Most of our lives leave little space for rest and relaxation. Even when we are ill we pride ourselves on getting back to work as soon as possible. We might crave more rest and respite from our hectic schedules but modern life has little respect for meditation, reflection and recuperation. We feel driven to fit more and more into our 24 hour lifestyles and as we go faster we feel we have less and less time and push ourselves so hard that eventually our health suffers.
The majority of patients who come for acupuncture are usually suffering from the early signs of stress such as anxiety, difficulties getting off to sleep, waking early or light sleeping, stress headaches, bloating, IBS, constipation or minor depression. Symptoms respond well to acupuncture over several sessions especially when combined with and lifestyle and dietary advice.
This is because acupuncture has a direct effect on the nervous system and can switch off the ’fight-and-flight’ response that keeps muscles tense, stops digestion, and keeps us in a state of high alert in favour of a more balanced frame of mind which induces deeper sleep, better movement of food through the gut and a greater sense of relaxation and general well-being.