Dear Reader,
What happens in the vagus does NOT stay in the vagus. The vagus nerve, that is. And that's good
news for anyone who copes with chronic stress.
Deep abdominal breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which runs from your brain stem down through
your abdomen. This is the main nerve of the relaxation response.
Once stimulated, the vagus activates a chemical compound called acetylcholine. That's a neurotransmitter
that sends messages from your brain throughout your body.
And all the messages say, "Relax."
As treatments go, you can't do better than that. It's free. It's easy. You can do it anywhere. Perfect.
I've used it myself while driving. It doesn't exactly erase stress. But when I'm running late and the
construction has every highway down to one lane, it helps calm me down.
That's one way to reduce your stress.
OR...
You could get a stress vaccine that contains modified genes (yikes!) attached to a herpes virus (double yikes!).
This vaccine neutralizes stress hormones. But you should know that those hormones that get "neutralized"
are important. They play anti-inflammation and anti-cancer roles in the immune system.
Now what could possibly go wrong with THAT plan?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Stepford world
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This stress vaccine is not quite ready for prime time. In fact, it's still in the animal-testing stage. But it already
has a nickname -- the "Sapolsky shot." It takes its name from Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a Stanford University
neuroscience professor.
But as Dr. Sapolsky himself admitted to the Daily Mail, "To be honest, I'm still amazed that it works."
Well...it works in rats. Let's not jump to the conclusion that it will work SAFELY in humans.
The vaccine tampers with brain chemistry to produce a state Dr. Sapolsky calls "focused calm." The hope is
that stressed-out individuals will be able to cruise through a stress-filled life.
A Stanford colleague of Dr. Sapolsky's explains that the shot will "short-circuit the neural feedback caused by
stress."
Okay, but what about crises that take years to pass? Long-term issues with health, finances, and family life are
the factors that fuel chronic stress.
For those mired in one of these circumstances, would the Sapolsky shot actually produce a focused calm and a
Stepford Wife smile?
If so, that's pretty scary.
Dr. Sapolsky's colleague boldly predicts: "This could change society."
But who wants to live in a society of calmed-out zombies injected with herpes?
The opening line of the Daily Mail article suggests that we forget age-old stress remedies like yoga and meditation.
And yet, just a few years ago, Dr. Sapolsky participated in a science and meditation conference. Research shows that
meditation supports immune function and manages depression. It also reduces levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone."
I'm not sure how Dr. Sapolsky got from a conference like that to a genetically modified vaccine that uses herpes virus
to mess with hormones in the brain. But this we do know: You can't make a fortune telling stressed out people to
breathe deeply and wait for their focused calm.
Oh, and we also know this: If you do tell them that, it actually works.
Don't let this silent menace shrink your brain and steal your wits
Even if you're completely healthy...your brain literally starts to shrink beginning in early adulthood. And around age 60,
the rate your brain shrinks actually accelerates--dulling your memory and clouding your mind. But there's just been a
major breakthrough and...
Scientists believe they've pinpointed one of the reasons why this happens and better still--they found a way for you
to do something about it.
Don't wait another day to discover one way you could literally save your brain cells...
http://clicks.hsionline.com//t/AQ/AArA5w/AArTvQ/AAaeDg/Ag/AsuOGQ/wWeU
..and another thing
"Is there a cure for neuropathy?"
That question comes from an HSI member named Marion. And the answer is simple. "Maybe."
Neuropathy is nerve damage. It's a common side effect of diabetes. It causes numbness or painful tingling
in the hands and feet. It also contributes to dementia.
Some doctors treat the symptoms of neuropathy with drugs. Opioid pain relievers, anticonvulsants, and
antidepressants are commonly used.
But these drugs do nothing to address the root cause of nerve damage.
So the first important step is to manage blood sugar levels. After that, an alpha-lipoic acid supplement might help.
A few years ago, four trials tested a high dose of ALA (600 mg per day) given intravenously. Patients reported a
significant reduction in symptoms after just three weeks.
Other trials have shown that some diabetics may also respond to oral supplements of ALA at the same dosage.
Neuropathy is a serious condition that can lead to grave health problems. Find a doctor who can help monitor
your progress without resorting to drugs that only mask the symptoms.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
