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Acupuncture and Stress

In today’s world, it would be a hard to say that there is no stress in our life. We are surrounded by stress from all directions. It can come from work, family, illness and hormonal changes just to name a few. Changes are inevitable and our attitude towards changes can also result in stress. Some changes are positive where others can affect our health and happiness in a negative way. For instance, change of job to a better one, having a baby, transfer to a better place are all good changes but they still fill us with anxiety and stress because we are unsure of what lies in store for us in the new position. Hence, stress and life is irreversibly bond and although we cannot separate the former from the latter, we can make sure that both of them don’t get entangled in a destructive manner. Our emotional reaction to stress can be any form such as anger, depression or irritability.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the main organ that effects our Qi or energy flow is the liver. It is responsible for ensuring that there is smooth Qi flow through out our body. When the body reacts to stress, an impairment in the function of the liver can occur and  the flow of Qi is then disrupted. Thus, when liver Qi stagnation occurs then exaggerates of the symptoms associated with stress. In order to treat stress it is important to remove the Qi blockage then  stress and its associated symptoms can be reduced. Common symptoms associated with stress usually include anger, irritability, depression, anxiety, feeling of suffocation, insomnia, irregular menstrual cycle, PMS, headaches and gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation and IBS.

Acupuncture is the treatment where the use of fine needles which are inserted into specific points through out the body which can help to remove the Qi stagnation. Relieving liver Qi stagnation is important and by removing the stagnation and supporting the liver offers a remedy for the treatment of stress as the Qi stagnation is minimized. It can help in releasing endorphins which offers a relaxing effect on our body. You may be surprised to learn that many people can fall asleep during the treatment. Most people suffering from stress are able to get relief with the use of acupuncture treatments as well as using Chinese patient herbal formulas. This feeling of relief can be experienced up to several days after the session in the early stages of treatment with the results stretching out longer with time.

Although acupuncture helps to overcome stress, you should keep in mind that you can achieve faster and longer lasting results when you incorporate dietary and lifestyle changes. This can include adding regular exercise 5-6 days a week into your lifestyle, avoiding eating fried foods, drinking caffeine and alcohol. It is important to include lots of whole grains, veggies and fruits into your diet to help with your healthy stress free life.

References:

Acupuncture and Stress

Treating Irritability and Moodiness with Acupuncture

Acupuncture Psychology

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