Acupuncture for Stress

Stress can be attributed to 60-90% of all doctor’s visits, which means most everyone can benefit from stress relief. Acupuncture in Montpelier and Williston, VT at Integrative Acupuncture provides stress relief. We are experienced at not just using acupuncture, but creating a individualized treatment plan for each patient with anxiety symptoms. Depending on the person, child or adult, we may or may not use acupuncture needles. We may include an herbal formulation for home use. Regardless of the treatment plan, we want our patients to feel better fast and will work in partnership with you to achieve that.

What Causes Stress?

Increased heart rate, changes in breathing patterns, muscle tension and high blood pressure are common reactions from a change in brain chemistry that occurs with stress. The human body reacts to stress appropriately when faced with a “fight or flight” situation as adrenaline is released inside the body. This is the reaction that helps us cope in a disaster or stressful situation. Imbalance occurs when this reaction is frequent and is not due to outside factors. The body can become used to the adrenaline and corticosteroid release and become dependent on this state.

How Does Modern Medicine Treat Stress?

Antidepressant drugs and anti-anxiety medications are often prescribed to deal with stress. These drugs can be crucial components to a patient’s well being and important contributors to discovering a patient’s road to health, however they also may have side effects and dependency reactions associated with them. Many people choose to integrate acupuncture with their western medical plan of pharmaceutical drugs for stress. There are no contraindications with using acupuncture along with medications.

How Does Acupuncture Treat Stress?

Acupuncture treatments are very relaxing for most people, as endorphins and dopamine are naturally released from the brain during the treatment, many patients fall asleep and learn to deeply relax. Patients can use acupuncture in combination with medications and any other anxiety treatments that work for them.  During our relaxing and painless treatments, we teach meditation techniques to help our patients develop their own stress reduction plan to use daily.

Chinese Medicine views stress as a contributing factor to most illness and disease. The Liver is responsible for the free flow of Qi and when we are stressed our qi will cease to flow optimally. This can lead to number of imbalances. Chinese medicine realizes the breath is intrinsically connected to our flow of qi. Often patients suffering with qi stagnation will sigh frequently, this is our body’s internal attempt to move stuck qi. Acupuncture is a vital part of reestablishing balance of qi due to stress.

Non Needle Treatments

We realize some people, child or adult, have needle sensitivities and phobias and we are pleased to offer needle free treatments. Chinese medicine is more then acupuncture and patients can certainly benefit from visits with us without using acupuncture needles.

Aromatherapy

We employ pure, organic essential oils of plants and apply them onto acupuncture points for a therapeutic result.
Meditation: We create a meditation technique together for your home use and practice tools to make it easier and more effective.

Herbal Therapies

We may customize a formula of roots, barks and berries for your daily use. Our acupuncturists are amongst the few licensed providers in Vermont to be able to recommend herbal formulas. We have advanced training, beyond certifications, but Masters of Science degrees in herbal medicine and know what herbs can be used with which medications.

Massage Therapy

The massage therapists at Integrative Acupuncture work in collaboration with our acupuncturists to provide a holistic healing experience.  Try a swedish massage, deep tissue massage or reiki and experience benefits of stress relief.

Sources:

Grant S, Colaiaco B, Motala A, Shanman R, Sorbero M, Hempel S. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Trauma Dissociation. 2018 Jan-Feb;19(1):39-58. doi: 10.1080/15299732.2017.1289493. Epub 2017 Mar 9. PMID: 28151093.

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