Acupuncture, Stress or De-Stress?

Today I return to my Stress and Anxiety series, with a question…..
Can Accupuncture reduce stress or does it promote stress?

Firstly, What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing art that involves inserting fine needles at very precise pressure points throughout the body. The needles stimulate the body’s natural healing processes in its energy system.

Health Benefits of Acupuncture

Accupuncture can relieve the physical symptoms of stress that tends to accumulate in the neck, shoulders, and back, causing pain and tension. Headaches are another physical complaint resulting from stress. People who are under high levels of stress often have high blood pressure.

Acupuncture can relieve physical symptoms, such as tense muscles, and even help to lower blood pressure. Acupuncture leaves the body feeling calm and relaxed. An added benefit is that it improves the circulation of the blood throughout the body.

How Does Stress Treatment with Accupuncture Work?

Acupuncturists believe that energy flows through the body system through channels called meridians. This energy is referred to as Qi or Chi.

Stress causes an imbalance in the body’s energy and causes it to flow improperly. The Qi can become blocked and stagnant. It must be unblocked and flow freely in order to restore harmonious balance to the body.

By stimulating the proper acupressure points, the Qi can flow freely, and thereby can reduce stress induced mental and physical symptoms.

So Is This Stress Treatment Safe?

Acupuncture is perfectly safe when performed by a licensed practitioner. Acupuncturists are trained in the proper methods of stress treatment and all instruments are sterilized to prevent any risk of infection.

The Food and Drug Administration approved non-toxic needles made for single use application just for use in acupuncture treatments. The majority of people who undergo acupuncture feel no pain at all. A small percentage may feel very minimal pain. Bleeding rarely occurs.

Stress Related Health Conditions

Regular acupuncture treatments can reduce stress, help heal stress related health conditions and improve the body’s immunity to defend against potential illnesses.

In fact, in some cases, acupuncture that is being used to treat one condition can actually help detect another, more severe illness that had not been previously identified.

In such cases, acupuncture aids in early diagnosis and treatment. In another capacity, acupuncture can serve as a form of preventive measure against illness by alleviating stress and strengthening the body.

Accupuncture Treatment Sessions

A typical acupuncture session may last for 30 to 60 minutes. The patient will become very relaxed during the treatment and may even fall asleep.

Regular acupuncture treatments can help strengthen your body so you’re better able to deal with the day-to-day stresses of life. Acupuncture can also leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

The Body and Mind Connection

Stress is a perfect example of the interrelated connection between the body and mind.

Remember, acupuncture is just one method to relieve stress. It’s also important to learn positive and productive ways to cope with stress on a daily basis, thereby making the stress work for you rather than against you.

Find your own combination of de-stressing methods that work for you, and use them often to enjoy a happier and healthier life. Stress is a natural part of life, but with our seemingly never-ending hectic lifestyles, we are more stressed out than ever!

There are various techniques you can use to relieve stress, such as yoga, meditation, massage therapy and more. You may want to try several different methods to reduce stress to find a method you feel most comfortable with. Read more about Stress Relief and Anxiety.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 10:46 pm and is filed under Personal Development Articles, Stress and Anxiety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.