Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Stress, Anxiety & Depression
In Chinese medicine, the physical body and the emotions are connected. The Qi that flows in the meridians should flow unobstructed, leading to a healthy body and mind. But if emotions build up over time, that energy can become stuck in the body leading to emotional symptoms such as depression, stress or anxiety as well as physical symptoms such as pain, sleep disturbances, digestive imbalances and much more. Often focusing on correcting these emotional imbalances will positively effect the physical symptoms that are associated or caused by them. Whichever came first, it doesn’t really matter. The important takeaway is that healing your stress and emotional imbalances will have a positive healing effect on the rest of your body.
Research indicates that acupuncture can be of therapeutic value in the management of stress, anxiety, depression and associated health problems. Psychological health problems like anxiety and depression are thought to be caused by low levels of the body’s mood enhancing chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and GABA. Acupuncture has been proven to enhance the levels of these neurotransmitters. Chronic stress also causes an over stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system which leads to the excess release of stress hormones such as cortisol. Stress hormones can interfere with the secretion of the mood enhancing neurotransmitters, resulting in emotional imbalances. Acupuncture can affect sympathetic nerve impulses, reducing the negative impact of stress and restoring balance.
Research indicates that acupuncture can be of therapeutic value in the management of stress, anxiety, depression and associated health problems. Psychological health problems like anxiety and depression are thought to be caused by low levels of the body’s mood enhancing chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and GABA. Acupuncture has been proven to enhance the levels of these neurotransmitters. Chronic stress also causes an over stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system which leads to the excess release of stress hormones such as cortisol. Stress hormones can interfere with the secretion of the mood enhancing neurotransmitters, resulting in emotional imbalances. Acupuncture can affect sympathetic nerve impulses, reducing the negative impact of stress and restoring balance.
