1 minute read
Physiotherapy & Wellness
ACUPUNCTURE FOR EFFECTIVE STRESS RELIEF
We all know that chronic stress is not good for our physical body or mental state, but in our modern world it tends to be unavoidable. Stress affects all systems of the body - musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems. We can see and feel the negative impacts of stress on our sleep, energy, digestion, immune system, mental health and our physical bodies which often manifest as headaches, skin issues, muscular tension, TMD, high blood pressure and heart disease. Our acupuncturist, Lisa Matsuzaki, treats stress and its effects on the body daily. In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms, she looks to ensure free flow of qi and blood in the body to achieve balance. In Western terms, Lisa works on the nervous system. Acupuncture uses tiny needles to tap into the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal axis) to calm the sympathetic nervous systems (SNS) fight or flight reaction and wake up the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) to active rest and digest. Acupuncture acts on the SNS to decrease the production of cortisol and adrenaline which in turn decreases anxiety, regulates breathing, affects heart rate variability, improves sleep, and releases tension from the body. Each patient treatment plan is different with specific acupuncture points selected depending on their symptoms. But the goal of each treatment is the same, acupuncture is working to help the body to recover from acute and chronic stress to restore balance in the body. ♦
DID YOU KNOW?
You don’t have to have anything wrong to get an acupuncture treatment. One of acupuncture’s strengths is its ability to prevent things from going wrong. As a preventative medicine, acupuncture boosts the immune system, promotes healthy circulation, aids in organ and cell detoxification, decreases inflammation, and helps your body respond to stress in a healthy way.
