Stress & anxiety - Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine have been proven to lower stress and anxiety levels in people.

In Australia, it is estimated that 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. And it is said that in any one year, around 1 million Australian adults have depression, and over 2 million people will suffer from some sort of anxiety. That is an incredible number of people suffering stress and anxiety for a country the size of Australia.

What causes stress and anxiety?

Stress and anxiety are rarely caused by a single factor; rather it tends to be cumulative – little things added up over time can cause stress and anxiety. However, while there may be common factors involved such as working too many hours without sleep or going for long periods without seeing family members due to work or travel commitments, not everyone will suffer the exact same stress and anxiety as another person. Or – what causes one persons stress and anxiety may not cause the same problems for someone else in the same kind of situation.

Treatments for anxiety:

There are a range of treatments proven to work for people suffering from stress and anxiety. While changes to lifestyle and regular exercise may help to lower stress levels, other treatments can be beneficial.

Acupuncture has been proven to lower stress and anxiety levels. In a comprehensive literature review it was proved that acupuncture is comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which psychologists commonly use to treat anxiety.

Acupuncture can be used on its own or in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Massage (Tui Na) and Traditional Chinese Medicine and will be discussed with you during your initial consultation.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, stress and anxiety interrupts the smooth flow of energy throughout the body causing blockages of Qi. Acupuncture works to remove these blockages along the body’s meridian lines. Acupuncture helps release the natural pain-killing chemicals in the brain called endorphins while the calming nature of acupuncture helps to lower blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.

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May152017

The causes of stress and anxiety and ways to alleviate the problem

It is important to spend some time and work through the areas that you know cause you stress and anxiety and where possible, eliminate these stressors from your life.

We know that is easier said than done however, so we suggest other ways to manage the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Use preventative techniques to help you cope with stress and anxiety:

Make sure you take time for yourself. We know this is easier said than done, but a 10 minute walk in the outdoors can work wonders for your state of mind and general well being.

Find a way to add regular breaks into your day. Take the stairs instead of the elevators, the associated endorphin release through physical exercise is know to reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Practice mindful breathing. Meditation and mindful breathing can help calm nerves and lower blood pressure. Even if you cannot leave your desk you can take a regular mindful breathing break. Take a deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds before releasing, then repeat for a few more breaths. Do this regularly throughout your day and you will see a vast improvement in your stress and anxiety levels.

Take time once a week to get a Chinese Remedial Massage and Acupuncture. Allow the gentle pressure on your energy points to give you the peace of mind and body you need to bring yourself back into balance.

Whichever way you choose to reduce your stress and anxiety levels, you will benefit greatly from the repeated use of your chosen preventative therapy.