12/07/2017
This is from an article recently published locally and thought would be useful here too:
Acupuncture and Daily Stress
We all live busy lives these days, from looking after the kids to working hard in our jobs. We worry about loved ones, paying the bills, selling or buying a house... The list is endless. Normally we have these periods of stress but at some stage in our lives we let our hair down and let the built up stress out. This could be a glass of wine after a hard day, a night out with some friends, a good meal with family. Again the list is endless.
The above represents a healthy balanced life, you could say that stress in equals the stress out. But what happens when the stress builds and isn't released completely before the next onset of stress arises? From a physical perspective muscles start and remain tense in a flight or fight response. Our adrenaline levels rise gently. Our blood pressure may start to increase and stay high. In fact daily stress creeps in and starts to affect our bodies such that they start working at less than optimal performance. Initially we get a few aches and pains (that will go away on their own) or we might start getting more frequent headaches (I'll just take a painkiller) or our digestion process will fluctuate (must be something I ate). Other warning signs are frequent sighing, feeling like there's something stuck in the throat even though there isn't, more easily getting frustrated or wound up and pains that come and go in the abdominal area of the body. If dealt with sooner rather than later the body relaxes and the problems go away. If ignored then as the movement within the body is hindered more serious problems may occur.
How to deal with the stress
Dealing with the stress can be broadly split into two categories ie doing it ourselves or using an external product or service to do it:
Ourselves
Stress occurs when the mind and the body are in two different locations. This seems to oversimplify things but if we analyse all the times we get stressed it'll either be about something that happened in the past or may happen in the future or it'll be about something that we cannot physically do anything about, but that doesn't stop us worrying about it. So it stands to reason that if we can align body and mind then stress is relieved. This is the case. People achieve this in many different ways e.g. Meditation, exercise, tai chi, yoga, gardening. Once more a very long list but all involve bringing the mind into focus with the physical activity that is taking place.
External help
Sadly most people seek external help when their aches and pains have degenerated into something much more painful which cannot be ignored. The usual first point of call is the GP who may prescribe medication for the problem. (Whereas this often works for many people I occasionally see people in the clinic where they're not happy to take prescription medication.)
However more and more people are seeking help from alternative and complementary forms of treatment. These forms of treatment are myriad, e.g. Massage, acupuncture, shiatsu, herbal remedies etc.
Acupuncture and the prescription of chinese herbal formulae may readily address stress and often release the building pressure, however the real cause of the stress in a persons life needs to be addressed if symptoms are to disappear entirely. This may involve and often does involve lifestyle changes. If the lifestyle isn't changed then treatment becomes maintenance ie regular to dissipate the building stress.
The most important thing to remember is if things don't feel right they probably aren't so go and see somebody about it.
