Its incredible power to relieve stress is one of the prime reasons why acupuncture is sought after by so many people these days. Some people are aware that stress is an underlying cause of so many health conditions these days.
The signs and symptoms of stress can manifest as:
-Weight gain, especially around the stomach
-Shoulder and neck pain
-Irritability
-Fatigue
-Frequently getting sick; a weak immune system
-Digestive problems
-Hypertension
-Insomnia
At some point in our lives, most of us have experienced some of these symptoms as a result of severe stress. Cramming for an exam all night, being overworked at work or even at home or being a single parent can add a huge amount of pressure in a person’s life. The extreme stress that ensues often has damaging effects on both the mind and body.
How the body reacts to stress
When we are stressed, our body produces stress hormones that causes in us a “fight or flight” reaction. The adrenal glands manufacture a number of hormones although the two most important stress hormones it produces are cortisol and adrenalin.
Cortisol is actually a steroid that produces glucose in the body. This glucose is considered the “fuel” of the body and its effects include the lowering of the digestive function, a raised blood pressure and an increased heart rate.
During times of stress, the body tells the adrenal glands to maintain the production of cortisol as long as stress is felt. If stress lingers for a long period of time, it can cause an imbalance of blood sugar levels among other things. These are all consequences of the body’s reaction to whatever is causing the person to stress out. Cortisol and adrenalin are all good responses to stress but they are only meant to be short term reactions. When cortisol and adrenalin are produced in high levels over an extended period of time the person may experience chronic stress which is very bad for health.
To resolve chronic stress, acupuncture can help relieve most of the negative effects of chronic stress like shoulder and neck pain, digestive problems and hypertension and many more.
Besides traditional herbs, adaptogenic herbs can be used to battle the bad effects of stress. These adaptogenic herbs include rhodiola, goji berries, astralagus and ginseng to name just a few.
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