A great many people will suffer from symptoms of stress and anxiety at some point in their lifetime, regardless of age, gender, or purpose in life.
Some are lucky enough to find stress useful as a motivator, but others can become crippled by its harmful influence on their health, both in the short and long-term.
There’s no quick-fix cure for stress and anxiety, but it’s important to register its existence and consider active ways to reduce it in your life. This can involve small (or sometimes large) changes to your lifestyle and approach to daily tasks, or other techniques like exercise, diet control or building stronger social bonds and support mechanisms in your life.
Acupuncture, an ancient practice that involves inserting needles into pressure points on your body, is also becoming a popular alternative treatment for stress and anxiety.
A Traditional View of Acupuncture for Stress-Relief
In ancient Chinese medicine, an energy called Qi is said to regulate the overall health of the body, moving through pathways called meridians. Blocks or disruptions to this energy flow can lead to pain and discomfort.
The practice of acupuncture is a way of restoring Qi’s balance, therefore promoting better health and getting well-needed relief for the individual, who may be suffering from a number of stress-related symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, upset stomach, headache, irritability, sleeplessness, fatigue, sweating, and muscle tension.
The sterilised needles used in Acupuncture are inserted into specific parts of the body to remove any barriers to the correct flowing of energy. It is used for people suffering many ailments, including:
- Migraines or other headaches
- Menopause
- Heartburn and digestive problems
- Low immune system
- Lower back pain
- Obesity
- Seasonal allergy symptoms
- Acid reflux disease
Modern Opinions on Acupuncture and Stress
Studies have suggested acupuncture has the potential to influence certain indicators of psychological stress, such as heart rate variation in patients suffering from hypertension.
Further to this, the consensus is that acupuncture has the potential to release certain chemicals in the body, such as endorphins, which can have a restorative impact on someone’s stress levels.
These endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers that interact with the receptors in your brain and reduce your perception of pain. They are also released when you exercise, and are responsible for the positive feeling people enjoy after a run.
What Happens During An Acupuncture Session?
After a full consultation covering your reasons for considering acupuncture and your intended goals, your first appointment may seem like a novel experience, with most people never having received this kind of treatment before.
However, the methods and tools used by professional acupuncturists follow a standardised system just like other forms of medical treatment. Your program will involve set periods for application that can be anywhere from 10-30 minutes, and recommended courses, which can range over several weeks and months.
During your sessions, your acupuncturist will insert thin needles into different pressure points on your body before carefully removing them. Some people report immediate improvements, or an electrical tingling in their body, but you may not notice anything at all, with improvements instead being gradual and the result of regular sessions over time.
Talk to Us About Acupuncture For Stress in London
To learn more about Acupuncture For Stress, or how it can benefit your life in reducing stress and anxiety, get in touch with one of our bodywork experts in London who will happily consult with you on a suitable acupuncture treatment plan for stress.
