Acupuncture for stress: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that entails stimulating precise areas on the skin with small needles to restore energy flow in the body. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to dramatically alleviate stress symptoms in extensive studies undertaken worldwide. Although the exact mechanism is not well-understood, acupuncture’s effect on stress levels seems to be unleashed through its impact on neurotransmitters, hormones, and brain wave activity.
Stress can have severe effects on your health if left unchecked. The stress hormone cortisol directly contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease risk. Excessive stress also weakens the immune system and can cause digestive problems.
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What is stress?
Stress is a general term used to denote a variety of intense feelings such as anxiety, apprehension, or agitation. It arises from situations in which people feel under pressure or are being challenged somehow. Because stress typically involves a degree of emotional strain, it affects people psychologically, but it can also have physical consequences, such as increased heart rate or burst blood vessels.
Stress has both psychological and physical effects. Physical signs of stress include increased blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. Psychological symptoms can include irritability, restlessness or difficulty concentrating. External causes such as work demands or personal concerns might generate stress, and internal factors, such as personality traits. It also plays a role in physical illness.
Stressful situations that are brief periods of intense fear or apprehension can trigger the fight-or-flight response, which puts the body on high alert for any action. This reaction helps protect a person from harm. But when stress isn’t resolved, it can build up and cause health problems. Stress has been linked to hypertension, cardiovascular disease and depression.
Acupuncture for stress – Effects of acupuncture on the nervous system
Acupuncture effects on the nervous system are similar to that of some medications used in psychiatry and neurology: It increases the levels of neurotransmitters – chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells. Neurotransmitters are often called the body’s chemical messengers because they link the nervous system with other body parts, such as organs and tissues.
Acupuncture increases neurotransmitter levels by stimulating specific points along pathways (called meridians) that run through the body to different organs and glands. Acupuncture is believed to have a beneficial effect on neurotransmitter levels, especially dopamine and serotonin.
Dopamine helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Serotonin affects mood, social behavior, sleep and memory.
Acupuncture may be used in combination with stress management techniques such as breathing exercises, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Regular acupuncture treatments can significantly improve symptoms, such as high blood pressure and fatigue.
Many different conditions have been treated with acupuncture, including:
- pain relief (pain management), such as after surgery or during childbirth;
- asthma;
- bronchitis;
- depression;
- diarrhea;
- headache and migraine;
- hypertension (high blood pressure);
- inflammatory bowel disease,
- kidney stones;
- menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome.
It is also used to try to treat:
- Osteoarthritis pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Tinnitus
Acupuncture for stress and anxiety
The potential for acupuncture to help treat stress and anxiety is vast. Although medical experts are still debating the effectiveness of acupuncture, many healthcare professionals believe that this alternative treatment can reduce stress levels and eliminate anxiety by stimulating certain body parts.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to reduce stress and anxiety. Many people agree that acupuncture is a preferred solution over prescription medications, which can have adverse side effects. Although more research needs to be conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety and stress, it is safe to say that acupuncture can reduce these conditions when patients experience them.
Acupuncture works by balancing out your body’s energy field. The result of the balancing is to help decrease stress levels and anxiety.
The fact that acupuncture can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters has led researchers interested in how it works as a pain killer to explore whether it can reduce stress and anxiety levels. The neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a crucial role in mood regulation, is released following acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture and preoperative anxiety
Experts say no to stress and anxiety relief? Many patients who undergo surgery experience significant stress and anxiety, primarily because they do not know what to expect during the procedure. Fortunately, studies have shown that acupuncture can decrease stress levels in patients about to undergo surgery (Preoperative anxiety).
Modern acupuncture has evolved to include a wide variety of techniques used to treat the body as a whole rather than focusing on individual parts. Today, acupuncture treatments can be performed by properly trained individuals. In addition, equipment is available that uses high-frequency electric impulses to help the patient relax and feel better.
Acupuncture for stress and depression
Acupuncture may be another option for patients with chronic stress and depression. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) suggests that acupuncture may be helpful when used with other therapies.
NCCIH also says that acupuncture can reduce depression symptoms by affecting certain neurotransmitters or brain chemicals. Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and endogenous opioids are neurotransmitters affected by acupuncture.
According to NCCIH, brain imaging studies show that the part of the brain called the limbic system is involved in mood regulation and depression. The limbic system also controls brain areas related to emotions and reward effects, and this part of the brain may be influenced by acupuncture.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), acupuncture points in the body may be connected with certain nerves. Stimulating this specific point can create feelings of relaxation in some people. Many people who receive acupuncture also experience the release of endorphins.
Although more research is necessary to determine how effective acupuncture is at treating problems with anxiety and stress, it shows great promise for these conditions.
Acupuncture for stress headaches
Acupuncture can help reduce stress and anxiety for people with headaches. While acupuncture is traditionally used to treat chronic headaches, such as migraines and tension-type headaches, it can also help relieve the occasional headache from stress or high levels of anxiety.
For stress or anxiety-induced headaches, people who receive acupuncture usually go to a specially trained acupuncturist, sometimes called an Oriental medicine doctor. These professionals insert very thin needles into particular points on the ear, scalp, hand, and feet. The acupuncturist may also apply heat or electrical stimulation to the needles.
An attack of stress or anxiety-related headaches usually begins suddenly, lasts for a short time (from 30 minutes to several hours), and goes away quickly. Acupuncture can reduce headache pain as well as nausea caused by such headaches. Acupuncture is even more beneficial when combined with other treatments, such as relaxation techniques.
Acupuncture for stress and fertility
Coping with stress is perhaps the most critical factor in an individual’s success or failure during fertility treatment. Stress can interfere with the appropriate functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Acupuncture has been shown to alter brain function and improve some physiological processes. In addition, acupuncture stimulates the immune system by releasing endorphins and other neuropeptides. Therefore, it is not surprising that acupuncture is an effective treatment for stress-related conditions such as infertility.
Many infertile women exhibit abnormally high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in their blood during the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. High cortisol levels can reduce the number of growing follicles and contribute to implantation failure.
Acupuncture can lower cortisol levels during this phase and increase blood flow to the uterus. The net result is that acupuncture may enhance fertility by reducing stress and stress-related hormone levels and increasing uterine blood flow.
Acupuncture can increase the production of natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes. These cells are essential components of the immune system and help protect against various diseases. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer treatment often damage ovarian function by reducing the number and quality of oocytes. However, studies have indicated that acupuncture can aid ovarian function and protect oocytes from damage.
Stress is believed to be a significant factor in both miscarriage and preterm labor. Acupuncture has been studied as a possible method of reducing the risk of these pregnancy complications.
In conclusion, acupuncture has been shown to lower stress and cortisol levels and enhance immune function. This may not only improve fertility but can also improve sperm quality and ovarian function. In addition, acupuncture has been shown to increase uterine blood flow and decrease the risk of a variety of pregnancy complications.
Acupuncture for stress incontinence
Acupuncture is becoming more popular as a treatment for stress urinary incontinence. The effect of acupuncture for stress urinary incontinence for adults is uncertain. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether acupuncture is more effective than drug treatment, and there is minimal evidence to determine whether acupuncture is more effective than sham treatment.
Stimulation of acupoints with electricity
Electrical stimulation is sometimes used in the practice of acupuncture. For instance, ear acupuncture treats addictions and has limited use in treating headaches; however, it is most commonly used in East Asia to treat erectile dysfunction.
There is insufficient evidence to determine whether or not electroacupuncture is more effective than sham treatment as far as improving urinary incontinence in people with MS is concerned.
Acupuncture for stress eating
Munch, munch! The lure of the vending machine late at night. Stress eating is a common problem for Americans, and some acupressure points can help combat stress eating. One point is called the “sleep point”. This is on the inner side of your arm, five centimeters down from your armpit.
Another point is on the stomach directly below the belly button. Point three is on top of your wrist. Point four is on your lower back. Point five is on your abdomen right below the belly button. And point six is behind your ear.
Acupuncture for weight loss
Sticking needles at specific points on the body. Is it an effective way to lose weight? There is a group of people who think acupuncture will benefit those trying to lose weight. These people believe acupuncture can help decrease cravings for food and alcohol.
The research on acupuncture and weight loss has been described as of low quality, but it suggests there may be some value to acupuncture in controlling obesity. A systematic review found supportive but limited evidence for the use of acupuncture in conjunction with diet and exercise for weight loss.
Acupuncture for stress and sleep
Stress is a prevalent problem in today’s society. Many people turn to drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes; however, studies show that acupuncture can help relieve stress and help with sleep patterns. Poor sleep is an indication of high stress levels. Acupuncture creates balance in the body, allowing people to live more relaxed lives. As a result, acupuncture can help improve sleep quality, which will relieve stress. It is beneficial for problems such as insomnia and mood swings.
Acupuncture for stress and high blood pressure
Stress is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure in today’s society. When a patient suffers from stress, their body becomes hyperactive and produces specific hormones that can weaken the immune system and cause other physiological problems. It has been shown that acupuncture can be beneficial in treating stressful symptoms and high blood pressure.
Acupuncture and stress relief
Stress, for many people today, is an everyday part of life. Acupuncture has been shown to help release the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of well-being, thereby reducing stress levels. This is not a replacement for mainstream medical care but an alternative form of healthcare that can be used in combination with existing methods.
Physiological benefits of acupuncture
Results from several studies indicate that acupuncture can help regulate blood pressure, which helps those people who have been diagnosed with hypertension. Several studies have concluded that acupuncture can decrease the amount of medication necessary to effectively treat hypertension and lower blood pressure by a small percentage every few weeks during treatment.
Acupuncture and stress relief benefits
As most people become more stressed, they often require treatment to help them relax. Doctors suggest trying acupuncture as a treatment method for those who may be experiencing anxiety or insomnia.
- Acupuncture can relieve stress and anxiety by releasing serotonin, a natural antidepressant.
- During acupuncture sessions, people often feel very relaxed and find themselves able to rest more peacefully at night.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Is acupuncture worth the money?
There are a lot of things to consider when answering this question. The first is, what are you trying to achieve with acupuncture? Are you looking for pain relief, help with fertility, or something else?
The next consideration is cost. Acupuncture can vary in price depending on where you live and the practitioner you see. But generally speaking, it’s not a cheap treatment.
Third, it’s essential to ask yourself if you’re comfortable with needles. Acupuncture involves using very thin needles that are inserted into specific points on the body. If you’re needle-phobic, acupuncture may not be suitable for you.
Overall, whether or not acupuncture is worth the money depends on your situation
How many sessions of acupuncture do you need for fertility?
It depends on the person and the condition. In general, most people need around 10-12 sessions for a treatment plan that lasts approximately three months. However, this can vary depending on the person’s situation and health condition.
Acupuncture is a great way to improve fertility because it helps restore balance in the body. It can help clear blockages in the body’s energy pathways, promote circulation, and reduce inflammation. All of these things are important for fertility and overall health.
What are the negative side effects of acupuncture?
There are a few potential negative side effects of acupuncture, though rare. These can include minor skin irritation at the needle insertion site, bruising, and dizziness. More severe complications can occasionally occur but are very rare. Acupuncture should not be used if you’re pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medication without first consulting your doctor.
How much does acupuncture cost?
The cost of acupuncture can vary depending on several factors, including the practitioner’s experience and training, the clinic’s location, and whether you purchase a package or pay per session. Prices typically range from $50 to $200 per session.
Some clinics charge on a sliding scale based on your income, so be sure to ask if this is an option. Additionally, many insurance policies cover at least part of the cost of acupuncture treatments.
