Modern life brings many advantages and conveniences, and also many problems. One of the biggest causes of health issues today is emotional stress – and it is taking a toll your body.
What Happens to Your Body During A Stressful Situation?
Your stress response is what happens when the body is stimulated to produce the hormone, cortisol, and the neurotransmitter, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). These chemical messengers are very important when you are put in a dangerous situation (and even stressful good situations!) and are part of what’s called the “flight or fight” response. When this system is functioning at it’s best, both cortisol and adrenaline are released from the adrenal glands keeping the body on high alert and triggering biochemical changes that help you cope with the stressor. And when the threat (or stress) is gone, cortisol and adrenaline levels go back down to normal baseline.
However, in chronic or prolonged stress these hormones continue to be pumped into your body, wreaking havoc on just about every system you have. This process can lead to the very serious health issues that are plaguing our society today such as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, anxiety, weight gain, arthritis, digestive disorders and cancer.
Chinese medicine, with its many tools, has been used for thousands of years to treat and prevent illness. The main objective is to keep the flow of Qi, or energy, open and flowing in order to keep the body in balance. Because chronic stress creates blockages and imbalances in your body, using the tools of Chinese medicine to treat the effects of stress is a good choice for many people.
5 Ways Chinese Medicine Can Help Reduce Stress
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture can alleviate stress symptoms by releasing endorphins which lead to feelings of euphoria, reduced appetite, enhancement of the immune response, and a meditative state in the brain, which can help with insomnia issues as well as anxiety.
Meditation:
Meditation is a wonderful tool that anyone can use to calm the mind and body. By using any combination of breathing techniques, guided meditation, visualization and a body scan, you can bring the mind and nervous system into an alpha or meditative state.
Tai Qi/Qi Gong Exercises:
These are exercises that have been practiced for generations in China for the purpose of circulating ones qi or energy throughout the body in order to remove blockages. Anyone can do these exercises. They are slow, easy movements and have been proven to lower blood pressure, increase circulation and calm the body and the mind.
Chinese Herbal Medicine:
Chinese herbs are very helpful when stress has caused more serious internal issues such as digestive issues, insomnia, or heart palpitations, for example. Herbal formulas can come in pills, powders, tinctures or teas and can be found for every imaginable condition.
Dietary Therapy:
The Chinese, like Hippocrates, use food as medicine and can be used to treat the effects of stress especially on the digestive system. Soothing broths and light foods would be suggested for a nervous stomach, for instance, and spicy or greasy foods should be avoided. At Blum Center for Health, nutrition is at the core of all treatment, and Chinese Medicine is no different.
About Donna Bunte: Donna Bunte has practiced Chinese medicine, acupuncture and nutrition for over twenty years. She’s held private practices in NYC and Greenwich, CT, and has joined Blum Center for Health as our in-house acupuncturist. To book an appointment with Donna contact 914-652-7800.