According to The American Institute of Stress, about 33% of people report feeling extreme stress, 77% of people experience stress that affects their physical health, and 73% of people have stress that impacts their mental health. With these numbers being so prevalent, implementing a stress-reducing practice such as acupuncture can yield life-changing results. Studies on acupuncture’s effect on stress have been some of the best studied aspects of what this amazing medicine is capable of. It has been shown to reduce sympathetic activity (fight or flight) in the body, thereby inducing the parasympathetic nervous system to activate (rest and digest mode). While in this parasympathetic state, the body’s natural healing response can take effect, reducing stress’s negative effect on the body.
Negative Symptoms of Stress
These include headaches, anxiety, depression, irritability, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, digestive upset, sleep problems, lack of focus or motivation, feeling overwhelmed, overeating or lack of appetite, socially withdrawn, restlessness
How Acupuncture Reduces Stress
Acupuncture regulates sleep, regulates the autonomic nervous system (fight or flight), improves blood circulation, regulates heart rate and blood pressure, regulates digestive function, and reduces pain and muscle tension.