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Stress Relief with Acupuncture

by Dr. Elizabeth Langer

Everyone has stress. Having stress is normal, but too much can be harmful to your health. In our culture, we often disconnect the mind and the body. But because traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) does not separate the psychological from the physiological, acupuncture benefits people dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Too much stress creates muscle tension, pain, fatigue, and headaches. Stress can even exacerbate high blood pressure, heart palpitations, allergies, and create problems with digestion. Too much stress can reduce our immune system and predispose us to getting sick.

When we experience intense emotions, we get stuck in a cycle. Acupuncture helps to break the cycle, making stress more manageable. It allows difficult emotions to surface, releases endorphins, and calm frazzled nerves. We are then able to take step back and examine the stress factors in our lives. When we understand the factors causing our stress, the real healing can begin.

Treatment plans should be tailored to your individual needs. Every person handles stress differently. Some may find their problems are resolved in three to four treatments, while others may find relief in a long-term plan. Stress due to losing a loved one, is different than the stress response due to chronic anxiety.

If you are suffering from a serious emotional condition, it is highly recommended that you receive treatment from a licensed therapist along with acupuncture. Because acupuncture uses no drugs, it works with any treatment plan and will not interfere with any prescribed therapy. Acupuncture may even make the counseling and psychotherapy more effective by reducing the intensity of the stress.