It is a mast cell stabilizer; it prevents mast cells from releasing the substances that cause inflammation therefore, mediating inflammatory responses.
  • It’s astringent, so it tightens tissues and tones them.
  • It’s anti-inflammatory, which helps soothe the irritations caused by the allergens.
  • It’s anti-catarrh, helping the body remove excess mucus from the sinuses or other parts of the body.
  • It also restores the cellular integrity of all the mucous membranes.

Although I no longer need Goldenrod daily, I am so glad it’s always there when I do. How are your allergies? Have you thought about trying some Goldenrod, believe me, you won’t be sorry.

If you are interested in learning more about Goldenrod, on August 25, 2018 we will be delving deeper into this magical herb with so much more healing power than you ever knew. Ameliorating allergies is just the tip of the iceberg. For more information, please check out “The Golden Answer.”

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.