We have all heard about doctors who prefer holistic treatment of any ailment to symptomatic treatment. Holistic treatment goes a step beyond prescribing recommended medicines to treat the ailment and tries to address the underlying cause of the ailment.
Our body’s autonomous nervous system comprises sympathetic nervous system ( located between the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord) and parasympathetic nervous system ( located between spinal cord and medulla). Sympathetic nervous system’s primary function is to stimulate body’s fight and flight response, which it does by regulating heart rate, rate of respiration, pupillary response and more. Parasympathetic Nervous system on the other hand stimulates body’s rest and digest and feed and breed response. Both of these systems have “opposite” actions where one system activates a physiological response and the other inhibits it.
When we worry ( about job security, promotion, rat race, money, assets) or have other negative thoughts ( criticism, jealousy, envy etc) it stimulates sympathetic nervous system and leads to increased heart rate, respiration, sweating etc that in turns lead to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and heart ailments. Parasympathetic Nervous Systems inhibits such excitement and leads to relaxation by lowering heart rate, respiration and any hyperactivity or excitement in general.
Therefore, the control of whether we want to live a healthy and rich lifestyle or a lifestyle filled with stress, tension and diseases lies with our mouth. Whether we are stimulating our sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems depends on what we eat and what we speak, both of which are functions of mouth. If we eat healthy food, at regular intervals, less than our appetite and speak a language that doesn’t cause any offence or hurt to anyone, we shall always be letting our bodies stimulate parasympathetic nervous system, which is a key to happy and healthy living.
The above and many such pearls of wisdom were gained by me today when we met a very old acquaintance Dr Ashok and his ever affectionate wife Neelam ( in fact, though we have been talking to them on phone, the meeting in person happened after 35 grand years! ). Dr Ashok is now fully into social causes, trying to spread the message of healthy and happy living to the society at large, besides being passionately devoted to his profession.
Meeting Doctor and his wife has been the highest point of out currently ongoing visit to Lucknow. More of this in next few blogs.
Arvind Arya blog 