Finding Stress Relief with Natural Medicine

Acupuncture can naturally relieve stress

Stress is something we deal with on a daily basis. When we don’t manage our stress well it may begin to interfere with our lives and relationships. There have been studies showing the relationship between high stress levels, especially over long periods of time, may cause poor health, illness, inflammation and poor immune health.

Some common symptoms you may experience are:

1. Anger

2. Depression

3. Anxiety

4. Poor concentration

5. Heartburn, digestive problems

6. PMS, hormonal imbalance

7. Insomnia

8. High blood pressure

9. Low energy

10. Weight gain


Acupuncture works to manage stress by releasing endorphins and serotonins within the brain to create a deep relaxing affect on the body. Neuroimaging studies have shown that acupuncture calms areas of the brain that register pain and activates those involved in rest and recuperation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we produce this effect by moving qi and blood in the body.

Functional lab testing allows us to view your overall health, an in-depth look at how all your organ systems are functioning .We look for patterns that give us more context about what's going on in your body. We understand how all of your body's systems influence each other and educate you in the process. We work to give you the appropriate herbal medicine, supplements and treatment to give you the most effective treatment strategy.

Quick relaxation techniques:

1. Focusing on your breath- Close your eyes slightly, take a slow but deep breath in through your nose count to 3, hold your breath count to 6, breath out through your mouth count to 7. Repeat this 2 more time and use as often as needed.

2. Take a short walk- the fresh air and movement will get the circulation flowing again. Don’t forget to breath in that fresh air along the way.

3. Take a hot Epsom salt bath- add 1-2 cups of Epsom salt along with ½ c. apple cider vinegar, or your favorite essential oils. Soak for 20-30 minutes.

4. Use a foam roller/ ball to work out the tension- start with the back, shoulders, legs and then hips. It’s a nice way to squeeze that tension out.

5. What do you enjoy? Running, swimming, painting, crafts, etc. Make more time for this, we all deserve it!

Acupuncture for Low Back Pain

Acupuncture can relieve low back pain and get you back to doing the things you love.

Lower back pain can be triggered by structural injuries such as poor posture, trauma, overworking the muscles from physical activity and even long-term emotional stress.

It affects nearly 80% of the population at sometime in their life. For most it’s likely to develop gradually over time through poor body mechanics or may have started after an emotionally stressful time in your life. Acupuncture can help diminish and eliminate your lower back issues. It is a safe, nonsurgical, drug free approach and can also be used in conjunction with other therapies like cupping, gut sha, local electrical stimulation and/or customized herbal medicine.

Your acupuncture practitioner can go over what combination of therapies will work for you. If stress is a trigger, additional acupuncture points can be used to help treat stress or anxiety. Acupuncture has been shown to increase the circulation of blood in the area treated, decrease inflammation, calm areas of the brain that register pain and release endorphins (our bodies’ natural feel-good chemicals). The symptoms each patient is experiencing can be looked at differently person to person, as pain frequency, intensity, location and quality can differ in each patient.

After an exam, we will give you a comprehensive treatment plan developed for your unique symptoms as we gage your response time to treatment. Many patients start noticing relief after 1-2 treatments. Herbal formulas can also be recommended at this time. Other home recommendations will be given to further assist you in achieving a strong, healthy back and prevent further injuries from occurring. Recommendations may include exercise regimens, proper stretching and lifestyle adjustments.