ANXIETY! In an ever-more stressful world, it plays a bigger and bigger role in our lives. Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” Yep, that sounds about right. Luckily, some anxiety treatments have been around for thousands of years and are known to work. They are acupuncture and herbal remedies.
Acupuncture is increasingly being used in the treatment of anxiety. In a clinical sense, studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural positive feeling hormones like dopamine and reduces stress hormones like cortisol. The traditional Chinese medical explanation is that acupuncture redirects the flow of energy within your body. So, if you have pent-up energy somewhere in your body, acupuncture can redirect it somewhere in need. If you want to maximize the de-stressing nature of acupuncture, you can boost those happy hormones even more with diet, exercise, meditation, and even hanging out with friends. All of these things, combined with acupuncture, are great stress relievers.
Herbal treatments may also help prevent or reduce anxiety. Consulting with a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner can help shed more light on which herbs will work best for you. But some herbs are known to calm the body, such as valerian root, chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm. When you visit a TCM specialist (like us!), they will ask questions about your anxiety and then concoct a group of herbs specifically designed specifically for you.
If you suffer from anxiety or anxiety attacks, you may want to consider adding acupuncture and herbal medicine to your treatment plan. Luckily, BT Wellness is here to help. Have any questions? Feel free to reach out!
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