Depression, Stress, Anxiety
Our emotional well-being is a common struggle many of us are familiar with. No matter what causes this emotional distress, it seems to take us out of our comfort zone and into an erratic state. When we are healthy and the stress is short-lived, we are usually able to recover from stressful situations relatively unscathed. However, if stress and anxiety are prolonged and/or coupled with other emotional or physical disruptions, they begin to have serious consequences on our overall well-being. Symptoms of anxiety include muscle tension, rapid breathing, trouble breathing, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, palpitations, headaches, sweating, fatigue, irritability, trembling, nausea, and sleep disturbances.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, physical and emotional imbalances are closely linked in the sense that one type of imbalance can cause or exacerbate the other. Prolonged disruptive emotions like stress and anxiety cause obstructions in the natural flow of energy in the body, which can cause pain and illness. Scientifically, acupuncture helps to alleviate stress by causing the body's nervous system to release natural chemicals, such as endorphins, in the brain and body. These chemicals act as relaxants, which have a calming effect on the body. The calming effect of acupuncture decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles, thus alleviating many of the physical issues associated with stress. Additionally, acupuncture increases blood circulation, which in turn brings more oxygen to the tissues, while cycling out cortisol (weakens the activity of the immune system) and other waste chemicals.
Sleep
Acupuncture is often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep disorders. The results of recent clinical trials have indicated improvements in sleep quality in people with insomnia. However, specialists suggest diet and nutrition coupled with acupuncture treatment may enhance this improvement for the relief of insomnia.