For the past decade or so, "stress and anxiety" are one of the conditions almost every new patient writes on their intake form.
These feelings, of stress and anxiety, is a lived experience for so many of us, and acupuncture can be used as a transformational tool to alleviate these feelings and help shift one's psyche in a more fruitful direction. As a practitioner, I believe this is the highest use of this ancient art.
My experience of treating patients over years of practice corresponds with excellent research that supports my observations and outcomes. If you want some examples, read through some of our Reviews.
There are several actionable methods that work to manage stress, but I have found that when someone is feeling very anxious, it’s not easy to pivot and downshift. Acupuncture puts you in a zone that clears the mind, and when you’re able to think more clearly, this has a dimensionally net-positive effect on your life.
Acupuncture helps reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety by slowing down the ever-alert part of the nervous system, and re-introducing that part of ourselves that is present and receptive.
Here's how it works:
Acupuncture reduces the stress we experience in our physical body in several ways: by regulating the nervous system, by down-regulating activity in the emotion center of the brain, by releasing endorphins and balancing hormones in the endocrine system, and by improving circulation which in turn relaxes the muscles and fascia. Here's a brief video explanation of how stress affects the body.
Acupuncture is a meditative experience: many people find when they experience acupuncture for a period of time on the table their minds relax and empty, leading to a feeling of well-being. This is the experience of downshifting from “fight or flight” (the sympathetic nervous system) to “rest and digest” (the parasympathetic nervous system).
Here's a deeper dive into how acupuncture impacts stress.
Typically, every acupuncture treatment is tailored to the individual, and will address the symptoms that potentially intertwine with stress. For example, some of the most common “side effects” of stress that I see are frequent headaches including migraine headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, muscle pain, or chronic pain.
While many studies support acupuncture’s role in stress reduction, its effectiveness can vary from person to person. If you’re considering trying acupuncture to manage stress, it’s advisable to consult with a licensed and experienced acupuncturist.