[When the brain becomes quiet, life begins to move] Part 4: What is the essence of health, illness, and allergies?
This series is a 'record of exploration' that mixes scientific findings with hypothetical considerations. Please note in advance that these are not definitive claims.
The saying 'illness comes from the mind' has been used since ancient times, but it also has a certain basis from the perspective of modern medicine.
This time, I would like to delve into the physical themes of health, illness, and allergies from the perspective of brain waves and psychological states.
However, there is something I want to clarify first.
It is certain that psychological states have an impact on health.
However, extending this to say that 'if you regulate your brain waves, your illness will be cured' is clearly an overstatement.
I would appreciate it if you could read this while distinguishing between what is certain and what is hypothetical.
If you would like to know more about brain waves, please see this post👇
The impact of chronic stress on the body
When a state of chronic stress (beta wave dominance) continues, a stress hormone called cortisol continues to be secreted.
If this continues for a long period of time,
decline in immune function
increase in inflammatory response
decline in digestive function
impact on blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Physical changes such as these are studied in established fields like psychosomatic medicine and psychoneuroimmunology.
In other words, what is often thought of as 'a matter of the mind'
is actually
having an impact on the physiological state of the body.
It is accurate to understand this not as a matter of willpower, but as a matter of hormones and the immune system.
A sincere interpretation of 'illness comes from the mind'
The essence of this statement is not
that you can erase illness itself through willpower,
but rather,
it is more practical to interpret it as meaning that how you approach illness affects your recovery.
When you become ill
“What should I do? Why me?” – attachment
↓
Beta waves become further disrupted
↓
Immune function may further decline
Receiving treatment calmly and with gratitude
↓
Alpha waves are more easily maintained
↓
Recovery power is more likely to be maximized
Infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and physical trauma
exist as factors independent of one's psychological state.
It is appropriate to understand that
the psychological state is one of the foundations that supports coping with them.
What the nocebo effect indicates
The placebo effect (getting better even with a fake drug) is
well known, but
there is a phenomenon
called the “nocebo effect,” which is the opposite.
It is the idea that
the belief that “there must be a negative impact”
can trigger actual physical symptoms.
The story of a person who believed they were stung by a bee,
even though they were not actually stung,
and showed symptoms similar to an allergic reaction,
is sometimes told
as an example of this phenomenon.
What this suggests is that
the body may not always be able to distinguish
between reality and a strong belief.
Conversely, it also means that
the recognition that “my body has the power to recover”
could also potentially influence the body.
However, this remains in the realm of hypothesis,
and it is not to say that everything can be cured by belief alone.
Allergies and complex factors
Allergies are medically defined as
an overreaction of the immune system.
It is a state where the immune system misidentifies
an otherwise harmless substance as a threat,
causing an excessive defensive reaction.
Why does it misidentify?
The currently most prominent theory is called the hygiene hypothesis
.
Modern society has become too clean
↓
The immune system has fewer opportunities to encounter the
parasites and bacteria it should originally fight
↓
The immune system
ends up targeting originally harmless substances
This is consistent with the fact that allergies are
increasing in developed countries and urban areas
, and it is a
relatively supported hypothesis.
The perspective of complex factors
There is an important realization here.
Not limited to allergies, many of
modern health problems appear as
the result of multiple factors intertwined, rather than a single cause
.
Genetic factors
Disturbance of the intestinal environment
Chronic stress (beta wave dominance)
Exposure to environmental pollution and chemical substances
Lifestyle habits such as diet, sleep, and exercise
Modern air, rain, soil, seawater, etc.,
contain more chemical substances than in the past.
The idea that symptoms appear when they exceed a threshold
due to the accumulation of these in the body through breathing, food, etc.,
combined with pollen, yellow sand, and other factors,
is known as the
"total load theory" and has a certain level of support.
Trying to narrow down the cause to just one thing may itself cause you to miss the essence
By having this awareness,
you can escape the trap of thinking
"if I just eliminate one thing, it will be solved."
Summary
When you delve into the themes of
health, illness, and allergies,
the structure that has emerged throughout the series
appears here as well.
A state of chronic beta wave dominance
↓
Impact on immune function and reduced recovery capacity
A stable state of alpha waves
↓
A foundation that easily supports recovery
Psychological state is one of the factors that influence the complex phenomenon of health.
It is not a cure-all, but it is not a factor that can be ignored either.
And among the multiple intertwined factors,
it is worth working on
"aligning your inner state"
as one of the factors you can control.
🔔 Next time, we will deliver
『◇ Part 5: The polarization of modern society and brain waves, why does saying thank you work?』
.
The link is here👇️
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Well then,
see you next time!
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