De-Stress with Acupuncture and Botanical Medicine
The pressure of life can sometimes close in when least expected. It can present in so many ways sometimes it takes some real detective work to find the root cause. It is the symptoms that are the body’s clues which can help determine such causes as career, relationship, family, money, school, excessive worry, or any number of health concerns. Generally, most people deal with a multitude of stress triggers on a daily basis, struggling to juggle each like spinning plates. It is when one of these plates falls and shatters that the stress level can begin to rise.
Understanding stress and how it may affect the body is paramount to sustaining homeostasis (balanced health). Working with a naturopathic doctor trained in acupuncture and botanical medicine could be the best combination to de-stress and depart from a possible accumulation of systemic responses that could become a serious concern. In addition, many other modalities and remedies can be suggested by a naturopathic doctor which may include: clinical nutrition, nutraceutical supplementation, environmental medicine, detoxification, clinical hypnosis, and homeopathy.
In this blog, learn how to de-stress with acupuncture and botanical medicine by utilizing these essential tools with Integrative Med Solutions.
Know Stress, Know Symptoms
When stress is presented, understanding the primitive wiring of the human brain shows how, for instance, one may need to react during a hunting scenario during the dawn of human existence. The body will draw from the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, namely a ‘fight or flight’ response. This reaction switches on hormonal releases including cortisol which is a natural steroid hormone (produced by the adrenal glands on top of each kidney) to manage stress. However, when the stress is chronic and not dealt with properly, cortisol levels can unnaturally increase and wreak all sorts of unwanted health compromises on the body which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, may include:
- Weight gain, especially in your face and abdomen.
- Fatty deposits between your shoulder blades.
- Wide, purple stretch marks on your abdomen (belly).
- Muscle weakness in your upper arms and thighs.
- High blood sugar, which often turns into type 2 diabetes.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) in people assigned female at birth.
- Weak bones (osteoporosis) and fractures.
Published in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology is a description of the effect of stress,
“Stressors have a major influence upon mood, our sense of well-being, behavior, and health. [ ] However, if the threat is unremitting, particularly in older or unhealthy individuals, the long-term effects of stressors can damage health. The relationship between psychosocial stressors [ie: divorce, death, natural catastrophe, work competition, unwanted residential move, etc] and disease is affected by the nature, number, and persistence of the stressors as well as by the individual’s biological vulnerability (i.e., genetics, constitutional factors), psychosocial resources, and learned patterns of coping.”
“Coping” is the key word here as there are many unhealthy applications such as: alcohol and drug abuse, addictions, anger, denial, and so many more. If this is the case or another option is sought, acupuncture and botanical medicine is an excellent start on coping with and minimizing stress.
Needling Stress
Committing to an acupuncture application for stress protocol (one to two times per week for four to six weeks then once per month maintenance) enables the body to “release” stuck energy that may be impeding optimal function. “Stuck energy” may be hard for some to comprehend for as in conventional medicine it is not considered a valid diagnosis. However, acupuncture has been embraced by the medical community regardless of the ability to document the exact mechanism that makes it work, it is just known that there are continually reported beneficial results.
In a Walden University study of acupuncture for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which is one of the highest stress related conditions that affects military personnel and layperson trauma victims alike, it was found that:
“…the results from this study yielded data that suggested a strong significant correlation between acupuncture treatment and PTSD-related stress. As the correlation was negative, it suggests that acupuncture treatment has the potential to reduce PTSD-related stress.”
In archived research titled, ‘The Role of Acupuncture in Stress Management,’ which was published in the Maramara Pharmaceutical Journal, it was stated that,
“Acupuncture treatment increases the secretion of hormones such as endomorphine [pain perception], beta endorphin [pain response], encephalin [processes noxious], serotonin and cortisol from the central nervous system. Stress factors increase endomorphin, beta endorphin, enkephalin, serotonin and oxytocin levels in the central nervous system and plasma in the resistance period to stress. Acupuncture applications increase the synthesis and release of endomorphin, beta endorphin, enkephalin, serotonin and oxytocin from the central nervous system which strengthens the individual’s resistance period to cope with stress.”
Working with a licensed acupuncturist can help prime the body for adequate coping of stress factors attempting to deflect symptoms that can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger, mood swings, systemic pain or psychological triggers.
Herbal Stress Remedies
Botanical medicine is the foundation of many synthetic pharmaceuticals. However, rather than a chemically produced remedy that may come with side effects, botanical medicine is based on the steady accumulation of orally delivered plant-based compounds to address physical and mental compromises. In some cases it may take a little longer to show results until the body acclimates and processes an accumulated dose but many experience less side effects and a deeper healing.
When it comes to alleviating symptoms associated with stress, botanical medicine can reduce high blood pressure, calm the CNS (central nervous system) and help with essential sleep elongation to name a few.
Some examples of herbal remedies that have presented well for stress include:
Ashwagandha – An adaptogen (stress reducing) herb indigenous to India, the Middle East, and Africa.
According to a study of Ashwagandha, published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, it was concluded that,
“These two sets of effects collectively suggest that high-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract mitigates not only the focal aspects of stress but also some of the precursors, consequences and associated symptoms of stress. One can think of this as Ashwagandha helping both directly and indirectly.”
Galphimia glauca – Derived from a small tropical evergreen shrub native to Mexico and Central America.
An archived study of galphimia glauca tested against a common anti-stress/anti-anxiety drug at the time, published in the journal Planta Medica, stated that,
“We concluded that G. glauca herbal medicinal product, standardized in 0.175 mg of galphimine-B and administered for 15 weeks to patients with generalized anxiety disorder, showed greater anxiolytic effectiveness than that obtained with lorazepam [pharmaceutical anti-for stress/anxiety], with high percentages of therapeutic tolerability and safety.”
Cannabidiol (CBD) – Non-psychoactive compounds derived from the hemp (male cannabis) plant linked to anxiety reduction which in turn lowers stress symptoms.
Research work by Australian scientists, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, showed,
“These findings suggest that CBD can reduce anxiety severity and has an adequate safety profile in young people with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.”
At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design a stress reduction treatment program that works for you, applied either in person or through digital, telemedicine communication. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the treatment. Allow us to support you to achieve optimal health. To make an appointment or find out more about how acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can benefit you, please call our office at 914-337-2980 or Click Here to schedule an online appointment.
*Please Click Here to see a current list of insurance companies that commonly carry acupuncture benefits for its members. For more info, please call 914-337-2980 or securely email us at info@intmedsolutions.com.
Best in health from Integrative Med Solutions.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2568977/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12058&context=dissertations
https://www.jrespharm.com/uploads/pdf/pdf_MPJ_290.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/