education focus
AUSTRALIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SOCIETYS
ymptoms of stress can emerge in
lots of forms such as headaches,
migraines, tiredness, fatigue,
immunity issues and feeling run
down as well as through neck and back pain.
To celebrate Natural Medicine Week in May,
WellBeing and the Australian Traditional
Medicine Society hosted a wonderful morning
event. Dr Karen Bridgeman, long-time
contributor to WellBeing and highly regarded
naturopath, asked Anthia Koullouros,
Shareen McLeish and Madeleine Ong their
top tips for reducing stresses in everyday life.Anthia Koullouros is the founder and CEO of Ovvio
Organics, a naturopath, herbalist, author and
educator determined to make good health simple.
How can naturopathy and herbalism help
people suffering from stress?
As a naturopath, addressing the underlying
cause is key. I prescribe herbal adaptogens
to help manage stress while addressing the
root cause and/or the contributing factors.
Adaptogens act as whole-body tonics,
increasing resistance to stress — emotional,
mental, chemical, nutritional, environmental,
thermal, physical — through recovery and
convalescence, eg post-surgery and from
intensive activity or any chronic illness.
Commonly prescribed adaptogens in the
form of teas, tonics or supplements include:
x Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): acts
as an immune modulator and can help with
anxiety and anti-inflammatory responses.
x Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis): acts as
a liver tonic and can help with poor cognitive
function, physical and mental exhaustion and
nervous system disorders.
x Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum): an anti-
depressant that can help with anxiety, fatigue
and poor cognitive function.
x Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus
senticosus): helpful for chronic illness, fatigue
and immune deficiency.
x Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus):
a preventative for chronic infections, stamina,
chronic fatigue, sweats and menopause.Please seek advice from your herbalist or
naturopath before taking any herbs. They will
prescribe the best herbs for your constitution,
symptoms and allergies as well as check any
interactions with current medications.Shareen McLeish is a remedial massage therapist
and the director of Massage by the Sea, Sydney’s
oldest outdoor resort-style massage therapy centre.
How can massage help people suffering
from stress?
Massage is one of the largest-growing
complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) therapies in Australia and widely
accepted by the general public. This puts
massage therapists in a great position
to deal with one of Australia’s biggest
contributors to disease: stress.
Stress triggers the flight-fight response,
activating the sympathetic nervous system,
in turn stimulating the adrenal glands and
triggering the release of adrenalin. This
results in an increase in heart rate, blood
pressure and breathing rate. The trouble with
modern stress is that it is lasting, which can
lead to chronic health problems.
One of the immediate benefits of massage
is a feeling of relaxation and calm. This
occurs because massage prompts the
release of endorphins, the brain chemicals
that produce feelings of wellbeing. Massage
induces relaxation and reduces stress
hormones (reversing the stress response)
and has been shown to help manage high
blood pressure, anxiety and insomnia.
The physical effects of massage are
just part of the stress-relieving story. Most
people are aware that there is an important
emotional/mental/spiritual aspect to
massage. Being nurtured and touched and
having personal time out is an important part
of the treatment.
Massage is the perfect complementary
treatment for treating stress, working on the
immediate symptoms and giving some relief
while also working on the underlying causes
with a naturopath or counsellor, for example.Madeleine Ong is a registered Chinese medicine and
acupuncture practitioner who is passionate about
women’s health and is a valued member of the Village
Remedies team in Balmain.
How can traditional Chinese medicine
and acupuncture help people suffering
from stress?
Acupuncture is an important therapy in
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help
manage stress. In particular, acupuncture
can help regulate the nervous system.
When the body is under stress, it
can move into an “adrenalin mode” or
sympathetic state which can result in
feeling revved up, sleeping difficulties,
tight muscles and even digestive
symptoms (basically all the good/
physiological functions may be diverted
or slowed so your body can tackle
a perceived threat).
Acupuncture (the insertion and
stimulation of fine needles into the body)
is used to help patients get out of
a sympathetic/adrenalin state and into
a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state,
which can improve digestive function,
reduce feelings of stress, relieve pain and
improve sleep. This in turn allows the
body to better adapt to daily stressors.
Chinese herbal medicine has also
been traditionally used to help relieve
symptoms of stress including irritability
and moodiness.
TCM practitioners can prescribe
individualised formulae to help relieve
feelings of stress and other related
symptoms that may occur.Find a practitioner
If you’re feeling stressed or run down,
maybe it’s time to visit a natural medicine
practitioner and see if a natural approach can
support your health and wellbeing. To find
a qualified and accredited practitioner today,
visit atms.com.au/find-practitioner.
Save the date for Natural Medicine Week
2020, happening in May!How natural therapies can
help reduce stress
140 | wellbeing.com.au