Stress, as we use it in common parlance, is negative in its effects, and is referring to distress.
Stress is a common biological response (stay tuned for more to come on the nervous system) and is prevalent in our culture. Common symptoms are irritability, muscle tension, an inability to concentrate, headaches, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and decreased immune function.
Stress manifests in many disease conditions, and while the term connotes a psychological or emotional response to an event, stress can be purely physiologic, as in the case of traumatic or sports injury.
Eu-stress is a positive form of stress that challenges us to reach beyond our potential. As an example of eu-stress, consider what happened in Biosphere I in Arizona: the trees in the biosphere grew but did not thrive, despite adequate sunlight, water, soil, and nutrients. The scientists were at first stumped, but through study and review, found the lack of challenge from outside — wind, rain, and shifting soil conditions — was the reason.
Oriental medicine is very much concerned with maximizing our potential. At its core is the notion that each of us possesses the raw material for a long and healthy life.
It is through our choices that we activate this potential: our DNA will continue to replicate to create our form and all the substances needed to make the body’s processes run smoothly, but when we eat higher quality food and drink clean water, we are ensuring the integrity of our cells and their continued growth. This is even more apt in pregnancy for the developing fetus.
Current research supports the Oriental medicine paradigm: neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells) is a current hot topic (a PubMed search shows 7,934 entries — that’s 7,934 completed studies!), in conjunction with studies measuring the effects of lifestyle changes on our genetic expression.
To summarize, we need the challenge of stress to grow, and, armed with knowledge, we are capable of going beyond our expectations.
http://mountaintopacupuncture.com/maximizing-potential-with-positive-stress
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At Mountaintop Acupuncture, we have a combined 34 years of experience. To read more, please click here.
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