Question: My mother is 70, and she deals with anxiety, which can lead to flare-ups of muscle tension. She hasn’t been put on medication yet but wants to explore some holistic options first. What are some of the benefits of trying acupuncture?
Answer: The primary goal of acupuncture is to release tension throughout the body in order to get the energy flowing again properly and remove any stagnation that appears as knots in the muscles causing pain. This pain commonly has an emotional component, as it leads to frustration. Often, stress and anxiety – especially chronic stress over a long period of time – can be the cause of the physical pain the body feels.
Often, stress and anxiety – especially chronic stress over a long period of time – can be the cause of the physical pain the body feels.
Upon insertion of the needles, there’s an immediate response of the nervous system to react and then settle—down-regulating the emotional response to stress. During a treatment, it’s best to stay for 30 to 45 minutes, resting with the needles so there’s also the added benefit of allowing the body to take a break from the outside world to recharge.
With continual maintenance in this manner, the treatments build on themselves so that over time the body and mind are better able to release past traumas that cause anxiety, clear inflammation that manifests as pain, and overall make it easier to cope with the common stressors of daily life.