Acupuncture for Stress
One of my favorite types of acupuncture, both when I receive it myself, and when I perform acupuncture on my patients, is using acupuncture to relieve stress.
The technique I use is based on treating the energy centers in the body – the chakras, along with specific points called “4 gates” and “shen men”. I also add a special point in the ear for relaxation and balancing.
The net effect is to put the body/mind/spirit into a parasympathetic mode. This is the opposite of the state of mind we often function with: the sympathetic mode. The acupuncture treatment stops the flow of cortisol and increases the flow of endorphins and serotonin.
Endorphins and serotonin are the neurotransmitters secreted when you feel at ease and happy. If you exercise, they are why you feel positive and relaxed after a good jog, hike, dance or walk. Acupuncture when done for stress reduction will also put your mind in a relaxed “alpha state.”
If you would like to try this type of treatment, and you are either new to acupuncture or you haven’t been in for a while, I’m more than happy to give you an introductory fee – just shoot me an email. But remember that most insurance companies also cover the cost of acupuncture these days; even Kaiser, HMO’s and almost all PPO’s. I’m also a certified provider for Worker’s Comp. cases, and on the list of providers for veteran’s through TriWest.
You owe it to yourself and your stressed out body to give this a try….
For additional Stress Reduction, here is a link to the most recent Oprah Meditation: