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There’s no denying that the world today is stressful. Take one look at the local news and you’ll no doubt understand why a lot of people are relying on their pharmacist for stress relief in the form of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. America’s economy remains firmly planted in the ground, and jobless rates aren’t showing any signs of approval. Forget travel or sending your children off to college debt-free – most people can’t even think about retirement! Certainly, stress, anxiety and hardships take a huge toll on our physical and mental health and well being. But the good news is that we don’t have to run to our local drug store for relief! There are plenty of holistic and healthy ways to feel better, as long as you’re open to a little Eastern Medicine. Acupuncture and alternative medicinal techniques have long been considered legitimate stress relievers all over the world – and the science is sweeping America!
If you’ve never heard about Acupuncture, it may seem slightly scary. The treatment involves inserting and manipulating the very tips of several tiny needles into the skin’s surface to relieve pain, stress or disease. True believers of the procedure claim it’s entirely pain-free and leaves them feeling refreshed and renewed! The science behind acupuncture is simple. In Chinese medicine, doctors believe that any form of physical or emotional trauma or hardship (in this case, stressful feelings or events), happen, the natural and healthy flow of energy in the body is disrupted. Acupuncture points (where the needle enters the skin) serve as a way for bad or poisonous energy to leave the system, reinstating the healthy flow of energy, relieving pain in the process.
If you’re a believer in Western medicine and taking a pill or heading to the emergency room to cure panic and stress, you may have a difficult time believing that acupuncture could possibly help you. But before you dismiss the idea, consider that some of the biggest stars today firmly believe in the practice. Gweneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon and Sheryl Crow all routinely receive the treatment. And if it can help them, it may certainly help you!
