Can Acupuncture Manage Your Stress?

Did you know that 80% of people in hospitals are there because their stress has manifested as a chronic health problem that now has to be treated more drastically? Your body’s stress mechanisms were designed to support you during stressful times, like in an emergency. But not during the constant stress to which we are often exposed. Stress can be externally produced by an unfulfilling job, a difficult supervisor, a stressful home life, caring for an aging parent, or by uncertainty about the circumstances around you, either about work, or world issues. And stress can be internally produced…for example, constant worrying, driving yourself too hard, being a perfectionist, or carrying grudges.

In ancient times our natural “fight or flight” response provided us with instant energy to preserve ourselves during an attack or threat. The stress of our current time is markedly higher, more consistent, more frequent and more consistent than what our predecessors experienced. Today we are bombarded by stress via computer screens, road rage, daily news, cell phones and potential terrorism. All these factors combine to put the calmest person into a frazzled frenzy. Internally stress can deplete your nervous system, lymphatic system, kidneys and adrenal glands. This sets the stage for a wider array of more serious ills. Studies have shown that increased and constant stress can decrease the number of white blood cells, which defend us against viruses. This leads to a wreaked immune system and emotional instability. 

It is true we are living in stressful times. But don’t let stress take its toll on you. Here is the solution. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the devastation of stress and activate the relaxation response. Acupuncture causes your body to release pleasant, happy chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins are natural opiates, which relieve pain and increase a person’s sense of relaxation and well being. They can give a person a “natural high” similar to the feeling we have at peak experiences in our lives. This is one of the reasons that acupuncture is so useful in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

Acupuncture also encourages relaxation by loosening tight muscles. You can leave a session feeling as if you had a good, deep massage. Many of my patients walk into their first session dreading needles and walk out of their first session feeling as relaxed and happy as a purring cat.

Signs of an Overactive Response to Stress:
• Anger/frustration
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Insomnia
• Joint pain
• Tight neck and shoulders
• Weakened immune system
• Weight gain

When you “put up” with symptoms like irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches or tight neck & shoulders, the problem will only get worse. This ultimately opens up the door for more extreme and chronic health issues to spring up later. Here, at Complete Oriental Medical Care, LLC, we can make an immense difference in how you deal with stress. This is our specialty…come see why our patients return again and again for our acupuncture treatments. It is what will make the difference for you to be in peak form for your life.

Set up your appointment today for stress free, optimal health. Call us at 612-866-4000. And visit us at www.orientalmedcare.com .

For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, Oriental herbalist, bodywork therapist, and Qigong instructor. He offers complete health care with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutritional counseling, and Oriental massage. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.