Acupuncture and Stress
Can Acupuncture Relieve Stress?
Yes! Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques such as acupuncture and acupressure can generate the “relaxation response”, which includes a decreased the heart rate, lower blood pressure, increased energy, tissue regeneration, and reduced stress.
What happens when we are stressed?
Hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine or norepinephrine flood into the bloodstream, triggering physical changes such as rapid heartbeat, increased breathing rate, higher blood pressure, and muscle tension. This is the classic “fight-or-flight” response seen when the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is activated.
The autonomic system is the “automatic” nervous system, not usually in our direct control. When the autonomic system works as intended, the stress response is normal, necessary and temporary. It allows our body to be strong and alert when we need to move quickly, as in getting away from danger. In early history, this may have meant running from a woolly mammoth intent on making you its next meal! Today, the stress response prepares us to deal with things like speaking in public, saving a drowning victim, defending oneself in a fight, fleeing an attacker or dodging a car that swerves too close to ours. All good, all helpful.
It is only when the stress response shifts from temporary to chronic that it becomes abnormal, unhelpful and- if allowed to continue for too long- pathological. Disease can result.
Here is a story which illustrates the pathological effect of stress very clearly:
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the ‘half empty or half full’ question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: ‘How heavy is this glass of water?’ Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, ‘The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.’
‘The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.’
Paralyzed. Incapable of doing anything. Strong words!
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress can manifest as mental and emotional strain; anxiety; depression; insomnia; emotional instability; exhaustion; mental dullness; panic attacks; dyspnea (labored or difficult breathing); increased heart rate; palpitations; muscle tension; pain; and tremors.
Studies indicate that 60-90% of medical visits are related to stress, and doctors now know that the hormones triggered by chronic stress also increase the risk for abnormal blood clotting, and heart attack.
Self-Medication and Stress
Many people resort to “comfort food” when stressed and anxious. Some turn to alcohol. Others to sleeping pills or antidepressants. Obesity, alcohol dependence and chemical dependence can result. At best, these methods give short term relief. At worst, they create another problem to layer on top of the stress itself.
Acupuncture and Stress
How can acupuncture help?
Clinical studies show that chemicals released in the body as a result of acupuncture counter the stress hormones, relax the body, and up-regulate serotonin in the brain, increasing emotional well-being.
Stress Relief
Acupuncture and acupressure cannot change the circumstances of a person’s life. But they can relieve feelings of anxiety or depression. As the heavy burden of the stress response is lifted, a person feels more confident, more buoyant, and more sure of the ability to cope with the difficulties of life, and to make changes as needed. This in turn can eliminate dependence on sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antidepressants and unhealthy dependence on excessive food and drink.
The journal Anesthesiology (June 2003) reports a study testing ear acupressure’s ability to relieve stress and anxiety in patients being transported to the hospital by ambulance. Half the patients received real acupuncture, and half had sham treatment. On arrival at the emergency room, the stress level in the real acupuncture group had decreased 66%. In contrast, the stress level in the sham treatment group increased 10%.
By Dr. Maria Zangara ND, L.Ac, MIFHI
For more information visit our Acupuncture page.
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