In Chinese medicine we talk about causes of disease and health imbalances in terms of “excess” and “deficiency.” The holiday season is typically a time of excess:
- Excess indulgence of rich foods, drinks and alcohol
- Excess activity: running around shopping, attending parties and social events, cooking, cleaning, hosting parties and house guests, traveling, etc.
- Excessive stress and emotions that often occur at this time of year: difficult family dynamics; feelings of sadness, loss and grief that may come up when we find ourselves missing loved ones during this time; Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – aka the winter blues; and societal pressure for this to be “the most wonderful time of the year” when we just aren’t feeling that way.
All of this excess can then cause deficiency – or depletion – of energy and/or motivation, or a mix of stress (excess) and fatigue (deficiency). We may feel drained, exhausted, unmotivated and/or depressed, or perhaps we feel “wired and tired,” revved-up but unable to wind down, with restless sleep or insomnia at night and adrenaline keeping us going during the day masking the underlying fatigue. Maybe we feel sluggish or our digestion is off-kilter.
Our activities and our emotions are intertwined and the great thing about Chinese medicine is that it addresses all of these issues at the same time. Acupuncture can help us feel more balanced at times when we may be experiencing highs and lows by calming the nervous system and releasing our own endogenous opioids, helping us to experience a feeling of well-being and calm. Enjoy a happier, more relaxing and balanced holiday season with acupuncture.