Acupuncture for Stress Relief

Acupuncture helps with stress by releasing natural chemicals in the body which enables you to return from a sympathetic nervous state (Stressed) to a parasympathetic nervous state (Relaxed). This benefits your body by reducing blood pressure, relaxing tense muscles, increases your immune system and returns you to a less aggitated and more relaxed state. The parasympathetic nervous system is once again activated which  has a calming effect on all the body thereby easing any stress, anxiety or panic attack you may felt previously.

Acupuncture leaves the majority of patients feeling “chilled out”, “serene” or simply “very relaxed”. For this reason many patients continue to come for acupuncture long after their original complaint has gone.

What is Stress?

Stress is how your body responds to any kind of demand placed on it. It can be good for you at times as it acts as a form of protection. You may have heard the phrase “fight or flight” before. This is a common response to danger in all people and animals. When you are afraid that someone or something may physically hurt you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation (fight) or escape it all together (flight).

This is your sympathetic nervous system activating to protect you. It increases your heart rate, directs blood to our limbs and shuts down our digestive system. Our bodies stress hormones also elevates resulting in higher blood pressure and suppresses our immune system. Once the danger has been removed our body should return to normal again, the parasympathetic nervous system should kick in.

stress relief acupuncture cork

When this fails to happen and we remain in a stressful state then it becomes unhealthy and causes problems. This becomes more problematic when your stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. Our bodies stress hormones remains elevated resulting in higher blood pressure and so on. Over time, these symptoms become worse and can develop into pain, stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Stress can affect both your body and your mind. People under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, and unable to concentrate or think clearly. Sometimes, they even suffer mental breakdowns.

How many treatments will I need? Explained  here