Download Stress, Lifestyle Factors and Inflammation

Stress, Lifestyle Factors
and Inflammation
DrLindaMayerandProfRashidBhikha
November2013
TheholisticapproachinTibbnotonlyillustratesthecomplexityofthe
humanbeing,italsoillustratesthecomprehensiveunderstandingoftherelationship
betweenthehumanbeing(microcosm)andtheenvironment(macrocosm),andtheroleof
Physisinmaintaininghomeostasis.Itrecognisesthephysical,emotional,mental,socialand
spiritualaspectsofthehumanbeing.
Healthisastateofoptimalphysical,mentalandsocialwellbeing,which,inTibb,is
dependentontheidealbalanceandratiooftheQualitiesandHumours,inrelationtothe
Temperamentofanindividual.
Tibbbelievesthatdiseaseisanaturalprocessandthatitssymptomsareanexpressionof
thereactionsofthebodytorestorequalitativeand/orhumoralimbalances.Lifestyleand
otherfactorsplayacrucialroleinmaintainingordisruptingthebalanceofthestateofthe
body,whichmayresultinillnessordisease.
Aself-preservativepowerorPhysis,strivestorestorethebalanceoftheHumours,inan
efforttoregainand/ormaintainthehealthyequilibriumofthebody.
Tibbrecognisesthemental,emotional,spiritualandphysicalcausesofillnessorhealth,as
wellastechniquesofmodernscienceandmedicine.1Itseesthebodyasbeinginfinitely
complex,notjustasimplemachine.Itunderstandsthatthereareseveralfactorsinthe
originofmostdiseases.Itbringsinaperson’sdiet,lifestyle,emotions,interactionwiththe
environmentandevenspiritualfactorsintoconsideration.
Thereisadirectcommunicationbetweentheendocrine,theimmune,andthenervous
systemsofthebody.Thebrainandtheimmunesystemcontinuouslysignaleachother,
oftenalongthesamepathways,whichmayexplainhowone’sstateofmindinfluences
health.Chemicalsproducedbyimmunecellssignalthebrain,andthebraininturnsends
chemicalsignalstorestraintheimmunesystem.Theimmunesystemcommunicatesby
releasingimmunecellsintothebloodstreamwhichtraveltonewlocationstodelivertheir
messagesortoperformotherfunctions.2
Theimmunesystemisconnectedtothebrainandthebody,thereforesystemic
inflammatoryreactionsandresponsescaninfluencethefunctioningofthebrain.Theblood
brainbarrierfiltersbloodbornecellsandproteins,andperipheralcytokineseither
penetratetheblood-brainbarrierdirectlyviaactivetransportmechanisms,orindirectlyvia
vagalnerve.Thereisabundantevidencethatinflammatorymechanismswithinthecentral
nervoussystemcontributetocognitiveimpairmentviacytokine-mediatedinteractions
betweenneuronsandglialcells.3
Currentresearchsuggeststhatdepressionisaninflammatorydisorderbecausetheplasma
levelsofcertaincytokinesareincreased,whileotherlevelsofmarkersarenotalteredin
depression,suggestingthatthereisnoTcellactivationinthatillness.Findingsalsoindicate
thatcell-mediatedimmuneactivationisthekeycomponentofdepression.4
StressandLifestyleFactorswhichtriggerInflammation
LifestyleFactorsisbasedonthesystemsofthebody,andplayanintegralpartinthe
maintenanceofhealthandpreventionandtreatmentofillness.“Health,stabilityandthe
body’sstateofequilibriumareregulatedthroughmoisture,whichoppressestheheat.
Eachofthesetwoqualitiesupholdstheother,andthebodyisupheldbythemboth.
Whenoneofthemexceedstheother,thebodybecomesindisposedaccordingly.”5
Environmentalairandbreathingislinkedwiththerespiratoryandcardiovascular
systems.
• Foodanddrinkislinkedwiththedigestive,hepaticandmetabolicsystems.
• Movementandrestarelinkedwiththemusculoskeletalsystem.
• Sleepandwakefulnessislinkedwiththenervoussystem.
• Emotionsarelinkedwiththenervoussystem.
• EliminationandRetentionislinkedwiththerenal,dermatologicalandgenital
systems.
1. Physicalstress
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Thehumanbodyisaverycomplexsystem,completelyintegratedandindependent.Whilst
apersonmaybesufferingfromaheadacheormouthsores,andthelinkbetweenthisanda
toxin-filledcolonmaynotbeapparent,butinTibbthislinkasthecause,isclearlyidentified.
Hippocratesbelievedthathealthistheeffectivedigestion,assimilationandeliminationof
thelifestylefactors.Thecorrectamountofsleepisrequiredforeachperson’sideal
temperament;andadequateretentionofnourishmentandeliminationoftoxinsisvitalto
theoverallhealthofanindividual.
Exerciseisbeneficialforthemaintenanceofhealthandwellness,withrespecttothe
physical,emotional,mental,socialandspiritualfacetsoftheindividual.Ahealthybody
createsahealthymindandahealthysoul.Whenallthesefacetsareworkinginunisonwith
oneanother,thehumoursandfunctioningofthebodyandallitsmemberswillbein
harmonywiththeoverallqualityofthetemperamentoftheindividual.Anychangesinthe
qualityand/orratiosofheat,moistness,coldnessordryness,willaffecttheoverallhealthof
theindividual.Theamountofexerciseneededforanindividualisdependentontheideal
Temperament.
Thefunctioningofeachpartofthebodyisinterdependentupononeanother.Forexample,
ifthebrainisnotfunctioningatitsoptimalcapacity,thiswillinfluencethephysiologicaland
psychologicalfunctioningofthebody.
Physicalstressorsinclude:
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Traumafromabluntorpenetratingobject,suchasafalloraknifewound.Trauma
mayalsobearesultofburnsorfrostbite.Foreignbodiesincludesplinters.
Intensephysicalexercisesuchasweightliftingandotherhighintensity
training/competitions.
Lackofexercisecanalsoleadtoinflammationduetopoormuscleandligament
strengthandtone,whichincreasetheriskofinjuries.
Repetitivemotionsuchastypingorwalking,cyclingorjogging.
Infectionsfrombacteria,viruses,parasites,fungioryeast.Anexampleisthe
Helicobacterpylori(Hpylori)whichisabacteriuminthestomachthatcontributesto
inflammationandthedevelopmentofulcers,becauseofweakeningofthe
protectivemucousofthestomachandduodenum,fromtheeffectsofhydrochloric
acidandpepsin.Otherinflammatorydiseasesincludegastriculcer,colitisorirritable
bowelsyndrome.
Co-existingchronicmedicalconditionssuchasarthritis,oranyotherinflammatory
illnesses.
Immunereactionsarealsoknownashypersensitivityreactions,suchasan
anaphylacticshock.Allergiesfromfood,suchascaseinandglutenareproteins
whicharefoundinwheatanddairyproducts,maycauseaninflammatoryresponse.
Anexampleiscoeliacdiseasefromwheatintolerance.
Aweakenedimmunesystemmayresultfrompoorlycontrolledco-existing
premorbiddiseases,and/orpoorlymanagedlifestylefactors.Thisresultissevere
pressureofPhysistorestoretheidealhumoralcompositionrequiredbyan
individual’stemperament.
2. Environmentalstress
Tibbrecognizestheintimaterelationshipthatexistsbetweentheindividualandthe
environment.Theexistenceandwellbeingofanindividualdependsonthecontinuous
interactionandadjustmentbetweentheirinternalandexternalenvironmentalfactors.
Ifthebodyaccumulatestoxinsmanydiseaseswilloccur,suchasallergiesduringspringtime.
Airistheprimarysourceofnutritionasoxygentransformsnutrients,presentinfood,into
energyandintohumoursandbodyfluids.However,pollution,climaticandtemperature
changes,humidityandairspeed,maypredisposepeopletoheartattacks,strokes,
respiratoryproblemsandotherdisorders.Ifthequalityoftheairispoor,thentheonset
anddevelopmentofspecificdiseasescanbeaccelerated.Manyoccupationaldiseaseshave
theirorigininlungswhichhavebeenweakenedbyexposuretopoorqualityair.
Whentheorganismsfailtoadjustoradapttotheenvironment,eitherduetoaweakened
immunesystem(innatedeficiency),orduetooverwhelmingantagonisticenvironmental
factors,whicharecontrarytotheidealhumoralcompositionforanindividual’s
temperament,itresultsindiseaseordeath.
Illnessconditions,linkedtohumours,exacerbateinseasonswherethereisapredominance
ofthequalitiesassociatedwiththerespectiveseason.Forexample:
DuringsummertheBilioushumourismoreactive,andaccumulatesduetotheincreased
heat.Duringwinter,thephlegmatichumourismoreactive,andaccumulates,duetothe
increasedmoisture.Duringspring,thephlegmatichumour,whichhasaccumulatedand
hardened,beginstosoftenandmelt.Similarly,duringautumnanincreaseincold,cools
downthelightandthinbilioushumour;bothseasonsarepreparingthesehumoursfor
expulsion.6
Assummermovesintoautumn,thedaysremainhot,butthenightsgrowcolder.These
wideningtemperaturefluctuationsputastrainonthebodytoadapt.Theporesmayopen
andsweatduringtheheatoftheday,andalloweveningchillstoenter.Excesscoldfoods
anddrinksconsumedinsummermayhavegeneratedsuperfluousphlegmatichumourthat
mayincreaseone'svulnerabilitytochillswhentheweatherstartschanginginautumn.The
coolweatherofautumncanproducedry,chappedskin,coryzaandsorethroats,coughsand
hoarseness.
Inwinterasaresultoftheincreasedfoodintaketoincreaseenergylevelstomaintain
warmth,thephlegmatichumouraccumulatesandhardens.Ascoldbecomessevereand
drynessintensifiesinmid-Winter,theMelancholichumourtendstogetaggravated,
resultinginsymptomsofstiffandpainfuljointsandmuscles.
Inspringthehardenedphlegmatichumourbeginstomeltandthevolumebecomesgreatin
thecirculatorychannels.Asaresultoftheincreasedcirculatingphlegmatichumour,the
digestiveactivityweakens,causingdiseases.
3. Emotionalstress
Emotionsplayalargeroleinthehealthandwellbeingoftheindividual.Apositivemental
attitudecaninfluencetheoutcomeofthehealingprocessandrecovery,whilstanegative
mentalattitudecanresultinadelayorhaltinthehealingprocessandrecovery,illnessand
evendeath.
Thoughts,themind’senergy,directlyinfluencehowthephysicalbraincontrolsthebody’s
physiology.Thought‘energy’canactivateorinhibitthecell’sfunction-producingproteins
viathemechanicsorconstructiveanddestructiveinterference.7
Peopleresponddifferentlyundersimilarcircumstances,whichisinherentintheirgenetic
make-upandTemperamentalQualities.Somepeoplecanhandlestress,andotherscannot.
Somepeoplebynaturearecalm,andothersareeasilyruffled.
Lifestressorssuchasbereavement,maritalseparation,academicexaminations,orthe
stressofAlzheimerspousalcaregiving,haveallbeenshowntohaveeffectsonimmune
function:
Individualsundergoingbereavement,showalterationsofcellularimmunityand
changesinbloodlevels.
• Psychologicalstressduringrelativelyminoraversiveevents,suchasacademic
examinations,temporallyincreaseswhitebloodcellcounts.
• Chronicstressorsthatlastoverperiodsofoneormoreyearsnotonlyincreasethe
riskfordepressionbutalsoarelikelytoresultinalterationsofimmunefunction.8
• Stressincreasesplateletactivation,whichisacauseofheartattacks.Other
correlationsarepointedoutbetweenstressandgastrointestinaldisorders,chronic
painanddiabetes.
Everyemotionisconnectedtoaparticularorganofthebody,whichstimulatesarespective
humourinthebody,forexample:
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Angerhashotanddryqualities,andisconnectedtotheLiver,thegallbladder,the
heartandthebrain.ApersonwithaBiliousTemperamentwillbemoreinfluenced
bythenegativeeffectsoftheintensityofanger,duetoitssimilarqualitiesofheat
anddryness.
Anxietyandworryhavehotandmoistqualities,andareconnectedtothepancreas
andspleen,andanexcessofheatandmoistnessmayresultintheimbalanceof
glucosemetabolism,suchasinsulinresistanceandtype2Diabetes.
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Depressionhasmoistandhotqualities,andisconnectedtotheBrainandNerves,
whichstimulatesthePhlegmatichumour.Excessivedepressionisharmfultothe
brain,andcanleadtomarkedweaknessesinthebody,aswellaslackofenergy,
enthusiasmandvitality.
Fearhasqualitiesofcoldnessandmoistness,andisconnectedtothekidneysand
urinarybladder,andlong-lastingfearresultsinexcessivecoldnessinthebody.Fear
causesthebloodcirculationtosuddenlymoveinwards,causingtheskintobecome
paleandcold,withshallowbreathing.Long-lastingfearresultsinexcessivecoldness
inthebody.
HappinessandExcitementhavequalitiesofheatanddryness,andareconnectedto
theHeart.
Griefhasqualitiesofcoldnessanddryness,andisconnectedtotheLungs,Brain,
HeartandLiver.Excessivegrief,anguishorsadnessmayresultindiseasesand
conditionsofthelungsandnervoussystems.
Emotionalstressorsinclude:
Inflammationismadeworsebystress,ashistamineisproducedasastress
response.9
• Ifstressisexperiencedoveraprolongedperiodthelevelsofcortisolincrease,which
alterstheeffectivenessofcortisoltoregulatetheinflammatoryresponse.Examples
includeIrritableBowelSyndromeorInflammatoryBoweldisease.
• Chronicstresscankillthegoodbacteriainthegut,suchaslactobacillus;alack
thereofwillaffectdigestionandenzymesnecessaryforthegoodfunctioningofthe
digestivetract.Examplesincludeindigestion,bloating,diarrhoeaorconstipation.
• StresscausesthepHofthebodytobecomemoreacidic,whichenhancesthe
environmentforthegrowthofbacteria.Thiscompromisestheimmunesystem,
whichleadstodiseasesuchasulcerativecolitis.
• Episodesofangerproduceharmfuleffectsintheheart,liver,anddamagethebrain.
Excessiveoruncontrolledangerisassociatedwiththebilioustemperament,and
increasesheatanddrynessinthebody.
4. ChemicalStress
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Freeradicalsarechemicalswhichareproducedinthebodyfromoxidativestress,which
largelyaffectsthejoints.Chemicalstressorsinclude:
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Theingestionofrancidfats.
Anexcessofironorcoppersupplements,orotherfoodchemicals,cleaningfluid,
cosmeticsandcarfumes.
Irradiation.
Toxins,suchasmercuryorpesticides.
Anexcessintakeofalcohol,especiallysweetones,willpromoteinflammation.
5. Nutritionalstress
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Thehumoursaretheprimaryfluidsthataremanufacturedfromthedigestionoffoodand
drink,whichareprocessedandtransformedintheliver.Anydysfunctionintheliverwill
affectthequantitativeandqualitativebalanceofthehumours.
Excessiveintakeoffoodanddrinkwiththesamequalitiesasthedominantqualities
associatedwithaperson’stemperamentwillincreasetherespectivehumourthefastestand
themost.Forexample:ApersonwithadominantBilious(Hot&Dry)temperamentwillbe
muchmoreaffectedbyfoodswhichhavequalitiesofheatanddryness,suchaschicken,
onionandgreenandredpeppers.Hotanddryfoodswhicharepungent,spicy,seasonedor
bitter,wouldalsoaffecttheBilioustemperamentthemost,because,ofthequalitiesofheat
anddryness.
TheuniqueTemperamentofanindividualenablesonetopredictwhoismorepredisposed
tocertainillnessesconditions.Thisenablesonetobalancethequalitiesofheat,moistness,
coldnessanddrynessbymakingtherightlifestylechoices,especiallyconcerningnutrition
andtheintakeoftissuesalts.“Letfoodbethymedicineandmedicinebethyfood”
(Hippocrates).
Inflammationisonlypartofthedefencemechanismthebodyemploysinanattempttoheal
itself.Whitebloodcellsareproducedinabundance,andrequirefuel,intheformof
saturatedfatandcholesterol,bothforcellformationandrepair.9
Nutritionalstressorsinclude:
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Increasedbodyfatespeciallyinobesitywherebyfatcellsproduceinflammatory
chemical;
Adiethighinsaturatedfats(alsoknownas‘B’fats),mayhaveinflammatoryeffects
onthebodyiftakeninexcess,orifonehasaco-existingmedicalconditionas
explainedabove.Examplesincludedairyproducts,suchasbutter,cheese,cream
andmilk.
Adiethighintransfats(badcholesterol)andhydrogenatedfatsandoilsblocksthe
productionofanti-inflammatoryagents.Examplesincludemargarineandpeanut
butter.Transfatsalsocreatefreeradicalsthatdamagehealthycellsandtrigger
inflammation.
Adietwithanexcessintakeofomega-6polyunsaturatedvegetableoils,(alsoknown
as‘A’fats)ishighinlinoleicacid,whichthebodyconvertsintoarachidonicacid,
changingtheirnaturalant-inflammatoryqualitiestoinflammatoryones.Examples
areassunflower,peanutsandsoy.
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Adietconsistingofhighcarbohydratesandlowproteinisconsideredtobe
inflammatory.
Refinedsugarandotherrefinedandprocessedfoodshaveahighglycaemicindex,
whichincreasesinsulinlevels,duetosurgesofbloodsugar.Thisput’stheimmune
systemonhighalert.Hormonesinthebody,calledEicosanoids,whichactasantiinflammatoryagents,becomeimbalancedwheninsulinlevelsarehigh,which,in
turn,activatesenzymesthatraiselevelsofarachidonicacidintheblood.
Adietlowinantioxidants,suchasfreshvegetables,willpreventtheexpulsionoffree
radicalsfromthebody.
Anti-InflammatoryDiet
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Wholefoods:unprocessed,unrefined,realfoodandhighinpowerfulantiinflammatoryplantchemicalscalledphytonutrients.10
Monounsaturatedfats:suchasavocados,walnuts,almonds,pecansandBrazilnuts
(alsoaplant-basedproteinsource),ricebranoil,grapeseedoilandwalnutoil.12
Fruitandvegetables:suchasgreenandbrightcolouredvegetablesandfruits,such
asblueberries,strawberries,broccoli,spinach,squashandcarrots.Thesearerichin
vitamins,minerals,fibre,antioxidantsandphytochemicals.11
Proteinsources:Nuts,leanpoultryandfattyfish(includesomega-3andprotein).
Plant-basedproteinsourcesarefoundinlegumes,nutsandseeds,aswellassoyand
soyfoods,suchastofu.11
Takeprobiotics:(“goodbacteria”)dailytohelpyourdigestiontoimprovethe
healthybacteriainyourgutwhichreducesinflammation,suchasBulgarianyogurt.11
Otheranti-inflammatoryfoodsandantioxidantsinclude:Ginger,garlic,turmeric,
oliveoil,berries,tartcherries,beets,tomatoes,peppers,soyandalmonds.
Summary
TheholisticapproachinTibbnotonlyillustratesthecomplexityofthehumanbeing,italso
illustratesthecomprehensiveunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweentheindividualand
theenvironment.Tibbemphasisestheneedforintegratingandrecognisingevery
componentoftheindividual,fromthephysical,mental,emotionalandsocial,tothe
spiritualaspects.Ittakesintoaccounttheidealtemperamentandhumoursofeach
individual,respectingPhysis,inthemaintenanceofhealthandthecuringofdisease.
ThesixlifestylefactorsareconsideredinTibbtobevitalcomponentsinthemaintenanceof
healthandrestorationbacktohealthintheeventofdisease.Theseinclude:environment,
airandbreathing;sleepandwakefulness;eliminationandretention;movementandrest;
emotionsandfeelings,aswellasfoodanddrink.
Wronglifestylechoicescantriggerinflammatoryreactionsinthebody,and,ifleft
uncheckedorsuppressedbymedication,mayresultinchronicanddebilitatingconditions.
References
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RoutestoHealth.SouthAfrica:MountainofLight.
2. Sternberg,E.M.&Gold,P.W.(2013).TheMind-BodyInteractioninDisease.[Online].
Availablehttp://www.onbeing.org/program/stress-and-balancewithin/feature/mind-body-interaction-disease/1183
3. Craig,J.;Wilson,M.B.B.S.;Finch,C.E.;Cohen,H.J.(2002).CytokinesandCognition—
TheCaseforAHead-to-ToeInflammatoryParadigm.JAGSDECEMBER2002–VOL.50,
NO.12.[Online].Availablehttp://www.usc.edu/projects/nexus/faculty/deptldsg/finchcaleb/388%20Finch%20Cytokines%20and%20Cognition.pdf
4. Maes,M.(2011).Depressionisaninflammatorydisease,butcell-mediatedimmune
activationisthekeycomponentofdepression.ProgNeuropsychopharmacolBiol
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20599581
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Matter&Miracles.U.S.A.:HayHouse.
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http://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000098/CH096.html
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http://www.foodsmatter.com/natural_medicine_comp_therapies/oxygen_therapy/
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10. Bauer,B.(2013).BuzzedonInflammation.MayoClinicHealthLetter.[Online].
Available
http://healthletter.mayoclinic.com/editorial/editorial.cfm/i/163/t/Buzzed%20on%20
inflammation/
11. Jetvig,S.(2013).Anti-InflammatoryFoods.[Online].Available
http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm