15. Camp Fifteen : Forget the Worries for Better Health

Have we ever thought that - why do we sneeze all of a sudden? Why do we have sudden hiccup? Why do we get yawning sometimes in the very morning? If we brood over this subject, we will realize that some unpleasant feeling or anxiety provoke and cause such mannerism. These mannerisms are apparently physiological but in real sense they are psychological. Our body is so sensitive towards mind that our thoughts, feelings, worries and stress have direct impact on our body.

Dr. Hans Selye, the nobel prize winner of Canada, had made an intensive research regarding the effects of mental tension on various organs of our body. In the nervous system of our brain, there are main two types of nerves: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic which play a prominent role in the condition of mental tension. Generally parasympathetic nerves control the activities of our inner organs but when tension increases, sympathetic nerves activate themselves and secrete the chemical compound named Adrenalin. This adrenalin provides our body the energy to resist the tension and overall health hazards. Now let us understand this phenomenon in detail.

When we face some physical or mental health hazards in life, the emotions of fears and anxieties are created in our mind. However, the mental efficiency to face the calamities is different from person to person. The persons having extreme sensitivity and soft heart are afraid of even in least difficult situations, whereas some people having stubborn hearts stand erect to face heart-rendering circumstances. In this regard, only your point of view towards life and mental attitude play an important part. The difficulty may be small or big, but when it stirs up your mental horizons, what and how their reflected responses on the body is to be studied hereinafter in the terms of physiology.

The Cerebral Cortex of our brain perceives stimuli because of anxieties and despair. It passes on this information to another important part, the Hypothelamus.This, in turn, passes this message on to the Pituitary gland. As a result, the pituitary secretes the hormone named ACTH (Adreno Cortyco Trophic Hormone). Just as pituitary, another significant gland is Adrenal gland.

There are two adrenal glands, also called suprarenals because they sit on top of the upper surface of the kidneys in the abdomen. As soon as a person faces a situation of mental or physical stress - hatred, fear or rage necessitating flight or fight - cerebral cortex senses that stress and sends impulses to the hypothalamus, which in turn passes them to the medulla of the adrenal. The latter, at once releases two hormones namely, adrenaline and noradrenaline, in the blood stream. These hormones at once make the liver release glucose, the source of energy. They constrict capillaries in the skin so that it looks pale and the blood contained in them is diverted to the muscles and the internal organs. As a result, heart rate increases. The arteries constrict and consequently the blood pressure rises. Clotting time of blood is lessened so that in case of injury, the wound stops bleeding soon. All these changes equip the body to the tremendous task to flight or fight - whichever it chooses to perform.

Hence in the case of accident, if the body gets injured, by means of above programming of the brain, blood immediately gets clotted and protects the body, but if our mind is often entangled in the waves of despair, dismay or worries, the stimuli of brain secretes excessive adrenaline into the blood stream. On account of this, the heart throbbings increase and the high blood pressure results. Moreover, when the supply of adrenaline increases in blood, the stomach stops the work of digestion of food. So whatever food is consumed by worried person remains undigested in stomach and its absorption in blood stream causes Rheumatoid Arthrities. As the digestive system fails, ulcers on the walls of stomach may cause due to the acidic nature of secreted enzymes. All these hazards lead to maximum strain to our heart. So if you want your heart to be healthy, drive away despair. Keep your mind quiet and meditate regularly.

There is an important gland named pineal situated near pituitary in the brain. If mind rests in peace and sound sleep from 11 P.M. to 6 A.M. is taken without any tension, the pineal gland secretes the hormone melotonin which is very beneficial for enhancing the efficiency of all the organs of our body. Melotonin also plays an important role to prevent heart attacks.

Dr. Phillip Goldin of the Stenford University practises meditation regularly to his patients to be free from SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder). There is left Prefrontal Cortex of the brain on the left side of our forehead where we can experience peace and bliss. In the brains of regular meditators, this part is sparkling more. Today in many diseases, meditation has been proved more effective even than the medicines. Meditation teaches us the art of living. But for this purpose, mental attitude is must, because our mental attitude provides us the ability to think independently.

Though it is also not practical to advise a worried man to start meditation practice straight way, because it is quite necessary to prepare the mind out of negative level of despair, worries and gloominess to the positive world of zeal, joy and love. Dr. Willium Fry of the Stenford University says: ‘Laughter is an exercise of running when you are still in the posture of standing. Like other exercises, laughter has an everlasting effect. By means of laughter, blood pressure can be normalized & Cronic headache is also cured.

Dr. Jefry Goldsten writes: ‘Due to laughter, not only man’s life span increases, but also Beta Andorfins secretes from the brain which gives pain relieving effect. As a result, mental tension eases.’ In the right part of our brain, there is a centre for laughter. If this part is stimulated by laughter, so many beneficial chemicals are produced by the brain. Due to which most of heart problems can be cured. Moreover, the body becomes well-equipped for meditation.