Living with stress and anxiety can be debilitating. There are several products on the market with promising results, but they may not work for everyone. Acupuncture may be the answer to for those people who are seeking a more tailored solution.
Over several decades, acupuncture has been recognized to successfully treat anxiety and stress. Recent studies show that people who receive acupuncture experience less stress symptoms after treatments. One study showed acupuncture was effective at reducing anxiety and stress in pregnant women. Decreasing cortisol in pregnancy is important to prevent preeclampsia, headaches, preterm labor, and overall tension. In another study, researchers found acupuncture to be helpful in reducing symptoms of generalized anxiety.
How does acupuncture help alleviate stress?
According to the Mayo Clinic, acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin sterilized disposable needles at specific points on the body. Specific acupuncture points stimulate your central nervous system. Once stimulated, the central nervous system releases feel-good chemicals, called endorphins, into the muscles and brain. With regular acupuncture treatments, people feel calmer and have lower cortisol levels (high cortisol levels indicate stress). Often patients experience a sense of euphoria even during their first session.
Reasons to try acupuncture
Do you feel restless, jittery, or worry a lot? The pandemic has also created stress and for many it’s has been a difficult year. Acupuncture may be able to ease your stress.
Acupuncture can help relieve symptoms triggered by stress/anxiety, such as:
- Depression
- Panic attacks and panic disorders
- Sleep problems
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
Acupuncture is a safe and non-invasive therapy used to treat many other ailments such as headaches, sleep disorders, menopausal symptoms, fertility, and gastrointestinal issues, to name a few.
What to expect at Mirvana Acupuncture
During the initial consultation and treatment, Dr. Patel reviews over your health history with you and then develops a strategy for a treatment plan using specific acupuncture points and herbs/supplements, if needed. After you are relaxed on the heated massage table, Dr. Patel uses fine sterilized disposable needles at specific points, which may be on your scalp, face, hands, legs, and possibly your back. You may feel light tingling or a minor pinch, but many people report feeling relaxed and most people fall asleep. After approximately 30 minutes, Dr. Patel comes back to remove the needles and finishes up speaking with the patient regarding recommendations and future sessions.
Before your initial consultation, you will be asked to fill out documents and complete a health history questionnaire. It is important to completely fill out your medical history, providing information on any medical condition and current medication. This will help Dr. Sonya Patel to determine if the procedure needs to be modified for you. Acupuncture is not a substitute for psychiatric therapy, medication, or any other doctor’s recommendations. Please consult with your therapist/doctor before using any herbal therapy or discontinuing any medications/therapies.