We all know stress is inevitable. But what can we DO about it? More specifically, what can you do today, that’s going to make tomorrow less stressful?
May I introduce acupuncture…
In my practice, I use acupuncture a lot to help support patients struggling with the day-to-day stresses of life. The way I look at it – it’s a 3 for 1 kind of deal.
One: time for self
One of the attributes of acupuncture, is that you don’t have to actively do anything to gain the benefits. My patients come in, give me a quick update, then rest on the table. Many people even fall asleep! I think this is one of the great benefits of acupuncture, as it just allows us time to be still and calm in our day.
With all of the “to-do” lists and running agenda items, it is easy not to have time to combat the stress, or even to take a deep breath. By booking regular appointments, it allows my patients the opportunity to check in with themselves, reassess how they are doing, and reset back to a calmer version of themselves. Additionally, because the appointment is booked, “time for self” finally makes it into the schedule.
Two: the magic of the needles
There are a few types of acupuncture however, for purposes of stress management and relaxation, I primarily use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture. Under this philosophy, the needles tap into “meridians” (aka. energy channels) and help shift our energy*. Depending on the person, and how their stress is manifesting (e.g. insomnia, scattered thoughts, racing heartbeat, fatigue, etc), I will use different points to help balance the energy specifically for that symptom.
From a more generalized perspective, the needles help trigger a micro-release of chemicals in the body, shifting one from a sympathetic state (fight or flight) to a parasympathetic state (rest and digest). This is essential as most people today spend too much time in a sympathetic state – feeling stressed – and not enough time in the parasympathetic state. Unfortunately, if the body remains is in a sympathetic-dominate state, other negative outcomes such as weight gain, indigestion, heartburn, and elevated blood pressure (to name a few), can happen as well.
Three: someone else is in charge of your TLC
Last, but not least, is that acupuncture is just one of the many options available to you. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I am fortunate enough to have several different tools in my toolbox for treating stress, among any other medical concerns. In today’s world, there is so much information available at our fingertips. But having someone who is trained to cipher through everything and apply it to your situation, is more rare. With regular check-ins, there is also the time and space to ask questions and give the support to make the bigger changes in our lives.
So, if you’re feeling the stress, give acupuncture a try. There’s lots of ways it can help.
*For those of you who are skeptical about energetic medicine– remember the difference between conventional medicine and TCM. In conventional medicine, they studied cadavers, while in TCM they studied live humans. So, hopefully you can appreciate that although anatomically there aren’t huge differences, being alive vs. dead, has a difference of energy.
For more information on stress management and relaxation techniques, book your free 15 minute consultation with Dr. Cressman!
I never thought how you could get some time to yourself during acupuncture! It seems like now days a lot of people are just trying to work work work and doing take any personal time. I think I will have to give acupuncture a try! The needles don’t sound too bad either!