Finding Balance in times of disruption

This past year has really been one for the books.  A global pandemic, non-stop mask-wearing, travel restrictions, and to top it all off, fire season in British Columbia.  All of these disruptions in our everyday life can cause imbalances in our mind, body, emotions, sleep cycles, and overall well-being.  In the past year there have been many people seeking treatment for the management of their anxiety, stress, and sleep issues which most (if not all) have been directly related to the pandemic. Now with the forest fires, there is the added damage to our lungs with the fluctuations in air quality in Kamloops.  As heartbreaking as it is to witness, we are so happy we can help with acupuncture and Chinese medicine here at Vital Point.  It has been a challenging and isolating year for most of us, but the good news is, as human beings we have a great deal of resiliency and strength.  We want to thank all of the volunteers and firefighters protecting all communities affected by the current fires. 

Chinese Medicine views the mind, body, and spirit as a whole, and so mental stress, anxiety, grief, and depression can cause physical symptoms as well.  Have you experienced this before?

Acupuncture works to initiate the body into the parasympathetic nervous system - the “rest and digest” aspect where we experience deep relaxation, decreased cortisol levels, increased immunity, and decreased inflammation.  Did you know the body is only able to self-heal if we are in a parasympathetic state?  Acupuncture also stimulates points that release “feel good” endorphins and natural pain killers, so your mood will improve and you will have less pain. 

When we add cupping or gua sha to your appointment, you will experience decreased muscle tension, increased mobility, increased relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being.

In our everyday lives and society, it is hard for our nervous systems to get out of the sympathetic nervous system mode - the “fight or flight” due to increased stress and stimulation, and so we have to actively push ourselves to work on it and seek treatment when needed.

A lot of patients come in with upper neck, shoulder tension, and headaches directly related to stress and anxiety.  The great thing is Acupuncture balances the nervous system, cupping resolves muscular tension, and we can suggest at-home herbal supplementations for you to take between appointments.  The goal is to address all levels - physical, mental, and emotional - to get you back to feeling healthy and balanced, and this is why we love Chinese Medicine!

Acupuncture and body work are great methods of treatment to help your body move through the effects of the last year and what it has done to the mind, body, and emotions.  If you are new to Acupuncture, please don’t hesitate to ask us how it can help you move through any “post-pandemic symptoms” and don’t forget, it treats more than just pain!

If you are a returning patient who hasn’t been back for the duration of the pandemic, we hope you are feeling safe enough to do so at this time.  For those that feel uneasy about coming into the clinic due to the surrounding forest fires, we have downloaded the Voyent Alert app which sends updated live alerts should there be a nearby fire causing us to be on evacuation alert. 

We hope everyone is safe and well, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help.

The Team at Vital Point Acupuncture