The Use of Acupuncture for Stress Relief
Once in a while everyone experience stressful moments. The way we feel when we are stressed is a healthy response of the body to events that may feel beyond our control. In a healthy person, these moments of stress are short and the body is able to recover without much problem. Nevertheless, in people who manage extreme stress for a prolonged period of time, the emotional health is affected and in the long term, the physical health suffers too. The good news is that the use of acupuncture for stress relief is proven to work decreasing the stress hormones in patients treated with this technique.
How does stress works?
The human body has parameters that help it to react in a certain way when a stressful event occurs. If the body detects a threat, whether it is perceived or real, the sympathetic nervous system activates the called “fight or flight” response. This reaction increases the heartbeat, dilates the pupils, and redirects the blood to the extremities, thus, the body is prepared if is needed to fight against the threat or run if is the case. Unfortunately, this response is useful in survival situations where our life is in danger but is not very helpful in day-to-day basis where our “threats” are a school project, a demanding boss, a discussion with our partner, or any other daily worrying situation.
What does stress make to our body?
Nowadays, is more common that long-term stress disturbs our lives, and our bodies live in a constant “fight or flight” state, rising cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) and blood pressure, forcing the restraining of the immune function. Anxiety, depression, headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, and tension are a consequence of this constant state of stress.
How acupuncture for stress relief works?
In the Traditional Chinese Medicine, stress and its consequent symptoms disrupt the body’s energy flow. The energy flows through the body channels or meridians, and strong emotions generate blockages in the channels. This is the reason why very stressed people suffers from upper back and neck pain, because the tension caused by stress blocks the free energy flow. The job of acupuncture is to release these blockages through acupuncture points, to help the body’s energy balance and alleviate the symptoms of stress and other subsequent problems. With the tiny needles, acupuncture releases endorphins or natural painkillers in the brain. Acupuncture also helps to improve the body’s circulation, oxygenates the tissues, decreases the heart rate and blood pressure, and relaxes the muscles.
Now you know the use of acupuncture for stress relief. Normally, an acupuncture session takes between 30 to 45 minutes, and it is advisable to go without haste because it can interfere with the treatment. We recommend you to rely on a competent practitioner of acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment is often covered by extended health plans in Vancouver. Contact Prestige if you are looking to experience a relaxing and healing treatment of acupuncture in Kitsilano. Prestige is an alternative health clinic offering treatments by our registered acupuncturist, whether you are interested in acupuncture for stress relief, anxiety, depression or any other condition Azadeh Baradaran will be happy to help you.