Feeling the Holiday Blues? Why Acupuncture Can Help

You’ve just finished the leftover turkey and mashed potatoes, which must mean that the holidays are here! It’s an exciting time, but can also be quite stressful. With travel, big family reunions or party plans, and gift buying frenzies, many people feel the effects of anxiety or depression in December and January. How can Acupuncture help you navigate the crowded shopping malls and piles of boxes and gift wrap?

Traditional Chinese medicine evaluates the entire body system, looking at your specific physical conditions and emotional symptoms in order to prescribe a holistic, comprehensive treatment plan. Here at Mayflower Acupuncture, our goal is to help you heal your mind and body, as well as revitalize your spirit. Physical, mental and emotional health are directly connected, and you cannot achieve ultimate health without looking at, and treating all three.

This approach is especially fitting for depression and anxiety. We evaluate your qi, which is the body’s vital life energy, and determine how to accelerate the circulation of qi and blood through a system of specific channels running throughout the body, called meridians. Each meridian relates to major body organs and functions, as well as emotions.

Why is this important? The emotions associated with loss, repressed expression, and other stressful events like the holidays will cause the muscular structure surrounding the chest cavity to constrict and tighten near the lungs and heart. This kind of tension near the chest cavity can result in panic attacks, anxiety and panic syndrome. The strategic placement of Acupuncture needles on specific points of the body related to meridians will remove these energetic blockages, restoring vital qi energy throughout the body.

Studies show that most Americans report unhealthy levels of stress, and holidays can add to anxiety, stress, and depression- particularly in challenging economic times. As use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication continues to increase, a natural, safe and cost-effective antidote to stress might be just what the doctor orders. Practicing a little self-care this holiday season won’t deplete your holiday funds, either- many insurers now cover acupuncture.

Call our office at 860-413-2118 and we will answer your questions. Your first visit is on the house, and we’ll figure out exactly how we can help your achieve blissful Holiday Qi!