Michael T. Murray and Michael R. Lyon
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 With the stress response, the sympathetic nervous system dominates. With the relaxation response, the parasympathetic nervous system dominates. The parasympathetic nervous system controls bodily functions such as digestion, breathing, and heart rate during periods of rest, relaxation, visualization, meditation, and sleep. Although the sympathetic nervous system is designed to protect against immediate danger, the parasympathetic system is designed for repair, maintenance, and restoration of the body. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 Many of the supplements currently promoted for weight loss have sympathomimetic effects; in other words, they are compounds from plants, including herbs, or other natural compounds that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, and they carry the same risks as prescription drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
EPHEDRA
One such supplement is the Chinese plant ma huang, which contains ephedra, a compound similar to ephedrine, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. |
David De Angelis
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 This type of stress mechanism is activated by increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which normally acts on the basis of "fight or flight." Many scholars have supported the close relationship between stress (induced by sympathetic nervous system stimulation) and the effort that accompanies visual attention (see Kahnemann, 1973; Libby et al., 1973; Pribram & McGuinness, 1975).
This type of stress occurs during high cognitive processes as described in Hess and Polt, 1964; and Beatty and Wagoner, 1978. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
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 The ANS has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system that prepares the body for a "fight or flight" reaction, and the parasympathetic nervous system that prepares the body for eating, digestion, and sex.
When the body gets ready to run or fight, digestion stops, sexual arousal withers, heart rate and blood pressure zoom, and the adrenal gland pumps out two hormones: adrenalin, which improves alertness and further turns on the cardiovascular system, and a variant of cortisone called Cortisol, which works to release the body's major fuel, glucose, from its storage reservoir in the liver. |
Lynne McTaggart
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 Higher electrodermal activity (EDA) readings indicate that the sympathetic nervous system, which is sensitive to stress or certain emotional states, is on overdrive—as would be the case when someone is lying. A polygraph reading can offer evidence of stress to the sympathetic nervous system even before the person being tested is consciously aware of it.
In 1966, the state-of-the-art technology consisted of a set of electrode plates, which were attached to two of a subject's fingers, and through which a tiny current of electricity was passed. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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 Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system activates the secretion of hormones from the endocrine glands and constricts both the blood vessels and the involuntary muscles of the body. When the endocrine glands, particularly the adrenals, are stimulated, heart rate, glucose metabolism, and oxygen consumption increase. The parasympathetic nervous system is also stimulated, which begins a process of relaxation. The pituitary gland responds by releasing a variety of hormones throughout the body to influence the defensive and adaptive mechanisms. |
Lynne Mctaggart
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 With lie detector tests, the machine picks up any increase in the electrical conductivity of the skin, which is caused by increased activity of the sweat glands, which in turn are governed by the sympathetic nervous system. As doctors can measure electrical activity of the heart and brain with ECG (electrocardiogram) and (EEG) electroencephalogram) machines, respectively, so too can the lie detector record increased electrodermal activity. Higher EDA readings show that the sympathetic nervous system, which governs emotional states, is in overdrive. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 If you walk into your house at night -- and it's dark and you think you're alone -- and somebody grabs you from behind, the feeling you get is a sympathetic nervous system firing. It's really made to help you fight and help you run away from danger. So it's that fight-or-flight syndrome -- that's the sympathetic nervous system. It also causes the adrenal glands to pump adrenaline to give you that extra strength to either run or fight. But with a patient who has fibromyalgia, the sympathetic nervous system runs unchecked. |
David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes
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 Sympathoadrenal System
The interface between the hypothalamus, adrenal medulla, and sympathetic nervous system is referred to as the sympathoadrenal system (SAS). This system creates the fight-or-flight response that controls the body's reaction to a stressor, resulting in increased levels of adrenaline and other chemicals.
The fight-or-flight response can be set off by one or more stressors and triggers a wide array of physical responses. |
| They also increase the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Yet, the use of stimulants is usually followed by fatigue, and long-term use can impair mental function. Stimulants of the central nervous system also can cause insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, and adrenal depletion.
In traditional Chinese medicine, a tonic is different from a stimulant in that it doesn't have the negative physical effects. A tonic supplements, strengthens, and invigorates various organs and body systems. |
| Adrenaline and noradrenaline are secreted from the adrenal medulla in response to sympathetic nervous system stimulation. Cortisol is secreted from the adrenal cortex in response to HPA stimulation.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the overall nervous system that is concerned with the control of involuntary bodily functions. Its name comes from the term autonomous, and it runs bodily functions without our awareness or control. It regulates, via the nerves, the functions of glands, smooth muscle tissue, and cardiac muscle. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| But with a patient who has fibromyalgia, the sympathetic nervous system runs unchecked.
Mike: Wow, so this explains some of the fatigue that accompanies this condition as well.
Dr. Whitcomb: Exactly. You're one step ahead of me. That's good. So now this patient who lies down to sleep at night has their sympathetic nervous system running, and the adrenal glands are pumping adrenalin, and they can't sleep. Even if they do get sleep or take medication to sleep, they still wake up exhausted. Usually, without medication, they'll stay awake until four or five. |
| In addition to that, the sympathetic nervous system affects your intestines, because your intestines digest with the parasympathetic nervous system running. If you need to fight, it immediately shuts off your intestines, and blood flows to other areas like your muscles and so forth. So you have this sympathetic reaction that shuts down the intestines, and these poor people will have constipation, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.
Mike: And probably nutrient absorption difficulties as well, right?
Dr. Whitcomb: Exactly. That's why they'll have allergies. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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| EPHEDRA
One such supplement is the Chinese plant ma huang, which contains ephedra, a compound similar to ephedrine, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedra increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy expenditure, stimulating beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic sympathetic receptors. Ephedra is often combined with caffeine as a weight-loss supplement. Ma huang is also combined with guarana, a Brazilian plant with a high caffeine concentration, and promoted as a weight-loss supplement. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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| Chiropractors speak of the parasympathetic and sympathetic "tone" of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls the fight-or-flight stress response and activates the body; the parasympathetic calms the body and conserves energy. Subluxations can throw this system out of balance. "Subluxations restricting the parasympathetic or exciting the sympathetic nerve flow would result in sympathetic dominance," explains chiropractor Tim Leasenby. |
Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, FRCP (C) and Dr. Harold D. Foster, PhD
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 In those stressed, the sympathetic nervous system increases respiration and heart rate, diverts blood to skeletal muscles, and releases fat from storage. All these changes prepare the body for what Cannon called "fight or flight" and are obviously part of a response system that has evolved in an effort to deal with perceived threats. In any biochemical evolutionary trade-off, the ability to escape from life-threatening hazards would have to rank very highly. |
Michael T. Murray and Michael R. Lyon
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| Although the sympathetic nervous system is designed to protect against immediate danger, the parasympathetic system is designed for repair, maintenance, and restoration of the body. As it relates to body weight, it can be stated that stress promotes weight gain while relaxation promotes weight loss.
THE STRESS RESPONSE VERSUS THE RELAXATION RESPONSE The Stress Response ţThe heart rate and force of contraction of the heart increase to provide blood to areas necessary for response to the stressor. |
Rick Levy and Lou Aronica
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 Stress—A response of the sympathetic nervous system that arises when there is an unacceptable disparity between your expectations/needs and what you actually experience. Stress activates the sympathetic leg of the nervous system and the release of stress hormones that amp up production of adrenaline and divert blood flow to the large muscles. The body needs this power because it "thinks" it has to run away from or fight something. This is the so-called fight or flight response. |
David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes
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| Catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline) are released by the adrenal medulla and affect the sympathetic nervous system. They produce widespread effects throughout the body, including an increase in blood pressure and heart rate during times of stress.
Adrenaline (epinephrine) is normally present in the bloodstream in minute quantities. In times of excitement or stress, additional quantities are secreted, causing an effect on body structures in preparation for physical exertion (either fight or flight). |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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| So now this patient who lies down to sleep at night has their sympathetic nervous system running, and the adrenal glands are pumping adrenalin, and they can't sleep. Even if they do get sleep or take medication to sleep, they still wake up exhausted. Usually, without medication, they'll stay awake until four or five. They then don't sleep; they pass out from sheer exhaustion.
Mike: Wow.
Dr. Whitcomb: Then they'll wake up the next morning with the sympathetic nervous system going. |
David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes
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| The stress response pathways are as follows: HPA: Stressor -> hypothalamus -» CRH -» pituitary -» ACTH -» adrenal cortex -» Cortisol (to mobilize energy)
SAS: Stressor -» hypothalamus -» sympathetic nervous system -» adrenal medulla -» adrenaline (prepares the body for the fight-or-flight response)
Adaptogens help to modulate and regulate the use of Cortisol, allowing the body to maintain a healthy stress response. They also help regulate and support the interconnected neuroendocrine and immune systems allowing the body to maintain optimal homeostasis. |
John J. Ratey, MD
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 Small studies have shown that yogic breathing reduces stress and anxiety levels, and tai chi reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (judging from heart rate and blood pressure). One recent study used MRI scans on eight yoga practitioners and found that their levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increased 27 percent after a sixty-minute session. GABA is the target of
Xanax-like drugs and is very involved with anxiety, so this may be part of the reason why yoga helps some people relax. |
Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
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 These researchers have shown that meditation creates a slower, more balanced metabolism with more sympathetic nervous system rest and a better sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system balance. Unnecessary oxygen consumption, heart rate, and respiration rate have all been shown to decrease. |
Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D.
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 Tyramine acts indirectly on the sympathetic nervous system as a vasoconstrictor and hypertensive.
COMPOUNDS: CYTISI SCOPARII FLOS
Quinolizidine alkaloids (very small quantities): main alkaloid (-)-sparteine
Biogenic amines: including tyramine
Flavonoids: including scoparin (C-glycosylflavone)
EFFECTS: CYTISI SCOPARII FLOS
The drug can contain over 2% tyramine. It contains small amounts of alkaloids. The main alkaloid is sparteine. Tyramine acts as an indirect sympathicomimetic, vasocon-strictoral and hypotensive. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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| These hormones are released in direct response to the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stress or physical threats. The adrenal cortex, the outer layer, surrounds the medulla and accounts for 80% to 90% of the gland. It is responsible for the production of corticosteroids (also called adrenal steroids). Over 30 different steroids have been isolated from the adrenal cortex, including Cortisol and cortisone. |
Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
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| He finds the most effective clinical application of this is accomplished by beaming one of several specific bands in the red spectrum through the eye to activate and heal different aspects of the sympathetic nervous system. For the parasympathetic nervous system, he has found that different bands in the blue color spectrum are healing. |
John J. Ratey, MD
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| Because anxiety brings the sympathetic nervous system into play, when you sense your heart rate and breathing picking up, that awareness can trigger anxiety or a panic attack. But those same symptoms are inherent to aerobic exercise — and that's a good thing. If you begin to associate the physical symptoms of anxiety with something positive, something that you initiated and can control, the fear memory fades in contrast to the fresh one taking shape. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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| It does so by overly activating the sympathetic nervous system, the part of the autonomic nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight response and initiates release of adrenaline and Cortisol.
Research in psychoneuroimmunology, a field of medicine that is specifically concerned with the influence of emotional states and the nervous system on immune function, has shown that the immune and nervous systems are linked by extensive networks of nerve endings in the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and thymus gland (a primary source of the immune system's T cells). |
| The ANS has Though exercise is one of the last top-two divisions: the sympathetic nervous system, jcs we address, it's certainly not the which expends body energy (it prepares us least important strategy for enhancing physically when we perceive a threat or challenge by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, sleep—and overall health and welland muscle tension), and the parasympathetic being. |
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