Stress Relief with Acupuncture

We are constantly hearing how stress can affect our health. But what does it do exactly, what are the costs and what can be done about it?

Stress affects our whole system. Stress causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that the body produces so we can get ready for action, the “fight of flight” response. This worked fine when we were out in the wilderness fighting off wild animals or hunting to survive. That kind of stress response allowed us to maximize our physical prowess to survive.

However when our bodies don’t need these hormones for fight or flight what can happen?

This is a list of costly illnesses that can result from chronic stress:
Diabetes
Heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Atherosclerosis
Stroke
Depression
Sleep disorders
Stomach problems like ulcers
Weight gain

Studies have shown that acupuncture is very good at relieving stress and the effects of stress. With regular treatments it can be a very easy and cost effective way of avoiding these debilitating illnesses.

The Fertility Quotient

For some women, fertility is a seemingly elusive quality. These women are of varying ages, but mainly in the range of 35 years plus. Most have delayed child-bearing to their later years due to choice or circumstance.

In our younger years, fertility is not something we necessarily think of as something to maximize, but as something to curb with birth control. When the time and circumstance is right, we discard the birth control and expect or hope that our bodies are ready to conceive and bare a child. When conception doesn’t happen after a few months we can become distressed, saddened, angry, depressed or desperate. We may look at the friends around us and wonder how they managed to conceive so quickly, or wonder how that 45 year old celebrity managed to get pregnant with such ease.

Many reasons exist for why one person conceives easily while another is challenged. The main question to ask is: what can be done to change the situation?

The key component is to restore balance to the individual and to remove any energetic blockages. The Eastern Medicine practitioner wants to enhance the flow of qi and blood and to make sure that qi, yin, blood, yang are all sufficient. Qi is our vital energy; yin is our fluid and physical substance; yang is our vital inner heat or warmth. Women are especially subject to deficiencies of yin and blood due to the menstrual period. These substances need replenishment with individualized Chinese herbal formulas and diet plans.

Stress is also a factor that can cause blockages to the flow of qi or vital energy and blood, thus reducing fertility. Acupuncture excels at reducing stress and maintaining a healthy flow of qi and blood throughout the body.

There are many things that people can do on their own to maintain or build fertility. Maintaining a healthful lifestyle is all important. This means eliminating smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption.

Getting adequate sleep (7-8 hrs) at night is also important. Night is the time when our body rebuilds yin and those who skimp on sleep can actually be damaging their yin. Exercise is excellent for stress reduction and is important to maintain the flow of qi and blood to keep stagnation or blockages from occurring.

Eating healthful whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits is essential. Patients are usually given a list of foods that are blood and yin building to enhance their treatments. All foods should be organic when possible and meats should be hormone and antibiotic free.

Some of those foods are:

Olive oil

Flax oil

Black beans

Kidney beans

Aduki beans

Sesame seeds

Almonds

Walnuts

Millet

Oats

Eggs

Salmon

Sardines

Chicken

Asparagus

Beets

String beans

Shitake mushrooms

Leafy greens like spinach, kale, collards, chard, broccoli

Cherries

Raspberries

Blackberries

Raisins

Figs

Foods should be cooked, not raw. Vegetables should be lightly steamed or sauteed. All cold drinks, cold foods and ice cream should be eliminated from the diet because it is important to keep the body warm, and this includes the digestive function. To keep the womb warm, avoid sitting on cold surfaces. Cold can invade the body and cause stagnation.

These are just a few suggestions for increasing the fertility quotient. Simple changes in lifestyle choices can bring big results. I urge anyone who wishes to increase or maintain fertility to follow the above mentioned general guidelines.

Fertility Quotient

healthy food + sleep + exercise (– stress – toxins) +Chinese Medicine +love = fertility