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A Planet Under Stress
by
Tara Hoffman
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our emotional states and spiritual wellbeing? In this modern world, we have been living a stressful existence for so long that it becomes “normal” to
us. However, living in a state of “stress” or “dis-ease” is far from normal…and far from healthy.
We experience stress when the body has to react (usually suddenly) to certain situations either mentally, emotionally, or physically. It’s part of
our everyday life, coming from events that happen all around us. They could be triggered by something or someone external, our own body, or
our own thoughts.
Acute stress is the most common form of stress – we all experience this on a day-to-day basis. It is short-term and exciting in small doses. Too
much is exhausting and overwhelming but since it doesn’t persist, it doesn’t do much damage to the body. There may be signs of irritability, anger,
frustration, etc.
Episodic acute stress extends over a longer period of time than acute stress and is patterned by the classic “Type A” personality. People under this
kind of stress seem to feed off their own nervousness and there’s usually the pattern of excess energy and the need to “always be busy”.
Stress is not necessarily a negative phenomena. The effects of stress could either be good or bad, depending entirely on how we handle it. In a time
of emergency, it keeps us alert, active and energetic. For example, during the early years of man, our reaction to the stress of danger, is what kept
us alive. In modern times, we don’t have saber tooth tigers attacking us but we have stresses that are just as frightening. We fear losing our jobs or
our homes….or we fear our husbands will run off with other women and leave us alone and sad. We probably live in more fearful conditions in this
modern world than ever before in our existence. At least early man knew who his enemies were and his biggest concern was to find food to eat.
Chronic stress is the most dangerous because it extends over long periods of time…sometimes throughout a person’s entire life. The body, mind,
and spirit are continually bombarded with the feelings of “fight or flight” which turns into distress. This is very detrimental to our wellbeing
because it can strain our relations with everyone around us and deteriorate our physical and mental condition. In essence, our very core of
existence is constantly under attack – leaving little time for spiritual endeavors.
How Does Stress Affect Your Overall Health?
When we react to stress in a negative manner, it usually leads to depression. To come out of this depression many take the harmful help of
tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, all of which give a sense of stress relief. In reality our body still remains stressed and these substances just help make
matters worse because the substances are very harmful to our bodies – creating a vicious cycle.
The harmful effects of stress may affect everyone differently but one common ground is that stress throws off the balance between the
sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the right or flight response), the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for relaxation) and
the autonomic nervous system (responsible for our response to stress and relaxation). Stated simply - in a chronically stressful situation, the body
is always in a state of “action” and never has the chance to rest. It’s like a horse running in a race. She can run full-throttle for a short time with no
issues. But a horse cannot run at full speed for years - she will eventually run out of steam and collapse.
The body is an amazing entity that will always try to balance itself. Therefore, it will respond to a long-term stressful situation by sending extra
glucose and the simplest forms of proteins and fats to the rescue. These substances are secreted by fat cells, the liver and muscles. Heart rate,
blood pressure and breathing will all increase; digestion will be inhibited, the immune system will become compromised and we will contract
infections, colds, etc. One may experience memory loss or loss of cognitive and sensory skills. The list of physical and mental maladies resulting
from imbalances triggered by the stress response would include every physical and mental condition known to man. In reality, the symptoms of a
stressful existence are all warning signs that the body is degenerating and will die if some action to correct the balance doesn’t take place.
People in modern society are dying in high volumes from stress related issues: heart attack, stroke, cancer, immune diseases, inflammation….all a
result of a modern society’s stressful way of living. The body and mind simply do not have the down time to relax and recuperate. That’s why
activities that affect the parasympathetic nervous system are helpful in balancing the human body, mind, and spirit.
Activating the relaxation response is very effective in re-establishing the balance in the human body; therefore, any stimulus that can enhance the
response will be invaluable. Meditation and massage have both been proven to provide positive effects for the parasympathetic nervous system.
The body and mind both relax and the balance is reestablished.
Further, studies done by Wilkinson et.al (1999) found that massage with essential oils seems to enhance the effect of massage and improves
physical and psychological symptoms as well as overall quality of life.
Many essential oils contain a much higher vibration that our physical bodies. Our bodies are dense and large – while plants are more subtle and
medicinal. Their molecules are small so they enter the bloodstream quickly and can have an immediate effect on our wellbeing. Because the oils
are made up of the very life force of the plant, those of us who use them have an internal knowing that this plant’s life was sacrificed for our healing
possibility and that’s a powerful feeling of nurturance – a being sacrificing their life so that we can live.
A human being’s response to stress needs to be addressed from an holistic approach because the entire being is responding to the stressors…not
just the heart, liver, etc.
If homeostasis can be re-instated, the physical, mental and spiritual being can be returned balance.
I believe that FEAR produces most of the stress in our lives and all emotions stem from that fear. Therefore, I would choose an oil blend that
addresses the human emotion of fear to help the person return to a state of balance. I chose ginger , lavender, and peppermint as the healing trio.
20% ginger - as base note
50% lavender - as middle note
30% peppermint - as top note
Application would be best in a diffuser so that the treatment would be continual. However, evening baths with the oils would be recommended as
well as routine massage using this blend.
In my eyes, these amazing medicinal plants are selfless beings who provide the world with gentle and constant healing. If we choose to accept their
compassion, they will extend to us the entire realm of possibilities. All we have to do is accept their help, realize what is important in this life….and
have the courage to live it.
References:
Advanced Aromatherapy – Science of Essential Oil Therapy – by Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D.
Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers – Jade Shutes anad Christina Weaver
About.Com - http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/stresshealth.htm
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