If you’re the kind of person that gets knots in their belly when stressed, you need to understand the relationship between emotion and digestion.

During the average lifetime, a whopping 60 tons of food passes through the digestive tract, so ensuring the digestive system is functioning correctly is extremely important. Without proper digestion, the body can’t receive the nutrients it requires to enjoy optimal health.

New evidence indicates that gut bacteria alters the way we store fat and how we balance levels of glucose in the blood and how we respond to hormones makes us feel hungry or full. The wrong mix of microbes seems to set the stage for diabetes and obesity from the moment of birth. For this reason, you need to make sure your digestion systems get a clean sweep regu­larly. Fiber-rich vegetables, especially green vegetables along with fresh fruits, are especially good at digestive cleansing and detoxification.

Did you know that many experts refer to the gut as a second brain? The average gut contains between 400 and 600 million nerve cells and like your brain, it contains numerous neurotransmitters. That means that your brain and digestive system communicate with one another all the time, this is called the ‘Brain-Gut Axis.’ So it would follow that if your digestive system isn’t working properly, your emotions will be out of whack [and vice versa). Even Harvard Medical School acknowledges that the brain has a direct effect on the stom­ach and the stomach on the brain. We know that the very thought of eating causes the stomach to release juices before the food even reaches the mouth. Some experts in the field even view the two systems as one. Professor John Cryan of the University of County Cork,Ireland, conducted an experiment to show how the gut microbiome affects the biochemistry of the brain and how two strains of the probiotic Bifidobacterium were more effective at treating anxiety and stress than serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as in medications such as Lexapro. Yes.. .you were right from the beginning, we can eat ourselves to a happier existence.

That leads us to an interesting question: can we treat digestive conditions–such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] and Inflamma­tory Bowel Disease [IBD] (both of which are little understood) — by treating or controlling anxiety and stress? 15% of the population of Europe and North America suffer from these conditions and yet no one understands what they are and how they start. So maybe it’s not a mechanical breakdown of the body but rather a state of mind?

In a nutshell, stay calm to main­tain a positive connection between mind and body, the Brain —Gut Axis. Supplements such as Aloe Vera, which is very soothing for the digestive system, can help when all else fails. You can also eat arti­chokes, which contain high concen­trations of phytonutrient cyanine to aid digestion by stimulating the production of bile (bile helps digest fats and absorb vitamins from the foods we eat).

More from Oussha’s Upcoming Book:

Oussha’s Pure Cure–The Whole Family Guide to Whole Life Wellness

Millions of people worldwide suffer with insomnia. Insomnia not only affects your work and social life, it also wreaks havoc with your immune system and causes premature aging. As we get older, the effi ciency of our kidneys becomes depleted.

Studies have shown that insomnia may be associated with a deficiency of endorphins, so it’s important to maintain healthy kidneys.

People with insomnia tend to experience one or more of the fol­lowing: difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking throughout the night and waking early in the morning. Scientific research has shown that insomnia can stem from a disruption of the body’s Circadian Rhythm–an internal clock that governs the timing of hormone production, body temperature and other bodily func­tions, e.g. menstruation, menopause and hormonal changes.

Excessive stimulation at bedtime is known to cause disruption of the Circadian Rhythm, so caffeine in the evening should be avoided. I also avoid sleeping near a cellphone since cellphones emit a great deal of electrical noise, you don’t realize the amount of noise a cellphone can make during the night (if it’s not the electrical noise, it’s the constant pinging as emails are received and friends post on Facebook).

Exercise and diet play a factor so it’s important to exercise regu­larly but avoid exercising in the late evening. Some people tell me meditation helps them and others swear by breathing tech­niques. Diet can make the difference between a good night’s rest and a sleepless night, so avoid drinking too much liquid before bedtime and eating rich foods. Fatty foods boost the production of melatonin and serotonin, both of which are associated with sleep. If you are hungry at bedtime and need to eat something, then try eating turkey slices, sheep’s yogurt or drinking goat’s milk. Foods which are high in tryptophan, such as seeds and nuts help restore proper serotonin levels during the night.

The holistic treatment for insomnia is multifaceted and incorpo­rates many techniques, including herbal medicine. One herbal medicine I take from time to time is called Trance. It is available online. Typically, I combine it with omega-3 fatty acids during the day and L-theanine. I find it helps calm my nervous system. Coupled with this, I may use homeopathy for better results. I tend to prescribe based on the ancient constitutional type and mental, emotional and physical states. One great homeopathic remedy for insomnia is Coffea. Other remedies that also help are Ignatia, for those brooding over upsetting situations and Arsenicum for those who stay up worrying and fretting.

Insomnia can also be treated using traditional Chinese medi­cine. Some practitioners believe that insomnia is as a result of excess conditions such as liver fire, heart fire and food stagna­tions. Certain acupuncture points have strong affinity to sleep and can sedate a patient. For those with a chronic condition, an herbal therapy protocol may be needed to address the underly­ing condition and usually these focus on nourishing the heart and calming the spirit.

Oussha’s Upcoming Book: Oussha’s Pure Cure – The Whole Family Guide to Whole Life Wellness