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The effects of stress on college students and staff in a “big urban college population” were studied at Arizona State University. The experiment consisted of a two-group, randomized controlled trial in which subjects were given either sham or verum acupuncture. The study involved college students, faculty, and staff from a large public university, and it was approved by the university’s institutional review board with each participant’s agreement.
Prior to the start of the trial, each participant completed the Cohen’s Global Measure of Perceived Stress questionnaire at five distinct points. The goal of this stage was to see how stress levels altered or didn’t change for each participant during the treatment.
The acupuncture points that were used within the study were as follows: GV 20 / PC 6 / HT 7 / Ying Tang / Four Gates / CV 17 / CV 6 / ST 36.
These points were given to the treatment group which was set to undergo verum acupuncture. Each group reported to the acupuncture clinic once a week for a 30-minute session.
The second group (considered the control group) received sham acupuncture in 3 points that are not known to have any effect on stress. These points on the body are located between meridians and were inserted unilaterally and without stimulation or manipulation to ensure that de qi would not occur.
After the study was completed, each participant was asked about their stress levels six, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four weeks later. The verum acupuncture group reported a 45.8% reduction in stress perception between the first treatment and the 24th-week post-treatment. Between the start of the trial and the end of therapy, the sham acupuncture group had a 40.3 percent difference in stress levels. The sham acupuncture group, on the other hand, showed a decrease in stress scores three months after treatment.
To reduce the amount of error in the study, they “treated every participant with the same point combination, no matter what their underlying energetics may have suggested.” This was to keep the acupuncture points as consistent as possible to obtain the most accurate results possible.
The study found that acupuncture lowered stress in the study participants, but that a larger sample size might benefit in obtaining more statistically consistent results.
This study appears promising for determining the effects of reducing stress on university-goers through the treatment of acupuncture. However, further study and testing would be necessary for more conclusive results.
If you are having high levels of stress while in college and you are trying to find a healthy way of releasing it, call us today and see how acupuncture can help you release your stress and lead to doing better in school.
There are several acupressure points that are known to treat stress and stress-related symptoms. It’s important to understand that acupressure is not the only form of treatment and having a balanced diet, exercise regime and lifestyle will also decrease the chances of stress being a factor in your life.
ACUPOINTS The following five acupoints are known to help alleviate stress and other related symptoms.
LU 1—Zhong FuGV 24.5—Yin TangKI 1—Yong QuanLI 4—He Gus 36- Zu San Li
THE BREAKDOWN
Lu 1, Zhong Fu- This point is often used to treat vomiting, stops coughing, disperses fullness in the chest, stops the pain and regulates Lung Qi. It’s located in the upper chest in the space below the first rib, six cun from the midline. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Lu 1 regulates Lung Qi and stimulates the Lung Qi to descend. It also disperses fullness in the chest and stops coughing.
KI 1, Yong Quan, Bubbling Spring- This acupoint is located on the sole of the foot approximately at the junction of the second and third toes. Indications that this acupoint will aid you are if you’re experiencing headaches, dizziness, loss of voice, blurring of vision and so on. In TCM, this acupoint is known to subdue wind and empty heat, clear up the brain, and tonifies yin.
LI 4, Hegu, joining (Union) Valley- The LI 4 is known to treat swelling and pain of the eye, nasal obstruction, toothache, facial swelling, deafness, sore throat and much more. In TCM, it’s said to dispel exterior wind, stimulate the dispersing function of the lungs, removes pain, and harmonizing descending and ascending functions. This point is located on the back of the hand at the apex of the webbed triangle between the thumb and the index finger.
ST 36, Zu San Li- This acupoint is often used to treat vomiting, stress and fatigue and gastrointestinal discomfort. This point is located along the outside of your shin bone about 4 finger lengths from the knee cap. You will know you’re in the right location because a muscle will mom out as you move your foot up and down. In TCM, this point is stimulated frequently to promote health and longevity.
GV 24.5, Yin Tang, Third Eye- This point is located about one finger above the point between the eyebrows and will be almost directly in the middle of the forehead. Working this point is said to calm the mind, clarify ideas and intuition as well as strengthen mental projection. It can be used to alleviate dizziness, stress, vertigo, sinusitis, and headaches.
TREATMENT Each of the above points can be used to aid in relieving stress and/or other symptoms that can cause stress. It’s helpful to bring a list to your Acupuncturist of any symptoms you may have or are looking to treat, any information will be helpful in curating your individualized treatment plan. Please communicate with your Acupuncturist if you are pregnant or looking to become pregnant as some pressure points may affect you.
If you have these feelings or similar feelings we can help you. One of the best exercises that you can practice to help you feel balanced, peace, and energized is Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a Chinese exercise and martial art that is wonderful for all ages. By practicing Tai Chi you will feel more energy and balance in your life.
Research studies have found that Tai Chi has the following benefits:
Tai Chi has been mentioned by Harvard Medical School that it is not only “meditation in motion, but medication in motion.”
To help you start to learn Tai Chi, Master Lu’s Health Center is now offering daily beginning Tai Chi classes. You will learn Tai Chi principles, philosophy, and the beginning movements. This class will help you begin your path to study and practice the Chinese art of Tai Chi.
