In the Bay Area, so many of us are carrying job-related stress. Whether it’s due to managers needing more output and time from us, fears about losing a job in a weak market, or toxic team dynamics, stress at work is common.
While acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other Chinese medicine modalities cannot change your manager, your team, or the global economy, it can help your body more easily process emotions and have the bandwidth to make it through especially difficult periods.
How can Chinese medicine help with stress?
One of the most well-known aspects about Chinese medicine is its ability to shift the nervous system from "fight or flight” nervous system state to the calmer “rest and digest” nervous system state. Use of acupuncture needles releases neurotransmitters in the brain that promote a sense of calm and well-being and reduce cortisol levels.
Most people feel the calming effects of acupuncture during a single treatment, leaving the clinic feeling relaxed and at ease. However, after repeated treatments those effects can become your new baseline. Using herbal medicine to support the nervous system works even faster to lessen stress.
How does Chinese medicine reduce emotional exhaustion?
Another aspect of stress is that the body’s resources can become depleted from over-worrying, over-stressing, being chronically tense, and/or being overly vigilant. Chinese medicine can help to re-nourish the body by using energizing acupuncture points, supporting digestion to better assimilate nutrients, and improving cellular function. This aspect of acupuncture and herbal medicine is crucially important for people who have been struggling with stress for more than a few months.
Who is a good candidate for receiving acupuncture and herbal medicine?
Acupuncture is a safe modality for everyone. Those who would most benefit are those who can find an hour of time every week or two to receive a session and then ideally spend some time integrating the treatment afterwards (not immediately rushing back into work, childcare, intense exercise, or other demanding aspects of life).
Herbal medicine can be safely given to nearly everyone. Your practitioner will want to know what other medications and supplements you’re using to make sure that specific herbs are not contra-indicated. Herbal medicine is available in powder, liquid, and pill form, making it easy for people to find a modality that will work well for them.
If you’re curious about whether acupuncture and herbal medicine are a good fit for you, contact us at Inspire Family Acupuncture to discuss stress-relieving treatments. Here’s to your health!
