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Ah, the magic of Hanukkah and Christmas, the lights, the carols, friends, loved ones, parties, food, fun, and lots of joy. And of course, crowds, charge cards, too many sweets, too much alcohol, late nights, push, push, push, and go, go, go. For most folks, the holiday season is a wonderful time filled with joy and good cheer. However, for those with a chronic illness, the hustle and bustle can lead to a worsening of already challenging symptoms. The stress associated with the holidays may be more than some can handle. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia, CFS, and depression are especially vulnerable to “flares,” at this time of year. This is especially true for those who’ve bankrupted their stress coping accounts.
Stress Coping Savings Account
We’re all born with a stress coping savings account. Some of us are born with large stress coping savings accounts and some of us are born with small savings accounts. These accounts are filled with stress coping chemicals like the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, and the hormones, cortisol, DHEA, and thousands of other chemicals that allow us to handle stress. All day long we’re making withdrawals from our stress coping accounts. Rush hour traffic, disturbing TV news, work deadlines, financial pressures, loud noises, morning carpool (for those of you without kids, trust me morning carpool is every bit as stressful as a biochemistry final), and other daily stressors cause us to make withdrawals from our stress coping accounts. The more stress the more serotonin we use up. If we’re not careful we can make more withdrawals than deposits. When this happens, poor health starts to rear its ugly head; depression, pain, anxiety, fatigue, lowered immune function, headaches, allergies, etc.
One of the ways we make deposits into our stress coping accounts is by going into deep restorative sleep. When we go into deep restorative sleep we increase our serotonin levels. The deeper the sleep, the more serotonin is deposited. I’ve written at length (in my books and newsletters) about the importance of deep sleep and serotonin.
Here’s a link to more about the importance deep restorative sleep and serotonin.
It’s no coincidence that during the holiday season I notice that my patients begin to have more “fibro flares,” fatigue, colds, flu, and other illnesses. This is in large part due to the increased demands for serotonin, cortisol, DHEA, and other stress busting chemicals. Many patients find that their aches, pains, depression, IBS, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, etc. start to return even though they’ve enjoyed several months of good health while taking my jump start package. Some notice that their body temperature starts to drop, a sign of low thyroid, in spite of taking GTA Forte II (the T3 glandular supplement I recommend and make available on my site) or Armour thyroid (a prescription drug). The more stress a person is under, the more likely they’ll secrete a hormone known as reverse T3. This hormone blocks the conversion of thyroid hormone T4 from converting into the active thyroid hormone T3. This results in more fatigue, depression, poor sleep, pain, weight gain, and lowered immune function.
For a more in-depth look at thyroid please see the link below or my new book “Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine,” or one of my books on "Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”
Click here for more Thyroid Information
During times of increased stress I recommend that my patients increase their 5HTP up to 500mg a day (if needed), double their adrenal cortex (up to 2,000mg a day), and if their energy is really low ( a common occurrence when struggling), add SAMe.
SAMe is my number one "go to" supplement for quickly boosting drive, ambition, physical and mental energy. SAMe also helps reduce pain and acts as a potent antidepressant.
SAMe (pronounced 'sa-me' as in the name 'Sammy') has been hailed as the safest and most effective natural antidepressant ever used. The full name is S-adenosyl-methionine and it is a molecule derived from the union of the amino acid methionine to a factor responsible for energy production, called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). SAMe increases the action of several neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine for example) by facilitating the binding of these hormones to their cell receptors.
Cohen BM, Stramentinoli G et al. Effects of the novel antidepressant SAMe on alpha-I and beta adrenoceptors in rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol, 1989, 170(3):210-207.
SAMe has been shown through several well designed studies to be one of the best natural antidepressants available. There have been more than 100 peer-reviewed studies showing that SAMe is an effective natural medication for depression. It's faster-acting with fewer side effects than prescription anti-depressants.
Mischoulon D, Fava M. Role of 5-adenosyl-L-methionine in treatment of depression: a review of the evidence. Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Nov;76(5):11585–615.
It also helps increase the production of endorphins. Endorphins are the bodies natural pain blocking chemicals and are more powerful than morphine.
SAMe helps manufacture and repair cartilage components. A study of osteoarthritis patients compared SAMe with NSAID drugs in its ability to reduce pain.
One double-blind study showed SAMe was superior to ibuprofen in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Glorioso S, Todesco S, Mazzi A et al. Double-blind multicentre study of the activity of S-adenosylmethionine in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Int J Clin Pharm Res 1985; 5: 39-49
Several studies involving SAMe and fibromyalgia patients yielded substantial improvement in over all pain levels (as well as depression).
Bendetto P Di, Iona LG, Zidarich V. Clinical evaluation of s-adenosyl-L-methionine versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in primary fibromyalgia. Current Ther Res 53(2);22 1993.
Jaccobsen S, Danneskiold –Samose B, Anderson RB. Oral s-adenosyl-L-methionine in primary fibromyalgia. Double-blind clinical evaluation. Scandinavian Journal of Rheum 20(4): 294-302, 1991.
For more information about SAMe, click here
For more information on adrenal cortex, click here
Please see chapter 7 in my book, “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” or my new book, “Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine.”
I hope this information helps you not just endure the season but allows you to have the fortitude to appreciate all the love and joy that the season deserves.
See all my books here
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Dr. Rodger Murphree
DrRodgerM@yahoo.com
www.DrRodger.com
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