General Health

Immunity Support – Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help heal the body and also promote general health. Treatments can be tailored to prevent colds from developing by providing support to the immune system. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps the brain increase the body’s level of T-cells; cells which destroy bacteria and harmful viruses in the body.

Stress Reduction/Emotional Balancing – Signs of stress can impede on the body and manifest in many negative ways. Acupuncture can help reduce or block the effects of stress on the body. Recent research has shown that treatments block the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland) hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway (which regulates the “fight or flight” response). Acupuncture therefore influences the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, which promotes physical and emotional well-being.

Insomnia – Acupuncture can also improve quality of sleep in those who suffer from insomnia. The following types of sleep disturbances may be improved: difficulty falling asleep, waking frequently throughout the night, waking too early in the morning, and sleep that is non-restorative. It can also help with anxiety associated with insomnia. Acupuncture affects the body’s ability to increase the release of pituitary beta-endorphins, ACTH, serotonin and noradrenaline.

Mental and Emotional Health – Periods of emotional disturbance can trigger feelings and behaviors from stress, depression, anxiety and panic attacks to major disruptions in sleep and eating. If these patterns become chronic, it can manifest as a wide range of emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine may help alleviate symptoms associated with mental and emotional health issues by treating the root cause of the problem by helping to rebalance the body’s internal environment. Biomedically speaking, emotions are influenced by brain chemicals: hormones or neurotransmitters. Research has shown that acupuncture can help regulate many of these chemicals including serotonin (regulates mood); dopamine (provides a pleasure response); noradrenaline (relaxes the body and mind); melatonin (controls the sleep cycle), and cortisol (helps with managing stress).

Two randomized, controlled, clinical trials suggest that acupuncture may reduce any sign/symptom of depression as effectively as amitryptiline, a tricyclic antidepressant medication. Other studies suggest that acupuncture may be effective for people with mild depression and for those with depression related to a chronic medical illness.