Stress weakens our immune system and allows the microorganisms to penetrate our defenses. It plays a key role in the onset of most disease one faces from the common cold to heart disease. The realization that stress is caused from within helps us to comprehend that as we have the ability to create the experience of stress, we also have the ability to create the experience of peace of mind. A lifestyle based in harmony is a stress –free lifestyle

Stress can be divided into 3 stages
1. Alarm stage: Physiological changes one undergoes when preparing to deal with a threat.
2. Resistance stage: Initiation of the chosen course of action.
3. Exhaustion stage: Period when the body becomes vulnerable to disease trying to sustain the chosen course of action.

Stress can also be defined as short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).
Acute Stress: Acute stress is the reaction to an immediate threat. Common acute stressors include: noise, crowding, isolation, hunger, infection etc .In most of the cases once the threat has passed, levels of stress hormones return to normal
Chronic Stress: In today's modern lifestyle, on-going stressful situations that are not short-lived are quite common. Stress, then, becomes chronic. Common chronic stressors include: on-going high pressured work, long-term relationship problems, loneliness, and persistent financial worries.

Stress can lead to a variety of problems mostly due to higher levels of cortisol
Nervous system. Stress leads to a feeling of anxiety, helplessness and is linked to depression due to high levels of cortisol
Immune system. Stress tends to diminish the immune system leading to frequent infections like cold and cough
Digestive system. Stress slows down the release of stomach acid and the emptying of the stomach leading to stomachaches or diarrhea .In certain cases due to high levels of cortisol increase in appetite and subsequent weight gain also takes place
Cardiovascular system. High levels of cortisol due to stress raise the heart rate and increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Others. Stress deteriorates skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and acne and can be a trigger for asthma attacks.

A lifestyle based in harmony is a stress -free lifestyle which begins with an understanding of one's constitution or prakruti. Prakruti is the physical and psychological constitution of the individual determined at the time of conception and birth. Our Prakruti or constitution is made from the five elements (space, air, fire, water, and earth) which manifest in each of us in a unique way to give us our physical and mental qualities. These five basic elements combine into three constitutions or doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. The unique combination of the three doshas in each individual has a specific influence on our physical, mental, and emotional tendencies.

Disturbance of this constitution/balance due to stress, strain, trauma, improper food combination, seasonal and weather changes may lead to imbalance and eventually to disease.

Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three doshas ("tridoshas" ).There is no single approach that is right for everyone so Ayurveda suggests specific lifestyle and guidelines to help individuals reduce the excess dosha and help them to live in harmony with their true nature. Panchkarma Therapy as well as herbal healthcare aid in maintaining the 'Tridoshas' in balance throughout our mind and body. Specific therapies to manage stress are Abhyangam ,Shiroabhyanga, Shirodhara,and Shirovasti. Stress reducing herbs are called nervine sedatives and include herbs such as valerian root, jatamamsi, shankha pushpi and medhya drugs or medhya rasayanas like ashwaganda, bala and amalaki which build up the bodies resistance to stress and increases its overall endurance

By adopting a healthy lifestyle, Ayurveda aids people in reducing stress which leads to optimum health and peace of mind.

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