Acupuncture for Stress

“I know acupuncture is often recommended for pain, but I don’t usually go to acupuncturists for pain relief. I go when I’m feeling out of balance…ungrounded and a little stressed out. She did some needles that I have never had before that she said were to destress me. I left feeling much less frazzled than when I walked in and seemed to just feel…lighter, yet grounded. More balanced.” – Mary J.

 

How does acupuncture work for stress?

Acupuncture can help with both physical and emotional stress.  In Chinese medicine, we view stress in a three different ways.  Denise will help you identify what type of stress treatment is necessary based on your symptoms.  Stress can be connected to the liver, spleen, or heart.

do you have any of these?:

  • Neck and Shoulder tension

  • Digestive problems including upset stomach, constipation and/or diarrhea

  • Depression

  • Anger

  • General moodiness

  • Headaches

Bottled up emotions and physical stress may be stuck in the body. This may lead to stuck energy, or Liver Qi Stagnation.  With acupuncture and Chinese herbs, we will focus on restoring the smooth flow of Liver Qi, unblock it and relieve stress.

If you are experiencing:

  • Indigestion

  • Gas and bloating

  • Fatigue after eating

  • Low appetite

Spleen Qi Deficiency may also be a culprit in stress.  The Spleen is in charge of our digestion of food but also how we “digest” information.  If the Spleen is weak (deficient) digestive problems can occur because of stress.

Stress on the Liver can also affect our Spleen.  In Chinese Medicine, we say that the Liver is “overacting on the Spleen” and can cause any of the Spleen Qi Deficiency symptoms listed above.  By strengthening the Spleen with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, it will be less likely to be affected by the stress from the Liver and digestion problems will be improved.

have you noticed any of these?: 

  • Anxiety and worry

  • Insomnia

  • Irritability

  • Crying for no apparent reason

  • Forgetfulness

  • Short attention span

  • Easily startled

These are stress signs that are related to the Heart in Chinese medicine.  The Heart houses our mind and our emotions and affects our memory and sleep.  If the Heart is deficient in blood, qi or yin (body fluids), it will affect all of these.  Using acupuncture and Chinese herbs to build Heart blood, qi and nourish yin will insure more even emotions, improved memory and a better night sleep.

 

Good time to receive acupuncture for stress:

I’m going on vacation to relax, would it be good to have acupuncture before I go away?

If you are the type of person who finds it hard to relax then yes, acupuncture before your vacation is a good way to unwind.   Some cruise ships now offer acupuncture at sea, so keep that in mind for your next adventure. Getting acupuncture is a great way to start your vacation!

Does acupuncture help calm me down from stress in the past few days or will it help with stress in the future?

Acupuncture is remarkably effective in shifting stressed and overwhelmed clients into a peaceful state.  Denise guarantees that each client will leave significantly calmer than when they came in.  Getting acupuncture before a stressful experience such as public speaking or visiting relatives will help you stay calm.  If stress is chronic, as is true in many professions then regular treatments are recommended.

The effects of acupuncture are cumulative.  Each treatment builds on the next one.  Getting regular acupuncture treatments for stress can help reduce your stress in the future.  Taking Chinese herbs between treatments, getting regular exercise, doing mind-body meditations such as yoga, qi gong or tai qi will also help to ease the stress.