Multifactorial Hormesis [PowerPoint]

[MachineGhost]

Hormesis is about how biological systems respond to stress in a nonlinear fashion.  In a certain “hormetic”? range of dosage of virtually any stress, a biological system responds by more than accommodating the stress, e.g. by putting itself into a more-healthy and protected state than it would be without the stress.  While a stress dosage greater than in the hormetic range can damage a biological system, many kinds of health-producing biological impacts can be induced by applying stress in the hormetic range. Although hormesis has been long-known, its universal nature and vast practical importance is only now becoming appreciated.  Hormesis exists on various levels of biology from the sub-cellular to the social functioning of organisms in their environments.  It affects virtually all body systems and major subsystems, and it operates through multiple molecular pathways.  Extremely important applications of hormesis have long been practiced, but such applications have been mainly seen and studied each as separate matters.  So, the ubiquitous nature of hormesis and its general properties and potentials have remained largely unexplored.  Further, hormesis is required by the systems nature of biological processes and is essential for the evolution of species and survival of individual organisms.  This presentation reviews the history of hormesis research, some familiar examples of hormesis, hormesis and aging, key molecular pathways that mediate hormesis, our emerging understanding of general properties of hormesis, hormesis and dietary substances, hormesis and systems dynamics, and the possibilities of developing new hormetic therapies and preventative interventions for diseases and for countering aging.  A few simple personal health-producing practices that involve hormesis are also mentioned.

Part 1: http://bit.ly/16o7n6x
Part 2: http://bit.ly/10p4oqL

[colorado4]

Has anyone practiced cold water therapy for hormesis? A gym I recently visited had contrast pools.  The cold one was 48 deg. and the adjoining whirlpool was 115. I was told by a trainer to start with cold (30 seconds) then immediately go to hot tub for 2 minutes and repeat this several times. Any recommendations? I've experimented with cold showers before but 48 was shocking and I could only take about 15 seconds.  I'm guessing I need to build up some cold tolerance.  Felt great afterwards.