Stress Management

Stress has become such a major part of life in our culture that it has become the norm. It is so constant for many of us that we are not even aware of just how high our stress is and how it affects our bodies. Stress induces a “fight or flight” response in the body, which was fine when we needed short bursts of adrenaline to hunt down dinner (or escape being dinner) but does not serve us in modern life when this same response can last for hours, days, weeks, or longer. When our bodies constantly produce adrenaline over a long period of time our immune system becomes depressed, and we become vulnerable to all types of diseases. Stress therefore is the gateway to all diseases; if our immunity is strong we will resist outside diseases and maintain a healthy state within our own bodies, and if our immunity is weak we are likewise vulnerable.

Acupuncture is an amazingly effective way to rid the body of stress. There are acupuncture techniques specifically for stress, but acupuncture administered for any one given complaint will also have the added benefit of reducing stress. This works both ways, as the stress reducing effect of acupuncture puts the body into a healing state which is conducive to alleviate any given specific complaint. So a stress reduction treatment might clear up insomnia, or even make a stiff back feel better. And treating a stiff back will most definitely also relax the patient as much as a cocktail or two – without the calories or the hangover! Lying on a table for forty five minutes, away from the demands of the outside world, marinating in the free flow of energy, is a deeply healing experience. Our patients come to appreciate this experience in and of itself, above and beyond the alleviation of specific problems.

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