Indications

Stress

What is stress?

• It is a condition of mental or emotional imbalance.
• It is a condition which prepares the body for 'fight or flight'.
• The body starts to secrete appropriate hormones and enzymes with which to defend itself.
• The body is in a constant state of tension and restlessness.
• A cause of stress can be a specific occurrence or event.
• Stress can be a way of responding to our every day lives - on this basis we can be permanently stressed without even realising it. (We lay the blame on having a bad on the weather, other people, circumstances etc).

The human immune system

• The immune system in the human body works as an extremely effective military machine. It never enters into negotiations or accepts compromise, it doesn't bargain, it is not familiar with captivity and it never rests. The only reason it would rest would be if it were already among the dead.
• It is constantly in contact with bacteria, fungi and parasites, none of which we are able to see with the naked eye, but all of which want to convert our bodies into their own living space.
• More than one million bacteria are in existence on each square centimetre of freshly washed human skin.

The immune cells form the defence mechanism of the immune system, and they originate in the following organs:

• Thymus
• Spleen
• Lymph nodes
• Lymphatic system (lymph)
• Bone marrow
• White blood cells or leucocytes are created which defend the body against infection.

Types of white blood cells:

• NEUTROPHILS: 60-70% of this blood cell type arrive first at the site of infection and attempt to eliminate the foreign bodies, which they swallow up and in doing so they themselves sometimes die. They also consume themselves. Some clear away the mess left after the first fighting troops. The consequential result of this combat is pus. They feed themselves in such a way that they wrap themselves around their food (bacteria) and so swallow up, so to speak, the bacteria. Neutrophils are in constant circulation in the blood.
• MACROPHAGES: These white blood cells are larger and slower than neutrophils. They roam around the body until such time that chemical elements warn them of a battle in their vicinity, at which time they rush to the scene of the encounter. They consume bacteria like hamburgers. First they finish eating, then they retreat and then come back again for more. They cleanse the body, they eat pus, they carry off particules of dust, pollen, tar and toxins from the lungs.
• KILLER CELLS: These white cells take care of all the cells in the body which are not behaving as they should, are dividing too much, are changing - simply, they kill them.
• T CELLS: These are the chemical sword bearers - they run directly into, and destroy, the enemy. These white blood cells are primarily adapted for dealing with viruses. They multiply on their own and in this manner they destroy the enemy. Most people already know these cells as Killer T Cells or Helper T Cells.
• B CELLS: These cells function from afar. When they identify the enemy, they convert themselves into plasma cells and start to emit antibodies which are in the shape of the letter Y, and in this way they are custom made for the elimination of the enemy. The plasma cells multiply and duplicate themselves so that they can create more antibodies.

These are the principal cells which make up the defence system of our body. However, during this defence process the central nervous system, different hormones, complexes, enzymes, skin, lymphocytes, mast cells and basophils all work together to devour any 'foreign' invaders.

What is the connection between the immune system and stress?

• Psychosomatic - our state of mind is very closely linked to the responses of our body.
• When the body is under stress, the adrenal glands secrete corticosteroid hormones - so the body's power of resistance drops.
• More of the hormone vasopressin is secreted, which causes the slowing down of the movement of antibodies.
• Emotions have an effect on sickness and death - on the immune system.

What can trigger stress?

• Worry
• Sadness
• Anger
• Unhappiness
• Disappointment
• Discontentment
• A fast pace of life. The feeling of not having time, the feeling of not being able to, the feeling of not knowing if this is alright, the feeling of not wanting to but having to, the feeling of it were possible but it's not, the feeling of being overburdened, and so on.

The consequences of stress
Stress has a physical as well as a mental effect on the body, and these effects can manifest themselves as some of the following:

• Migraines
• Tension forming in some muscles, for example in the back and shoulders
• Acne
• Skin reactions
• Development of allergies
• Nervousness, irritability
• Insomnia
• Lack of concentration - decline in memory capability
• Depression, dissatisfaction
• Impotence
• A proneness to becoming ill, on account of the diminished power of resistance of the immune system

Incorrect responses to stress
Emotional and mental:

• Reflecting on what will happen tomorrow or in the future.
• Being overwhelmed by the negative aspects of a problem; not being able to see things from a positive point of view.
• Feelings of resentment - not being able to forgive or to accept what happened.
• Resigning yourself to your destiny - in a depressive way

Behavioural responses which can be a result of a bad reaction to stress:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Drinking coffee
• Taking drugs
• Loss of appetite
• Over-eating
• Physical inertness
• Excessive sexual or sporting activity
• Becoming a workaholic

How do our organs respond to stress?
Digestive Tract

• Inflammation of the stomach
• Erosive inflammation of the stomach and the duodenum
• Inflammation of the large intestine
• Irritation of the large intestine

Brains

• Mental and emotional disquiet

Hair

• Baldness

Mouth

• Aphtha, Decay

Lungs

• Asthma attacks
• Breathing difficulties

Heart

• Angina pectoris attacks
• Heart disturbances - Arrhythmia

Muscles

• Muscle tics - twitching spasms

Bladder

• Becomes excitable which causes frequent passing of urine

Skin

• Skin diseases, such as eczema or psoriasis

Reproductive organs

• Amenorrhea - the loss of the monthly menstrual cycle in women
• Impotence and premature ejaculation in men

What helps?

• A diet which does not overload the body and which contains the increased requirement for A, C, E and B vitamin groups as well as minerals (iron, calcium, selenium, magnesium, copper, zinc), fruit, vegetables and cereals.
• Avoidance of highly calorific foods, which are poison for the immune system.
• Rest and relaxation.
• Meditation, self training, joga, Tai Chi Chuan, etc.
• Exercise.
• Saunas, massages, baths.
• Theatre, opera, ballet, music.

Does a natural medicine exists which could help our nerves?

• Yes it does, and this is in the shape of magnesium, an anti-stress mineral.
• It protects our heart from being seriously over-strained on account of stress.
• It prevents muscle spasms.
• It prevents painful menstrual cramps and miscarriage.
• It prevents too much excitability of the bladder.
• It neutralises stomach acid and repairs cells in the digestive tract and also the mouth cavity.
• It looks after sex drive and semen mobility.
• The easiest way to obtain magnesium is from Donat Mg mineral water.
• The daily magnesium requirement is taken care of by drinking half a litre of Donat Mg mineral water on a daily basis.
• 1-2 dcl should be drunk before meals.
• Donat Mg needs to be at room temperature before it is drunk.