Methods for reducing chronic stress in mammals

摘要

This invention relates to methods for reducing chronic stress in mammals by administering a sensory regimen which reduces or down-regulates the activity of the HPA axis. The activity of the HPA axis of the mammal may be downregulated by at least one of the following methods: (1) reducing the amount of total daily adrenocortical hormone; (2) reducing adrenocortical hormone at any time point in the period from about 4 to about 8 hours following morning waking; (3) reducing the total daily adrenocortical hormone minus the integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone. Generally, the sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli and combinations thereof.