However, it’s also the case that some stress can be energising and even motivating. But, if stress impacts a person’s life negatively, they may look for ways in which to alleviate that.

What does stress look like?

If a person feels stressed, they may have physical and psychological symptoms that can be closely associated with stress:

Physical symptoms can include stomach pains, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neck and shoulder tension, lower back pain, and insomnia.

Psychological symptoms can include worrying, finding it hard to make decisions, being forgetful, feeling overwhelmed and overcome, depression, anxiety, having difficulty in concentrating at work and at home.

If a person feels stressed, they may snap at others, feel angry, sleep more (or less), drink or smoke more and avoid social situations.

Whether stress is work-related or as a result of personal difficulties, it can be treated. One such treatment is acupuncture.

How acupuncture can help

The British Acupuncture Council states that while there's little clinical "research on stress per se" that acupuncture "is believed to stimulate the nervous system. This can cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional wellbeing."

An experienced acupuncture practitioner will be able to explain to patients experiencing stress what success they've had treating anxiety with acupuncture (and possibly a combination of other therapies).

Anecdotally, many patients experiencing psychological and physical symptoms such as the ones listed above, report a greater sense of wellbeing and calm following acupuncture treatment.

Mental health charity Mind reports that some people may find that some complementary therapies, including acupuncture, can help a person manage feelings of stress.

Acupuncture works by aiming to treat the very root of a condition and not just its symptoms and can promote a general feeling of wellbeing and calm. There are a lot of myths and misinformation about acupuncture, so anyone who is considering having treatment, for example, for stress-related conditions, can find out more about what those myths are here.

What happens during acupuncture treatment for stress?

During a stress acupuncture treatment in London or any other city for that matter, an acupuncturist will ask about a patient’s medical and psychological history. This will include any physical symptoms they may be experiencing and the reasons why they are experiencing stress.

After an initial consultation to take a medical history, the acupuncturist will insert very fine needles into pressure points on the body. These are also called "meridians." The patient may either be sitting or lying down for such treatment and may have to remove a few items of clothing so the acupuncturist can access the necessary parts of the body.

The needles are inserted into these points to rebalance a person’s energy flow or "Qi" (pronounced as "chee"). They are left in place for different periods. According to Chinese medicine, when a person’s Qi is blocked, acupuncture is used to unblock that energy flow and restore the natural flow of Qi.

The result of such treatment is that the patient’s body produces endorphins which, apart from being pain-relieving, can also alleviate stress and anxiety. Endorphins are chemicals that are naturally released by the brain to reduce pain. Endorphins can make a person feel relaxed or full of energy.

A typical acupuncture treatment will last between half an hour and an hour and an acupuncturist will talk through a stress treatment plan with a patient before commencing. This will include agreeing on the number of sessions the acupuncturist recommends the patient has and over what period of time.

Is treatment the same for everyone?

No. Every patient is unique, with their own individual set of concerns and reasons for experiencing stress. A professional acupuncturist who's a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council, will take a person’s own health history into account and devise a personalised treatment plan. The aim is to provide long-lasting benefits by taking a holistic approach.

Final Thoughts

There is no risk to a person receiving acupuncture treatment for stress. Acupuncture can reap many rewards if used correctly and by a registered practitioner who is experienced in treating people with anxiety and stress-related conditions.