Stress has a funny way of finding its way into all of our lives at one point or another. In fact, the stress management market continues to grow rapidly and we increasingly find ourselves seeking new and improved methods for relief.

Learning how to manage stress, and helping our body balance its response to stress, is critical to keeping us healthy long-term. Our bodies can experience two kinds of stress; acute and chronic stress. Both are driven by the major stress hormone, cortisol, whose main function is to put sugar (or glucose) in the blood so we have the energy to manage acute stress; the kind of stress response you would have after a car crash, for example. However, if we do not burn up the glucose through an acute stress event, your stress will convert to chronic stress – the kind of stress that can truly wreak havoc on your body and mind.

The traditional Chinese medicine approach is to focus on restoring the balance of energy in the body, which can be achieved through the powerful healing practices of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, coupled with dietary and exercise adjustments. Acupuncture, in particular, is highly effective at treating stress and anxiety, as it increases the circulation of blood and oxygenates the tissues, while cycling out cortisol and releasing natural pain-killers called endorphins. Acupuncture can also decrease your heart rate, relax your muscles, lower blood pressure and boost the immune system, all of which positively affect the way your body handles stress.