Natural Headache Relief | How Stress & Anxiety Can Cause the Pain
On a stressful day at work, do you find yourself popping aspirin to numb your headache? If you suffer from tension headaches, you may have noticed that your headaches are caused by stress.
Next time you have a headache, don't run straight for the medicine cabinet: reducing your stress may provide natural headache relief, eliminating the need for over-the-counter pills.
Read on to discover more about tension headaches and their causes. In the meantime, you can also check out this link for more information about reducing the amount of stress in your life!
Do I Have a Tension Headache?
Tension or stress headaches are just one type of headache you can get -- and only one of the myriad of ways your body reacts to stress. Here's how to tell if you have a tension headache, versus another type of headache due to another cause.
The symptoms of tension headaches are unique from other types of headaches. If you have a tension headache, you may feel a dull ache, tightness or pressure around your forehead. Many people liken it to the feeling of a rubber band being wrapped around your head. According to Mayo Clinic, tension headaches may be episodic or chronic, meaning they may come and go or persist for long periods of time.
Another type of headache you may get, which can be triggered by stress or other causes, is a migraine headache. The pain of migraine headaches can be described as throbbing or pulsing and may lead to other symptoms such as nausea or weakness. If you have a migraine with aura, you may also experience changes in your field of vision. Migraine headaches can be more serious than tension headaches and may require medical attention.
Causes of Tension Headaches
Tension headache occurs due to contractions of the muscles in and around the head, resulting in the feeling that a rubber band is being tightened around your forehead. Cold temperatures and staring at a computer screen may trigger tension headaches in some people. However, for most patients, a major cause of tension headaches is stress, whether at work, at home, at school or due to another area of life altogether.
Preventing Tension Headaches Naturally
Natural treatments for tension headaches can prevent the onset of headaches and reduce their intensity when they do occur. If you suffer from frequent tension headaches (defined as more than once or twice per week), you may want to try biofeedback, a type of electromagnetic therapy that can be helpful for tension headaches.
Natural Treatment for Headaches - Stress Management by Dr. Gary Gruber
Dr. Gary Gruber specializes in a type of biofeedback known as HeartMath therapy, which states that our heart rhythms reflect our inner state -- including our levels of stress. Using principles of psychology and naturopathic medicine, Dr Gruber can help you regulate your heart rate, calm stress in the body and thereby reduce tension headaches.
If you are struggling to find a solution to your health issues, contact Dr Gary Gruber.
Family and Environmental Medicine is located in the heart of Fairfield County Connecticut near Downtown New Canaan
- NYC – 35 Miles
- Westchester County – 10-30 minutes
- Greenwich – 10 minutes
- Stamford
- Norwalk – 10 minutes
- Westport – 10-15 minutes
Natural Relief For Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Stress and Anxiety Management
What is Stress and How Does It Affect Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Stress is a normal reaction the body has when changes occur. It can respond to these changes physically, mentally, or emotionally.
The Body has a built-in stress response system that fights stressful situations. This is called fight or flight. Imagine walking down a path on a beautiful summer day. Then suddenly out comes an 8-foot bear. That instant rush of energy is caused by fight or flight causing stress.
Your body is designed to handle stressful situations but not all day every day. If the bear chases you every day, the stress on your body and mind will result in health disorders like IBS.
Alleviating stress is the first step to healing Irritable Bowel syndrome. Click here for more 
information about controlling stress.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – What Is IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long-term.
Only a small number of people with IBS have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication and counseling.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
How do you know if you have IBS? Here is a list of common symptoms:
- Pain and Cramping
- Bloating
- Gas
- Constipation -- the stool comes out either lumpy or hard
- Diarrhea -- the stool comes out loose or watery
- Alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea
- Bowel movements that feel uncontrollably urgent, difficult to pass, or incomplete
- Clear or white mucus with the stool
- Foods – Many people with IBS find that specific foods cause stress on their system causes discomfort and health problems.
- Fatigue and Lack of Sleep
- Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Causes
There are many factors that can cause IBS such as:
- Stress on The Nervous System – Daily stress of life such as finance, job, relationships and family can cause fight or flight. Daily stress signals from your brain through your body inhibits natural flow and digestion of food.
- Infection – Virus and bacteria can cause IBS problems
- Bacteria Changes - dysbiosis
- Food Intolerances – certain foods can have a stressful effect on the digestive system and an imbalance in the gut.
Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Stress Management
Managing stress helps calm down your system. Stress not only triggers IBS, it can aggravate symptoms making them last longer.
Yoga, meditation and slow breathing exercises will reduce stress by creating a natural breathing pattern and calm heart rate.
Natural solutions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome can also include fiber supplements, nutritional laxatives, and soothing herbal formulas. Probiotics are another natural remedy for IBS.
Click here for Irritable Bowel Remedies
Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Stress Management By Dr Gary Gruber
Family and Environmental Medicine is owned and operated by Dr Gary Gruber specializes in natural solutions for ailments caused by stress and anxiety. Many health disorders can be overcome by learning and practicing stress management techniques in our daily lives.
If you are struggling to find a solution to your health issues, contact Dr Gary Gruber.
Family and Environmental Medicine is located in the heart of Fairfield County Connecticut near Downtown New Canaan
- NYC – 35 Miles
- Westchester County – 10-30 minutes
- Greenwich - 10 minutes
- Stamford
- Norwalk – 10 minutes
- Westport – 10-15 minutes
Celebrating Healthy Heart Month with LiveO2
Celebrating Healthy Heart Month with LiveO2!
Spring is just around the corner and we would like to help you renew your exercise goals. In six LiveO2 sessions you will feel recharged, improve cardiovascular fitness, and be ready to resume your outdoor activities. For the next month we will be booking appointments for our Healthy Heart Month Special.
Here is how it works: Book six LiveO2 sessions and you will receive each session at the special price of $60 per session (regularly $75 per session for six sessions).
Here is a review from one of our patients (52 year-old male patient):
"I saw a dramatic increase in my health and well-being. I would recommend Dr Gruber to anyone. Overall had a great experience with LiveO2"
Haven't heard of LiveO2?
In 2016 Family and Environmental Medicine became the first clinic on the east coast of the United States to offer patients the most advanced system for oxygen multistep therapy, a system called LiveO2. This advanced system that uses altitude contrast therapy has been clinically demonstrated to be more effective in LESS TIME than traditional oxygen multistep therapy, exercise with oxygen therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In addition to reversing and slowing the effects of aging, LiveO2 has been effective in our clinic in treating chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, chronic lymphatic congestion, chronic infections and chronic Lyme disease.
https://youtu.be/lT07CewOIh4
Podcast: LiveO2 Whole Life Challenge Episode 117
The Vice President of LiveO2, Tom Butler, recently appeared on the Whole Life Challenge podcast.
We are reposting this recording on our website for you to listen to an exquisite explanation of the Adaptive Contrast™ system that we are using in our New Canaan office.
**Tip: skip ahead to around the 13 minute mark to get to the actual interview...the intro is a bit long.
Oxygen is the necessary material that every cell in the body uses to make energy efficiently. If oxygen doesn't reach the tissue, diffuse into fluids, then shuttled into the cell, energy efficiency is disrupted. When energy is inefficient the function of cells declines. It is well-established that by 50 years old, a person is absorbing 50% of the oxygen that was available during their 20's. This decline in oxygen absorption leads to many diseases as well as aging. Oxygen Multistep Therapy reestablishes oxygen absorption and is well-established as an "anti-aging" therapy (I like to call it aging gracefully).
LiveO2: What's it all About?
It is well-established that by 50 years old, a person is absorbing about 50% of the oxygen that was available during their 20’s. This decline in oxygen absorption leads to many diseases as well as aging. Oxygen is the necessary material that every cell in the body uses to make energy efficiently. If oxygen doesn’t reach the tissue, diffuse into the fluids, then shuttled into the cell, energy efficiency is disrupted. When energy is inefficient the function of cells declines. Oxygen Multistep Therapy reestablishes oxygen absorption.
Family and Environmental Medicine has made Oxygen Multistep Therapy (also known as Exercise with Oxygen Therapy or EWOT) a growing part of our practice here in Connecticut. We're proud to be one of the few that supply this therapy in the area, especially LiveO2 in Connecticut.
Why LiveO2?
If the percentiles above weren't enough, LiveO2 is quicker, deeper, and ultimately more effective because of the pumping action of the lungs, heart, and cardiovascular system. You may be a tad more familiar with hyperbaric oxygen treatments...and while hyperbaric treatments are typically 60 – 120 minutes, Oxygen Multistep Therapy takes only 15 minutes. LiveO2 is an alternative to hyperbaric oxygen treatments, and we feel that is a very important alternative to consider when it comes to improving your overall health!
All it takes is 15 minutes riding a stationary cycle breathing 75% – 90% oxygen.During this time we monitor heart rate, intensity, and oxygen saturation. The treatment is very safe and is available to anyone who is able to exercise.
LiveO2 is Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT)
The LiveO2 advanced delivery system is the latest and most improved technology for EWOT at this time. The advantage over other basic EWOT systems is the Altitude Contrast mechanism.
The human body is so programmed for survival such that when there is any change in oxygen concentration levels that there is an immediate physiological response to preserve the most important organs and systems. We can tap into this with the LiveO2 Altitude Contrast Mechanism. The physiological change from Altitude Contrast are likened to opening the flood gates to allow massive infusion of oxygen into the tissues. The LiveO2 Altitude Contrast Mechanism allows the patient to go from sea level to approximately 19,000 feet (and back again) by the flip of a switch. With the fast change in a patient’s altitude physiology oxygen uptake is significantly increases along with the resulting impact on energy production to the neurological, hormonal, immunological communication systems of the body as well as the high energy organs such as: brain, heart, muscles, liver, kidneys, and eyes.
If you live in CT, NYC, MA, NJ, and are interested in LiveO2...There are limited spots available at our office for Live O2, so don’t miss out.
Contact us
LiveO2 in Fairfield County CT and Surrounding Local Areas
Family and Environmental Medicine help patients with Holistic Solutions that support health and well-being. Dr Gary Gruber provides private appointments for patients from around the country who seek health and healing with Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The majority of patients are from the local area of southern Fairfield County (including Greenwich CT, Stamford CT, Darien CT, Norwalk CT, New Canaan CT, Wilton CT), Westchester County, NY, NYC, and Northern NJ. See if we're a good for your liveo2 near me! LiveO2 CT, LiveO2 in Connecticut. For personal questions about anti aging therapy and LiveO2, please contact us at (203) 966-6360.
More on LiveO2 from Family and Environmental Medicine:
Listen to a powerful, life saving story about LiveO2
Worldwide Business with Kathy Ireland covered LiveO2
Learn about LiveO2 with regards to Anti-Aging
HeartMath - What have we learned?
What is holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is a term that is loosely bantered about and yet, poorly embraced by well-intentioned practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine. It is a system that considers that a person is more than his physical body. He has emotions; He has a connection to the infinite universal power. The sum of the parts is a unique person.
In medical school nearly 100% of the education and clinical internship is spent learning and practicing physical medicine. In 2003, as graduation from medical school was rapidly approaching, I searched for a way to become a holistic practitioner. Part of the solution was HeartMath, a tool to help patients learn and apply skills for emotional management.
In 2004, when I first began using the HeartMath system, the available technology was cumbersome and relatively expensive. While I was able to work one on one with patients to teach these skills, the ongoing practice by patients of the skills was less than adequate.
In their commitment to improving their system, HeartMath Research began by raising the level of expertise of its healthcare practitioners. The newly established certification program meant 10 hours of additional study and submitting an actual case to a review board. In 2008 I became the first licensed HeartMath practitioner in the state of Connecticut. This designation is designed to bring a level of professional credentialing to this growing field of emotional management and sustained behavioral change.
The certification program turned out to be substantially more advanced than the previously published books and materials. The program developed a higher level of scientific understanding of the applications of heart rate variability to health conditions such as: high blood pressure, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, heart attack risk reduction, diabetes, and breast cancer. In my published case review, I showed that a patient with chronic Lyme disease had a weakened immune system due to the fear and anxiety associated with the illness. Using only HeartMath tools, the patient became aware of these negative emotions and strengthened the immune system. Within a couple of months of practice the patient was able to return to normal activities at work and family life.
Learning and practicing these HeartMath skills set a new standard for achieving lifetime person mastery. According to the HeartMath Interventions Manual for Healthcare Practitioners, “The HeartMath System is a research-based system of scientifically validated tools, techniques, and technology to increase emotional self-regulation.” In 2013 HeartMath integrated their technology into the smartphone and tablet platforms, making HeartMath practice easier and consistent for the patient. Through this technology, called InnerBalance, the patient may use a personal device to learn, practice, and advance in the HeartMath System while providing a database of information for the doctor to monitor and review progress with the patient. HeartMath has created a win-win strategy for the doctor-patient relationship.
To learn more about the InnerBalance tool for smartphone and tablet, please watch this short video:
https://youtu.be/l65egW41nl4
As a certified HeartMath Practitioner, our patients may now purchase an InnerBalance device for a 10% discount and free shipping with the coupon code VHEALTH. To read more about this special offer click here: www.GoHeartMath.com. We also offer patient training and counseling. For more information about our counseling services please Click Here or call the office to schedule a consultation.
Mercury, Chronic Diseases and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
According to the World Health Organization, Mercury is one of the top ten chemicals that poses a considerable threat to public health.
Mercury is everywhere in our environment.
It is found in air, water, soil. It is a familiar industrial chemical found in thermometers, thermostats, and light bulbs. It is released into the air by burning coal. The mercury in the air is deposited in the ocean and bioaccumulates and biomagnifies throughout the food chain.
Mercury is 50% of the material used to fill a tooth cavity. The filling, also known as an amalgam filling, exposes the human body to elemental mercury as the filling deteriorates by chewing. The off-gassing of mercury is dangerous because bacteria in the mouth can change elemental mercury to methylmercury, a form of mercury that is particularly dangerous to the nervous system.
While the human body has a mechanism to detoxify mercury (i.e., remove it from the body), for many people this detoxification process is not adequate and mercury will accumulate in bones, liver, kidneys, and brain. Mercury is toxic to the immune and neurological systems. As a result, for people who are susceptible to neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases mercury may expedite the conditions of dementia, Alzheimer’s, lupus and multiple sclerosis. In the following video, it was demonstrated how mercury causes the nerve entanglements associated with Alzheimer’s.
Mercury interferes with the mechanism for making biochemical energy also known as the Citric Acid Cycle:
Therefore, mercury may influence many conditions associated with mitochondrial dysfunction:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Autistic spectrum disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depression
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Cancer
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cataracts
- Fibromyalgia
Mercury is a well-known neurotoxin that can affect both the peripheral
nervous system and the central nervous system. The University of Calgary produced an excellent video that visually demonstrates the toxic effect that mercury has on brain tissue. This also speaks to the connection to degenerative diseases like alzheimers and multiple sclerosis.
References:
Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction across Broad-Ranging Pathologies: Toward Mitochondria-Targeted Clinical Strategies: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2014/541230/cta/
World Health Organization: Mercury and Health: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs361/en/
The Toxicology of Mercury: Current Research and Emerging Trends: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28889024
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - More than a Feeling
When consulting with patients who have been suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the conversation is usually centered around how they feel.
The most common responses from those with irritable bowel syndrome are that they are feeling:
- upset
- frustrated
- uncomfortable
- embarrassed
- weak
- exhausted
- debilitated
Some even feel constant and chronic symptoms as though they are constantly fighting a stomach bug.
A patient may feel like they are in a state of anxiety or even panic while anticipating acute and cyclical attacks and some patients feel their body is shaking as though they have the chills or a fever.
In severe cases, patients feel that they have lost control along with a limitation of their normal daily activities.
There are many symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A common thread are multiple symptoms at the same time:
- foul-smelling gas
- painful and stabbing cramps
- bloating
- nausea and vomiting
- right-sided abdominal pain
- lower and mid back pain
- headaches
- constipation that lasts 3 - 4 days with large painful stools
- urgency with loose, mucousy stools.
So, what is going on? What is happening? Basically, your digestive system is out of balance. What does it mean to have a digestive system that is out of balance? It means that it lacks Homeostasis.
In medical terms, Homeostasis is the condition when your systems are in balance and regulating normally, responding to and handling the multiple stressors that are part of life. Recognize that each person has their own threshold for handling stress.But stress can overload the balanced system.
What happens when a system is overloaded and unable to regulate itself?
This dysregulation is communicated to you through what we call symptoms.
The digestive system has a very sophisticated regulation or communication system that has three parts: Immune system, Hormonal system, and the Nervous system. Think of it like a three-legged stool. When the legs are not the same length or very weak, it is hard to sit in a balanced way on the stool. For example, we know that stressors can be emotional, physical, or spiritual and these stressors will deplete the microbiome, the good bacteria in the gut. These bacteria are a very important component of the immune system and part of their role is crowding out pathogens like the bacteria E. coli or the fungus like candida. So when stress suppresses the good bacteria, the immune system is weakened and the stability of the regulatory system crashes.
Drugs and medications can temporarily suppress symptoms while the underlying stressors continue to keep the digestive system out of balance. The stressors as I mentioned before are physical, emotional and spiritual and are the obstacles to healing. Once these stressors are removed the body has a natural tendency repair itself and return to balance.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome feels like a never ending cycle:
- Symptoms are the way your digestive system communicates that it is out of balance
- The dysregulation of the digestive system is the result of multiple stressors
- Stressors are obstacles to healing and must be removed rather than suppressed
For a video presentation of this material:
https://youtu.be/pUJo_wCLZ18
LiveO2 Featured On Wordwide Business
LiveO2, as a part of Whole Health Network, was very recently featured on Worldwide Business with Kathy Ireland® to discuss restoring vitality with oxygenation technology.
Take a look at the full story in the video below!