Research Update: Acupuncture and Stress

An investigation into the impact of acupuncture treatments on the stress levels of administrative staff at a nearby hospital was published in the Annals of Yoga and Physical Therapy.  58 participants in the study who had significant levels of work-related stress were included. The subjects received auricular acupuncture for eight weeks.  The employees stated that their stress levels had fallen from high to moderate after the eight acupuncture treatments. According to the study, the body’s neurotransmitters are released during regular acupuncture treatments, which is thought to lower stress levels. This study and numerous others show that acupuncture can truly reduce stress levels and enhance general health.

Stress is defined as either pressure or tension exerted on an object or a state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

Here are some facts from the Global Organization for Stress:

• Americans report higher levels of stress than most countries around the globe.
• Surveys show that nearly one out of 75 people worldwide experience panic attacks.
• Stress in American teenagers is now one of the top health concerns and it is being found that teenagers experiencing stress are more likely to develop long-term health problems.
• We all experience stress in our lives.
• But learning how to deal with it can be crucial for a happy, healthy life.

One way to deal with stress involves the use of a 3,000-year-old medical system, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. TCM uses many different modalities or tools to treat the human mind and body. The most used modality is acupuncture and while acupuncture is still not widely accepted in the United States, it is gaining ground.

According to studies, consistent usage of acupuncture can lessen stress. A study that was published in the Journal of Endocrinology showed that electroacupuncture-treated rats had decreased levels of stress hormones like cortisol. The rats’ chronic stress hormones were inhibited by electroacupuncture. For people, it has the exact same effect.

Specific acupuncture points on the body are better for relieving stress and are used frequently by licensed practitioners. One of these points is Yin Tang. Yin Tang is located directly between the inner edges of the eyebrows and is a reflex point of the pituitary gland. Yin Tang calms the mind and relaxes the body by helping control hormone secretions.

Due to its location, Kidney 1 is another acupuncture point that can reduce stress but is less frequently employed. The junction of the anterior third and posterior two-thirds of the line connecting the base of the second and third toes and the heel marks the location of kidney 1 on the bottom of the foot. Although extremely sensitive, this point has remarkable qualities. In addition to controlling blood flow to the upper body region known as the brain, kidney 1 can sedate and calm the mind.

There are other tools TCM practitioners can use to relieve stress, such as cupping and herbs, although acupuncture and acupressure tend to work the fastest. Ask me to find out more!

CITATION: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cleria_Maria_Bittar2/publication/319186420_Annals_of_Yoga_and_Physical_Therapy/links/599a18daa6fdcc261586b19b/Annals-of-Yoga-and-Physical-Therapy.pdf