The number of patients we have seen over the past couple of weeks who state something along the lines of “I’m not depressed, but….(feel free to fill in your choice of emotional affliction or turmoil here)” has been significant. So significant, in fact, we are beginning to wonder if we aren’t all walking around “depressed” on some level.
Don’t get us wrong, it would make total sense if we all were. 2020 has not be the easiest year on anyone and it doesn’t appear to be letting up for what’s left of it. And whether you are feeling down and out, or maybe just simply off at the moment, the good news is that acupuncture and herbal medicines can make a real difference in your daily experience of life.
Heck, maybe you aren’t anywhere near depressed, but are simply feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, fussy, irritable, angry, or worried. These are all conditions and situations which needles and herbs can help.
The ability of Chinese medicine to effectively treat emotional disturbances is rooted in its wholistic approach to health and well-being. For Chinese medicine our emotional life and emotional expressions are not somehow set apart from our physical bodies. Our physical bodies and our emotional experiences form our whole being and their entwinement mean we can use the body to affect change in our emotional situation. This is such good news because emotional imbalances are not only difficult in and of themselves, but long term emotional struggles can negatively impact our overall health and well-being. “Stress” being a leading contribution to the development of high blood pressure and other hypertensive and cardiac related disorders.
If you find yourself struggling with any emotions during these trying times, or know someone who is, why not see what some acupuncture and herbs can do to help?