Bulldogs Falter in Second Half and Lose 73-67 at Livingstone

Bulldogs Falter in Second Half and Lose 73-67 at Livingstone


SALISBURY, N.C. – In their 50th meeting, the Bowie State University men's basketball team opened conference play with a 73-67 setback at Livingstone College. The loss evens the Bulldogs overall record at 6-6 overall (0-1 CIAA) whereas the Blue Bears improve to 8-2 (1-0 CIAA) on the season.

Senior Ray Gatling (Oxon Hill, Md.) paced the Bulldogs with 24 points (two off his career-high). Junior Cameron Knox (Baltimore, Md.) recorded 17 points and senior Carlos Smith finished with 10 points. Graduate student Brian Freeman (Clinton, Md.) snatched a BSU personal career high 11 boards.

For Livingstone, four Blue Bears registered double-digit points, with Jody Hill tallying 20 points while Eric Mayo and Mark Thomas added 14 and 11 points respectively. Mayo led the Blue Bears with 11 rebounds and Anthony Welch chipped in 10 in the victory.

The Bulldogs led all but two minutes and 15 seconds of the first half with their largest lead of the first half (34-24) coming with 49 seconds remaining on a Freeman jumper.

Bowie State went into intermission leading 34-26 with the Bulldogs defense holding Livingstone’s Blue Bears to 10-of-37 shooting (27.0 percent) from the field.  On the flipside, the Bulldogs shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field, which included three triples.

The Blue Bears scored the first four points of the second half only to see the Bulldogs respond with a 6-0 run to push the lead back up to 10 points at 40-30.

Bowie State appeared to be clicking only to see Livingstone go on a 17-8 run which was capped off by a dunk and free throw by Christian Henry, making the score 54-53 Bowie State with 4:49 left to play in the game.

Livingstone took the lead for good eight seconds later following a steal by Welch and 3-pointer by Hill.

A pair of Gatling free throws created the games fourth and final tie at 62 with 1:26 remaining. Unfortunately for Bowie State, the Bulldogs managed one field goal and a pair of free throws for the rest of the night.

Up next, the Bulldogs continue their three-game road trip as they face the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday(January 4th) inside Brayboy Gymnasium. Tip-off is 7:30 pm.

Bowie State vs Livingstone (1/2/14 at Salisbury, NC (New Trent Gym))


Official Basketball Box Score
Bowie State vs Livingstone
1/2/14 7:30 p.m. at Salisbury, NC (New Trent Gym)


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VISITORS: Bowie State 6-6 / 0-1 CIAA
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
00 WILLIAMS,Julian.....    0-0    0-0    2-2    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  0   3
01 GATLING,Ray......... *  9-18   2-4    4-9    0  2  2   0  24  2  3  0  4  32
04 KNOX,Cameron........    4-10   2-5    7-8    0  8  8   2  17  0  3  0  1  25
10 JACKSON,Andre.......    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   4   0  0  0  0  0  17
15 FREEMAN,Brian.......    1-6    0-0    0-2    5  6 11   4   2  1  2  3  0   9
20 SMITH,Carlos........ *  3-9    0-2    4-6    1  2  3   2  10  1  2  1  0  32
21 WILLIAMS,Zafir...... *  3-4    0-0    1-2    1  5  6   3   7  2  6  0  2  35
22 BECK,Justin.........    0-0    0-0    3-4    0  2  2   3   3  2  2  0  0  12
25 WILLIAMS,Donald.....    1-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  1  0  0   2
31 GOLLADAY,David...... *  0-1    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  0  0  0  13
34 CLEMMONS,Joel.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   2
45 MARSHALL,Tai........ *  0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  0  1  0  0  18
   TEAM................                         3  2  5             1
   Totals..............   21-51   4-12  21-33  10 31 41  22  67  8 21  4  7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-24 50.0%   2nd Half:  9-27 33.3%   Game: 41.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-5  60.0%   2nd Half:  1-7  14.3%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  7-13 53.8%   2nd Half: 14-20 70.0%   Game: 63.6%    6


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HOME TEAM: Livingstone 8-2 / 1-0 CIAA
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 LEFEAR,Cameron...... *  0-1    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  1  0  0  15
03 HILL,Jody........... *  5-13   5-8    6-8    2  0  2   1  21  0  1  0  2  28
04 DUBOSE,Eric.........    1-9    0-3    2-2    1  0  1   0   4  1  2  0  1  17
05 HENRY,Christian..... *  3-5    0-0    1-1    1  0  1   5   7  0  0  1  0  16
11 THOMAS,Mark......... *  2-11   0-4    7-8    1  5  6   3  11  3  3  0  4  32
12 OKAM,Mike...........    1-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   2  0  1  0  0   4
15 FLINT,Robert........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  0  1   7
21 JOHNSON,Darresse.... *  1-3    0-0    0-0    4  3  7   3   2  0  2  1  1  18
33 BAILEY,Emarri.......    1-10   0-0    0-0    1  1  2   3   2  1  0  0  0  23
34 MAYO,Eric...........    4-5    0-0    6-9    4  7 11   4  14  0  0  0  2  17
44 WELCH,Anthony.......    3-7    2-3    2-2    2  3  5   3  10  2  1  1  3  16
50 JOHNSON,Cornelius...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   2   0  0  0  0  0   7
   TEAM................                         2  4  6   1
   Totals..............   21-66   7-20  24-30  18 26 44  27  73  7 11  3 14 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-37 27.0%   2nd Half: 11-29 37.9%   Game: 31.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-8  12.5%   2nd Half:  6-12 50.0%   Game: 35.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-6  83.3%   2nd Half: 19-24 79.2%   Game: 80.0%    2


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Officials: William Humes, Joseph Major, Michael Luckie
Technical fouls: Bowie State-None. Livingstone-TEAM.
Attendance: 129
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Bowie State...................   34   33  -   67
Livingstone...................   26   47  -   73

Lady Bulldogs Regroup to Top Livingstone 75-63 in Conference Opener

Lady Bulldogs Regroup to Top Livingstone 75-63 in Conference Opener


SALISBURY, N.C. - The Bowie State University women's basketball team began CIAA conference play and used a strong second half to capture a 75-63 win over Livingstone College on Thursday evening in the New Trent Gymnasium.

Graduate student Uchechi Ahaiwe (Riverdale, Md.) led the Lady Bulldogs with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, while juniors Denver Clyde (Glen Burnie, Md.) and Ashley Castle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 19 and 13 points respectively in the victory. Clyde also grabbed seven rebounds while Castle and graduate student Brooke Miles (Upper Marlboro, Md.) pulled down four each.

The Lady Bulldogs (6-3 / 1-0 CIAA) shot 37.3 percent (25-for-67) from the floor and hit six of their 21 3-pointers (28.6 percent). Livingstone shot 30.0 percent (18-for-60) from the floor and out-rebounded Bowie State 43-41.

Cierra York led the Lady Blue Bears (5-6 / 0-1 CIAA) with a game-high 27 points, while Sophie Lepzem added 10 points.

The Lady Blue Bears jumped out to a 5-0 advantage to start the game and pushed that lead to 13-2 six minutes into the opening period. BSU’s lone two points up to that point came via of a pair of free throws by Clyde.

Livingstone extended their lead to a game-high 19 points (30-11) but hit a dry spell after that. The Lady Blue Bears led by a dozen at halftime (39-27) before Bowie State opened the second half with a 12-3 run to close the Lady Bulldogs deficit to 42-39 at the 14:30mark.

The Lady Bulldogs pulled to within two three times over the next nine minutes before a Clyde 3-pointer shifted the advantage over to Bowie State for good at 64-62 with 5:39 left in the game. From that point, Bowie State held Livingstone to just two points while scoring 11 points of their own to finish the contest.

Bowie State blocked a season-high six shots and forced 25 Livingstone turnovers. Ahaiwe blocked two shots (for the fourth time this season) and Clyde paced the Lady Bulldogs with three steals. Castle and junior Alisha Burley (Baltimore, Md.) dished out a game-high four assists each for the Lady Bulldogs. 

The Lady Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (January 4th) at Johnson C. Smith University at 5:30 p.m.


Bowie State vs Livingstone (1/2/14 at Salisbury, NC (New Trent Gym))


Official Basketball Box Score
Bowie State vs Livingstone
1/2/14 5:30 p.m. at Salisbury, NC (New Trent Gym)


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VISITORS: Bowie State 6-3 / 1-0 CIAA
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 PHIPPS,Kiera........    2-3    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   5   4  1  0  1  1  16
02 SMITH,ReVen.........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0  11
03 CASTLE,Ashley.......    6-12   1-3    0-0    1  3  4   3  13  4  4  0  2  28
05 BURLEY,Alisha....... *  0-9    0-4    2-2    1  2  3   4   2  4  2  0  1  19
10 FLORES,Alessandra... *  2-4    1-2    0-0    0  0  0   1   5  0  0  0  1  17
14 DAVIS,Ashley........    3-6    0-2    0-0    1  2  3   2   6  0  1  1  0  20
21 NAYLOR,Donia........    1-4    0-0    5-7    1  0  1   1   7  0  2  0  0   5
22 MILES,Brooke........    0-3    0-3    0-2    2  2  4   3   0  1  2  0  0  18
23 McINTOSH,Jasmine.... *  0-4    0-2    2-2    3  0  3   0   2  1  1  0  1   6
24 CLYDE,Denver........ *  5-8    3-3    6-8    2  5  7   1  19  2  1  1  3  25
32 JACKSON,Alauna......    1-1    0-0    2-2    1  2  3   1   4  0  1  1  1  18
34 BONAPARTE,Briana....    1-1    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   3  0  0  0  0   0
55 AHAIWE,Uchechi...... *  4-11   0-0    2-4    5  5 10   2  10  0  1  2  0  17
   TEAM................                         1  1  2
   Totals..............   25-67   6-21  19-27  18 23 41  24  75 13 16  6 10 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-31 32.3%   2nd Half: 15-36 41.7%   Game: 37.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-12 25.0%   2nd Half:  3-9  33.3%   Game: 28.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-4  100 %   2nd Half: 15-23 65.2%   Game: 70.4%    5


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HOME TEAM: Livingstone 5-6 / 0-1 CIAA
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
02 EVANS,Tiffany....... *  1-9    0-4    4-4    2  3  5   3   6  0  8  0  1  19
03 TOLLIVER,Diamond....    2-6    1-3    1-2    1  0  1   1   6  2  1  0  1  23
05 WALKER,Ashley.......    1-7    0-3    4-4    0  3  3   3   6  1  4  0  4  32
10 HICKS,Alexis........ *  1-3    0-1    2-3    0  2  2   5   4  0  4  0  2  13
15 LEPZEM,Sophie.......    5-8    0-0    0-0    3  1  4   4  10  0  1  0  0  10
21 FOSTER,Wende........ *  0-7    0-0    0-0    1  3  4   4   0  0  0  2  0  30
22 COE,Phantasia.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   1
23 YORK,Cierra......... *  6-17   2-2   13-16   3  5  8   0  27  1  4  0  1  40
32 DANIELS,Taylor...... *  2-3    0-0    0-0    4  6 10   0   4  0  0  0  1  32
   TEAM................                         2  4  6             3
   Totals..............   18-60   3-13  24-29  16 27 43  21  63  4 25  2 10 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-30 36.7%   2nd Half:  7-30 23.3%   Game: 30.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  1-7  14.3%   Game: 23.1%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 15-16 93.8%   2nd Half:  9-13 69.2%   Game: 82.8%    8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Kimberly Haywood, Nathan Walker, Harold Weaver-Jr.
Technical fouls: Bowie State-None. Livingstone-None.
Attendance: 74
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Bowie State...................   27   48  -   75
Livingstone...................   39   24  -   63

Curing Breast Cancer Without Surgery? Great Start to the New Year!

Consider This New, Easy Way To Treat Small Breast Tumors (No Scars!) In an earlier article I told you about a procedure doctors have been using since the 1990s to kill prostate cancer cells without surgery. Now it looks like this same innovative approach can be used on small breast tumors as well. It’s exciting news (and not just because it’s almost painless, is an out-patient procedure, and leaves no scars). Nearly all women who are told they have early-stage breast cancer elect to have it cut out rather than take their chances on alternative treatments. Although it’s a normal response, it’s also a panic response. I’d give alternative therapies two or three weeks, at least – and I bet you’ll be happy with the results. If you want to know what the best alternatives are, consider our Special Report Breast Cancer Cover-Up. But if you’re in the majority who just wants to get rid of the darn thing, now conventional medicine has come up with a new way that sounds more reasonable to me than surgery. Keep reading to learn more. . . Continued below… The Amish Cancer SecretHow to cure just about any cancer the Amish way Is it possible to cure just about any cancer the Amish way? Is it true that many Amish people easily get rid of cancer in just three or four weeks? Are the Amish onto something BIG? To find out, I interviewed Jakob and Fannie, a young Amish couple from southern Minnesota. Jakob and Fannie are just two out of roughly 800 Amish people each year who travel 2,000 miles by train to go to a little-known cancer clinic. They told me an amazing, lifesaving tip that everyone should know. . .but almost nobody does. Click here and I’ll share it with you, absolutely FREE. Cryoablation—also known as cryotherapy or cryosurgery—involves the use of controlled freeze-and-thaw cycles to destroy cancer cells in both malignant and benign tumors. In 2012, IceCure Medical Ltd. of Israel successfully used their IceSense3 cryoablation procedure on four breast cancer patients to treat small, early stage breast cancer tumors (fibroadenomas). Traditionally, a surgical biopsy was the only option for removing these tumors. But cryoablation provides a less invasive option that even the Food and Drug Administration approves for treating fibroadenomas. IceSense3 has been developed specifically for breast tumors and uses ultrasound imaging to guide thin, hollow needles into the tumor. Doctors then use liquid nitrogen or argon gas to cool the end of the needle to -274 F (-170 C). This turns the tumor into a ball of ice and allows your body to reabsorb the dead cells over time. Use of the probe also helps ensure that only breast tumor cells are killed—leaving surrounding tissues unharmed. Eisuke Fukuma, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Breast Center at Kameda Medical Center in Kamogawa City, Japan, is leader of a clinical trial that will eventually involve 30 small early stage breast cancer patients. Four have been treated as of the latest information I have. In a company statement, Dr. Fukuma said “this procedure is an exciting step towards moving treatment of small, early stage breast cancer tumors from open surgery to a minimally invasive cryoablation procedure.” What are the pros and cons of this treatment? Cryoablation has been used for years to treat both malignant and benign tumors. Over 400 published studies document the clinical value of cryotherapy to treat prostate cancer. And recent studies show ten-year cure rates as high as 90% for low risk (presumably early stage) patients. This represents the same success rate as surgery or radiation treatments. I actually think cryotherapy sounds like a more reasonable approach for early-stage breast cancer than for prostate cancer (see Issue #110 for my take on the latter). Situated deep within the body, the prostate is harder to reach with the probes and it’s more difficult to identify all the tumors and their precise locations. But when treating breast cancer with freezing probes it sounds like it’s fairly easy to get where you want to go, kill only cancer cells, and get out with no damage to healthy tissue. Recent technological advances have resulted in smaller probes that are easier to manage. These are ideal for use in treating breast cancer. This new breast cancer treatment provides several advantages, including: No hospitalization required—the procedure can be performed safely in a doctor’s office or breast center. No anesthesia or sutures needed—this helps minimize any risk of infection or reactions to anesthetics, such as heart attack or stroke. No invasive surgery involved—the 5 to 15-minute procedure helps speed recovery time. No huge medical bills—cryoablation costs less than cancer surgery which may require lengthy hospital stays, anesthesia and prescription drugs. No pain or scar tissue—most patients report minimal pain with the procedures and have little to no scarring within six months. Now in all fairness, you must consider the less favorable aspect of cryoablation. In my opinion, it’s very minor, but I’ll mention it: It DOES involve the use of needles. Small and thin though they may be… some folks just can’t stomach them. You’ll need to endure a needle for the local anesthesia as well as the one used to administer the gases to freeze the tumor cells. I don’t know why this would bother a person any more than being cut with a scalpel, but some people might have a different take. U.S. researchers achieve similar results In 2010, Peter J. Littrup, M.D., reported encouraging results in a study of 13 breast cancer patients who refused surgery. He’s an interventional radiologist and director of imaging research and image-guided therapy for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan. In a Science Daily article, Dr. Littrup explained that researchers inserted several needle-like probes through the skin at even spaces, which delivered the cold gas directly to the tumor. A major difference between this study and prior methods of breast cryotherapy is the use of two or more probes to deliver the cold gas. Prior breast cryotherapy studies used only a single cryoprobe. Littrup said early researchers also suggested that breast tumors larger than 1.5 centimeters could not be adequately treated with cryoablation. But this assertion ignores the fact that men’s prostate glands—which average 5 centimeters—have been treated successfully with cryoablation for more than a decade! When treating prostates with cryoablation, doctors typically use more than six probes to transfer the deadly cold temperatures throughout the whole gland. Littrup’s team used this concept to attack breast tumors to ensure that the freezing gas saturated all areas of the women’s tumors. Many medical professionals are encouraged by results of cryotherapy as a breast cancer treatment. One of the most positive results from the Michigan study is that the patients didn’t have to undergo additional surgery, aimed at proving the cancer tumors had been treated completely, following multi-probe cryoablation. Although he stressed the need for more large studies on the use of this approach, Dr. Littrup said he believes cryotherapy will allow “accurate targeting of more difficult-to-see breast tumors.” The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 40,000 people will die from breast cancer in 2013. Cryoablation could be a promising new treatment to help cut that number down to size! American Cancer Society. 2013. Cancer facts and figures. Report available online at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/ document/acspc-036845.pdf Boyles, S. 2010. Breast cancer treated by freezing tumors. WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20100316/breast-cancer-treated- by-freezing-tumors Irby, W. 2012. First breast cancer patients treated with minimally invasive IceSense3 Cryoablation procedure. Retrived fromhttp://www.icecure-medical.com/wp-content/uploads/ IceCure-News-Release-06-04-12.pdf National Cancer Institute. 2003. Cryosurgery in cancer treatment: Questions and answers. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/cryosurgery Society of Interventional Radiology (2010, March 20). Freezing out breast cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved fromhttp://www.sciendaily.com /releases/2010/03/100316101347.htm

Health Disclaimer: The information provided above is not intended as personal medical advice or instructions. You should not take any action affecting your health without consulting a qualified health professional. The authors and publishers of the information above are not doctors or health-caregivers. The authors and publishers believe the information to be accurate but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. There is some risk associated with ANY cancer treatment, and the reader should not act on the information above unless he or she is willing to assume the full risk.

5 plant remedies for a stressed-out life

Five Plant Remedies for a Hurried, Stressed-Out Life Stress is often called the #1 killer. It’s hard to say for sure, because the damage stress does is indirect – death is a side effect. But there’s no question that stress can cause or exacerbate illness. The best alternative cancer clinics make it a top priority to reduce a patient’s stress levels. The best “treatments” for stress are getting rid of the source, praying and meditating, and getting enough sleep. Back in 1997 there was a best-selling book called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – and it’s all small stuff. That advice is absolutely first class, and the older I get, the truer it seems. But I don’t mean to trivialize the stress some people have to go through. If your kid is into substance abuse or your spouse is abusive (to name just two common problems), then you’ve got every right to feel like your ship is sinking. I know a 70-year-old woman who’s raising four little kids born out of wedlock to her drug-abusing, unemployed daughter. It’s a fact that problems like this put you at increased risk of cancer. You need to take it seriously and find a way to not be overwhelmed in a situation that would overwhelm any normal person. Let me tell you about some plant remedies that can help. . . Continued below… Breast Cancer Survivor was told: “You’ll be dead in a year” (Pssst!! That was 12 years ago!)? Doctors didn’t give Wiltrude much hope when they diagnosed her with cancer in the year 2000. Wiltrude, a German psychologist, never thought cancer would happen to her. But it did. And it came as a big shock. One doctor told her, “You’ll be dead in a year.” Late stage breast cancer is virtually incurable using conventional treatments. Even M.D.s admit it. They talk about “buying you more time.” (Don’t count on it. The evidence shows you’re better off doing nothing than chemo.) When Wiltrude told her doctor she was going to try alternative treatments, he said, “You are committing suicide with what you’re doing.” But she was determined to find a way to beat her cancer. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, this European woman came across a book by my good friend Bill Henderson, one of the smartest and wisest people I know when it comes to cancer treatment. She tried Bill’s top, number one recommendation — a gentle treatment you can do at home for just $5.15 a day. What’s more, the cost goes down to $3.50 after six weeks because you just need a maintenance dose. And it even tastes good. Not only has Wiltrude passed the five-year cancer survival mark, she’s survived for 12 years. We just interviewed her recently for this publication. The radiologist who tests her every year told her, “You’re the only one with this kind of result.” You can find out more about Bill’s proven cancer treatment plan if you click here. When I ask him about some of the treatments that top alternative doctors use, Bill sort of shrugs and says, “They’re fine, but why bother? My treatment works, you can do it yourself, and it costs practically nothing.” He’s coached thousands of cancer patients with all different types and stages of cancer. Most of the people who follow the detailed, specific plan in this Special Report get over their cancer and live for years. “Almost any kind of cancer is reversible,” says Bill. “I never give up on anyone.” Click here to learn more about Bill’s amazing cancer protocol. Adapta-what? Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs that can improve the health of your adrenal system, your stress control center. These substances are called adaptogens because they have the unique ability to “adapt” their function to your body’s specific needs. Adaptogens strengthen your response to stress, enhance your ability to cope with fear, and fight fatigue. Slowly and gently, with no jolts or crashes. Their effects are initially subtle and small, but also real and undeniable. If you’d grown up in China or India, you probably would’ve heard of them. They’ve been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, as stress busters, energy boosters, and more. Today, science has evidence to support their positive benefits and safety – something Big Pharma can’t hope to touch. How do adaptogens work? Think of an adaptogen as a thermostat. When it senses your room is too hot, it stops the furnace from blowing. And likewise when the temperature drops too low, it causes the furnace to blow out more warm air. Adaptogens are whole plant extracts that work at the cellular level to help you overcome the detrimental effects of stress. They can calm you down and energize you at the same time. Ideally, they don’t over-stimulate. They normalize imbalances and support your adrenal gland by neutralizing the dangers of stress. Remember how during stress your body shuts down normal processes to preserve its “fight or flight” status? Well, adaptogens energize your body, eliminate toxic byproducts, and help you use oxygen better. Most adaptogens grow in harsh climates at high altitudes and endure great challenges to survive. That’s why they produce chemical compounds that support your ability to adapt to changing conditions. To name a few of their benefits, they: Support your immune system Create peaceful mental focus Control inflammation Confer controlled energy There’s a lot to like about adaptogens! But it’s also important to recognize what adaptogens are NOT. They’re not tranquilizers, sleep aids or antidepressants. If anything, they tend to be energizers, not something to slow you down. Five recognized adaptogens Though these plants have been around for thousands of years, it’s still smart to work with your doctor or naturopath before launching headlong into adaptogens. There are adaptogenic formulas available too, but here we’ll introduce you to a few individually. To qualify as an adaptogen, the plant must: Be backed by solid scientific evidence Act in a non-specific way to normalize your body against all forms of stress Enhance the immune function of your whole body Be able to maintain and restore homeostasis (a steady state without wild swings) Be safe and harmless, with no negative interactions with other substances, or with prolonged use So what are these adaptogens? Let’s take a look… Asian Ginseng is the most potent – and treasured – medicinal plant on earth. It improves mental performance and ability to tolerate stress. Western herbalists say it restores and strengthens immune response, promotes longevity, and encourages normal cell growth. It’s an antioxidant, antidepressant, and can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Studies show it may protect against certain kinds of cancer and promote a sense of wellbeing. Holy Basil (also called Tulsi) is known in India for its anti-aging properties. Studies suggest it helps fight fatigue and stress, boosts immunity, and regulates blood sugar, blood pressure, and hormonal levels. Ashwagandha is sometimes called Indian ginseng. Dating back to Ayurvedic medicine, it regulates your immune system, eases anxiety, and slashes your cortisol levels. See Issue #139for more about this herb. Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) – also called golden root – is a potent adaptogen. It creates a barrier to stress-related mental and physical fatigue. It was widely used by Russian cosmonauts, athletes and military personnel for many years, before ever becoming known in the U.S. Rhodiola contains a phytochemical called salisdroside that helps fight anxiety and aging. It suppresses cortisol production. Studies show it: • Restores normal sleep and eating patterns   following stress • Fights physical and mental fatigue • Protects from oxidative and heat stress,   radiation, and toxic chemical exposure • Protect your heart and liver • Boosts oxygen usage • Improves memory • Extends longevity • Helps with weight loss Eleuthero is used in traditional Chinese medicine for muscle spasms, joint pain, fatigue, and insomnia. Germany has approved its use for chronic fatigue and impaired concentration. Herbalists say it improves mood and memory. As with anything new, proceed slowly and listen to your body. I find that ashwagandha, for example, makes me feel hyper. It’s just an individual side effect. Perhaps few others have the same reaction. In the grand scheme of things, adaptogens are certainly a far cry better than coffee, sugar, alcohol… or any number of other damaging ways to deal with the stress in your life. But as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the best thing is to identify and get rid of the causes of your stress, not to medicate, even with a natural substance. When your “fight or flight” response is always turned on… Your body is hard-wired to deal with stress to protect you from predators (lions and tigers and bears), or other aggressors. The response is supposed to go away after the danger has passed. But in civilized societies we’re exposed to non-stop stress. While the problems we face are rarely life-threatening, our bodies respond to them as if they were. So we spend our lives as though we’re surrounded by big cats that want to eat us. You face relentless demands on your time, resources, and emotions. And yes… even the technology that’s supposed to make your life “easier” has now firmly sucked you into its grip. Gotta answer those emails and comment on all those Facebook posts! When you experience a perceived threat, your brain sets off a “fight or flight” alarm. A combination of signals prompts your adrenal glands to release an outpouring of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline boosts your heart rate, spikes your blood pressure and increases your energy. (You’re ready to “fight” those lions and tiger and bears, even if the “threat” is just a cop giving you a ticket or a bill you didn’t expect.) Meanwhile, cortisol (your primary stress hormone) pumps extra sugar into your bloodstream. And curbs all “nonessential” functions… and that includes your immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. Your stress-response system is supposed to be self-limiting. A threat passes, and you get back to normal. But in today’s s world, for many of us, the pressure never stops. Chronic stress disrupts nearly all your body’s processes, and puts you on the fast track to associated health problems, including: Depression Cancer Heart Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome Auto immune diseases Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Eczema Anxiety Weight gain/trouble losing weight Sleep Disorders Memory Impairment Common Cold And that’s why it’s critical that you learn healthy ways to identify and cope with the stressors in your life. Because these coping skills could save your life. What’s stressing YOU out? Many people can’t even define stress, let alone have a hint that it might be slowly “killing” them. Stress is any condition or feeling experienced when demands exceed your resources to carry them out. In other words, when your life feels out of control. Some people appear to relax through everything, while others fly off the handle at every little thing. Are you burning the candle at both ends? What does it take to yank your chain? How do “happy” events play into stress? In 1967, psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe studied whether stress contributes to or causes illness. Their survey of 5,000 medical patients queried whether the patients had experienced any of a series of 43 life events in the previous two years – from happy celebrations to major trauma. Each event was assigned a “weighted” score for stress. The more events, the higher the patient’s score… and the larger the total weight of the events, the more likely the person was to become ill. Interestingly, this list was updated in 2001, and while many events remained, there were also newcomers to the “top 10” highest weighted events, many of them related to financial strains. Here’s the 1967 and 2001 lists side by side. Do you see yourself in any of these? 1967 Death of Spouse Divorce Marital Separation Jail Term Death of close family member Personal injury or illness Marriage Fired at work Marital reconciliation Retirement 2001 Death of Spouse Jail Sentence Death of immediate family member Immediate family member commits suicide Getting into debt beyond means of repaying Period of homelessness Immediate family member seriously ill Unemployment (of head of household) Divorce Break-up of family Other events included a birth in the family, son or daughter leaving home, a new job, a move, getting married, and even holiday celebrations. One has to wonder why the death of a child is not listed anywhere, because it doesn’t take much imagination to see how traumatic it is to lose a child. Perhaps the event isn’t that common, compared to those above. Without going into tons of detail, the two psychiatrists assigned the death of a spouse with a score of 100, and everything else was lower. Many of these life events are out of your control, but not all. If you already have a moderate or high risk of illness due to recent events, you’ll want to do everything in your power to avoid piling more stressors on. For example, when you retire, lose a close family member or spouse, or a child goes off to college, avoid taking on other new obligations like a new job, a move, or a new course of study. Don’t pile stress on top of stress. Some things can wait, even positive things. Avoid using coffee and sugary snacks as coping mechanisms. Or alcohol. Quick fixes they are. But the crash is never far behind. And in reality, they’re counter-productive to truly addressing your stress. I’ve been meditating for almost forty years and it’s been a lifesaver for me. I can calm myself down in the face of almost anything. And I’ve also become skilled at eliminating sources of stress or avoiding them in the first place. Perhaps most useful, at the ripe old age of 61 I know my own limits. I can’t solve every problem, save everybody, fix everything. I’m not superman.

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