The sympathetic nervous system (FIGHT OR FLIGHT) engages when our bodies and minds perceive a stressful situation. This causes a cascade of internal responses that affects all systems in the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems. Stress is necessary, but intense acute stressors and long-term stress have a serious negative affect on our bodies.
Many people come to acupuncture for its relaxing effects. It feels good, you sleep better, and the treatment itself is intensely rejuvenating.
As one doctor put it “It’s never a bad thing to rest for an hour in a dark room”
These things are all true and not only does acupuncture feel good, but it has real, systemic effects that will regulate the nervous system in a positive way. Stress is important for survival, but it doesn’t mean that our systems can manage heightened or lengthy periods in a stress response. ACUPUNCTURE WORKS AND IT IS DRUG FREE.
Check out these amazing, comprehensive reviews of acupuncture’s affect on the nervous system
Acupuncture has been shown to have a regulating effect on the sympathetic nervous system, reducing the body’s time in a flight response.
Acupuncture Effect on Central Autonomic Regulation
- “Emerging evidence indicates that acupuncture treatment not only activates distinct brain regions in different kinds of diseases caused by imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, but also modulates adaptive neurotransmitter in related brain regions to alleviate autonomic response.”
Acupuncture Regulates the Nervous System Research
- “New evidence demonstrates acupuncture activates specific regions of the brain for the treatment of specific diseases.”
