How Acupuncture Helps Nervous System Regulation for Anxiety, Depression, Stress & PTSD

What is Nervous System Regulation?

Nervous system regulation has become a popular topic on social media, especially in conversations about anxiety, burnout, and trauma recovery. But what does that actually mean, and how can acupuncture help? 

Whether you're dealing with stress, grief, burnout or diagnosed depression, anxiety or PTSD, there are many ways that the nervous system can be dysregulated. We are meant to spend most of our day-to-day in a state of rest & digest but in a world of constant stimulation, social media & societal stressors, more and more people are finding themselves in a state of fight-or-flight.  

The body’s state of fight-or-flight (the sympathetic nervous system) is crucial to our survival and allows us to focus on our most important physical functions when facing stress. But we are not meant to stay in fight-or-flight forever. The state of rest-and-digest (parasympathetic nervous system) allows our body to achieve balance; think proper digestion, restful sleep and full belly breaths.  

Let me be clear: nervous system regulation doesn’t mean that you’re constantly relaxed, never stressed, and always go-with-the flow! Instead, it’s the smooth transition into these different states that allows us to face challenges when we need to & turn off the mind and body when it’s time to wind down and rest.  

Moxibustion acupuncture for nervous system regulation in SW Calgary

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Acupuncture in SW Calgary

How Acupuncture Regulates the Nervous System

If you feel anxious, wired, exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your body, this is how acupuncture can help you feel safe again. Acupuncture works by regulating both the hormones and neurotransmitters that impact our mental health. When the needles are retained for a minimum of 20 minutes, acupuncture activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to help reduce stress and anxiety while naturally lowering the body’s cortisol levels. It also works to regulate serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine for longer chemical mood regulation in the brain. When using acupuncture for anxiety,  it is quite common for the needle retention to feel very challenging to turn off the mind and lay in stillness. Acupuncture for PTSD or depression can also come with an emotional release if and when the body feels safe. 

Over a course of multiple treatments, the body becomes more familiar with this opportunity for stillness, and most people come to crave the relaxation effect that comes with their treatments. Acupuncture also creates positive changes in sleep, pain and menstrual health that can support mental health conditions. In PTSD, acupuncture has been shown to reduce states of hyperarousal, limit flashbacks, and re-establish a relationship with the body after prolonged periods of numbness.

For more information on using acupuncture for PTSD, see our recent blog post here. Acupuncture can be a great addition to a treatment plan already in place consisting of therapy and/or medications.

If you're looking for acupuncture in Calgary for nervous system regulation, our team at Botanical Point offers personalized treatments to support you through your mental health journey. Click here to book an acupuncture appointment at Botanical Point to begin regulating your nervous system naturally.