How Acupuncture Controls the Stress Response

In this episode we’re going to dive into the way acupuncture has an incredible ability to reduce the stress response. It’s a game-changer for your health and well-being.

Please click on my photo for a related video!

I have a personal story to share with you. I had to step away from traditional medical practice due to a severe allergy. However, during my leave, I discovered the wonders of intensive acupuncture therapy, and guess what? My allergies vanished! This life-altering experience led me to delve deeper into the science behind acupuncture, and I’ve been practicing it for many years since.”

You might wonder how acupuncture cured my allergies. Well, that was the burning question that changed my life and career. One theory that emerged was that acupuncture had actually lowered my stress response.”

Now, we’ve all heard about stress and its negative impact on our health. But let me tell you, it’s much more complex than just ‘stress kills.’ In fact, some stress can actually be good for you, as we’ll explore in our upcoming episode on Hormesis. Hormesis is the process where small challenges to your system can make it stronger.

Drawing from my experience using monitors in my anesthesia practice, I started using Heart Rate Variability, a cutting-edge technology, to observe patients’ stress response in real-time during acupuncture treatments. I could measure how their stress would initially increase with needling, only to drop below baseline as they rested on the treatment table. In a later episode, I’ll delve deeper into the fascinating topic of Heart Rate Variability.

Let’s touch briefly on the autonomic nervous system, which consists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches. The parasympathetic system is responsible for rest, digest, and restoration, while the sympathetic system triggers the fight-or-flight response. To combat allergies, inflammation, and various ailments, we need to increase our parasympathetic activity, which is linked to the Vagus nerve and promotes healing energy.” I’ve been monitoring vagus nerve activity for a very long time and it seems to be having a moment.  There is a some popular interest in the topic now, which is fantastic. But the Vagus nerve is an entire topic on its own which we will discuss in a future episode.

Interestingly enough, my hunch was right. Over the years, both animal and human studies have validated that acupuncture treatment improves vagal activity, boosting our restorative energy and calming the frantic sympathetic response.”

Controlling stress and increasing vagal activity are vital aspects of holistic health. When our bodies are overwhelmed by stress hormones, the inflammatory response wreaks havoc on other systems and organs, including digestion, immune responses, endocrine activity, and heart health. Acupuncture, with its targeted points, reduces inflammation and promotes relaxation, positive mood, better sleep, and even longevity. The beauty of regular acupuncture is that it keeps your restorative energy high, allowing you to rest, digest, sleep better, and enjoy improved immunity. In the end, it can even extend your life.

So please, dear viewers and readers! Consider acupuncture as a key element in maintaining your health, fostering positivity, and prolonging your life. It can be your secret weapon for staying sharp and in optimal shape. If you can incorporate it into your health routine, you will live long and perhaps, prosper!

Thank you for tuning in, and remember to get in touch through the contact form for all the latest information. Stay healthy, stay positive, and until next time, happy healing!”