Unprecedented Times: Why Americans Need Acupuncture Now More Than Ever

You can’t read an article about any subject since March of 2020 without hearing the word UNPRECEDENTED. While the term is entirely apropos, human beings don’t function well in a world of uncertainty. 

Our strong survival instincts that even, in today’s relatively safe world, get pinged every time we see or sense danger. The most insane part of it is that our brains crave it. In fact, for every one piece of positive information we consume, our fear-driven brain processes nine negative ones. While this function got us to the top of the food chain, we have now become stuck in a constant state of fight or flight.  

This constant state of alert impacts our mind and bodies in many ways; increased cortisol levels, disruption of sleep, deregulation of neurotransmitter levels, and weakening of the immune system. The simplest way to say it is, “Stress Kills,” and right now, it’s in full-blown attack mode.

What do we have in our defense? Our best bet is Acupuncture. 

If you think acupuncture is just for pain, you have been missing out. Wrongly pigeon-holed into new-age medicine, acupuncture offers a cascade of mental and physiological changes backed by countless studies.  Stress reduction, immune system regulation, and the proper levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine to keep anxiety and depression at bay, have been well-documented effects and benefits of acupuncture.  Newer studies even point to the release of anandamide, a neurotransmitter, whose root name means bliss in Sanskrit and lights up the same receptors as cannabis adds to your ability to handle what 2020 throws at you.

So while the IG photo of your last bubble bath is helpful for your #selfcare, take it to the next level and get acupuncture to safeguard yourself against everything these unprecedented times throw at you.