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 | A common response given by patients
when asked the question 'What would you like to achieve
with acupuncture treatment?' is 'Help with Stress!' |
Traditional Chinese medicine attributes
symptoms of stress to an imbalance of vital body energy
that can be corrected by acupuncture treatment. Patients
usually begin to feel more energetic after the first
acupuncture treatment and are much improved with six or so
treatments, unless suffering from a debilitating
disease.
The body responds to stress with a particular set of
biochemical reactions called the stress response. At stressful
times, the body quickly releases chemicals into the blood.
This sets into motion a series of physical changes. These
include a faster heart beat and breathing rate, higher blood
pressure and increased muscle tension. These physical changes
give the body added strength and energy and alertness. They
prepare the body for dealing with stressful events such as
giving a speech, aiding an accident victim, or fighting or
fleeing from attack. For short periods there is no damage, the
situation is survived and the individual can relax. However,
if the stress becomes chronic or out of proportion this
healthy response can become pathological. Over-alertness may
progress to mental strain; anxiety, insomnia and exhaustion;
raised breathing rate to panic attacks; raised
heart rate to palpitations and increased muscle tone to
muscular tension, pain or tremor.
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Some
of us commonly live under a constant state of stress,
continually triggering the stress response and depleting
valuable reserves of energy. Those who surpass individual
limits of stress suffer the consequences. Stress manifests
itself in many ways. Common symptoms are headache, backache,
skin disorders, gastric problems and sleeping disorders.
Psychological symptoms may include depression, anxiety, poor
concentration, poor memory and loss of self-confidence. There
is mounting evidence that chronic stress can lead to long-term
health problems, such as hair loss, strokes, asthma, skin
conditions, high blood pressure, heart disease, irritable bowel
syndrome, etc. Some studies indicate that as many as 60-90% of
visits to 'healthcare professions' are for stress-related
conditions.
For a complete consultation, please
call us at 704.968.0351.
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There
is no standard bottled formula for stress. To cope with
stress, tension and strain in our lives we often use quick
fixes - alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and all sorts of
over-the-counter and prescriptive drugs. Food can also be used
to cope with stress and emotional discomfort. Many people eat
when they feel anxious, depressed and stressed. There is no
magic stress-reduction pill, neither do alcohol, sleeping
tablets nor antidepressants offer any real solution to
reducing stress. The taking of antidepressants, although often
prescribed to reduce stress, offers at best only limited
short-term relief and at worst, offers habituation to and even
physiological dependence on a particular drug.
Acupuncture has a number of beneficial physiological effects.
It has a relaxation response with decreased heart rate,
lowered BP, stress reduction and increased energy and tissue
regeneration. It has been shown to produce a calming or
tranquilizing action that is of particular interest to people
in states of stress. Acupuncture can relieve feelings of
anxiety and depression, which may be serious handicaps for
people trying to cope with difficult domestic, social and work
problems. It can give a person a feeling of well-being and
self-confidence. It is an effective substitute for sleeping
pills, tranquilizers, and antidepressant drugs. Acupuncture can
be used in many cases not only as an alternative to these
drugs but also to treat side effects and dependence. In fact,
a number of patients start acupuncture treatment specifically
to come off of their antidepressants. There is considerable
evidence that acupuncture could substantially reduce the
consumption of drugs such as Prozac.
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