Stress, Anxiety & Trauma

Acupuncture for Mental Health Support

Acupuncture offers multiple benefits for the treatment of mental health symptoms such as: stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, and unresolved trauma. Scientific research shows a course of regular acupuncture treatment offers clinically significant reductions in the severity of anxiety and depression, when compared with usual care (i.e. conventional treatments such as psychotherapies and commonly prescribed psychiatric medications). Acupuncture helps facilitate the body to release molecules such as endorphins, opioids, and oxytocin which explains the ‘feel good’ response after an acupuncture treatment.

Grounding the body through the feet — Grounding - Photography by Marijke de Jong

Research also shows that regular acupuncture treatments over time help to improve the bodies heart rate variability, which is a measure of better mental and physical health. In our modern world we often struggle to be in our body, we tend to live in a very mental plane of being, disconnected from our body. Our emotions and feelings reside in our body and influence greatly our mental and physical well-being. An acupuncture treatment in our Tauranga Acupuncture Clinic helps your body and mind to enter a calm state, shifting your nervous system from ‘flight, fight and freeze’, into safety, connection and ‘rest - digest’. This helps your body to consciously and unconsciously process pain, including emotions or thoughts that may be troubling you, and to allow your body to naturally heal and regenerate.

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Ear Acupuncture

Ear acupuncture also know as auriculotherapy is a particular treatment modality which uses acupuncture needles to stimulate certain points on the ear which correspond to different regions in the brain and body. This particular theory and application of Ear Acupuncture was initially developed in 1950’s by Paul Nogier, MD. He postulated that the body of a person could be mapped onto the ear like a homunculus, or inverted fetus.

Ear Acupuncture is often used in community settings for treating addictions and in providing treatment for acute stress and trauma where there are natural disasters or humanitarian aid is required in conflict-torn regions.

In our Tauranga Acupuncture Clinic specific treatments are offered for chronic pain, stress and trauma, and addictions. The first session is 1 hr, with follow up sessions 45 mins. A session of ear acupuncture may also involve acupuncture points in other areas of the body to help balance the treatment, and mindfulness techniques are offered to facilitate mind-body awareness and improved treatment outcome.

Ear Acupuncture for Veterans

Ear acupuncture is offered for Veterans in NZ. I am Veteran Certified through Acupuncture NZ. For more information about treatment you can get in touch.

Chronic Pain

Ear Acupuncture is offered following the Battlefield acupuncture treatment protocol for chronic pain conditions. A course of initial treatment involving 3 - 6 sessions is recommended.

Stress and Trauma

Ear acupuncture following the NADA treatment protocol is offered to help with any symptoms of stress, anxiety, trauma, strong emotions, dissociation, numbness, fluctuating mood, sleep disturbances. A course of initial treatment involving 3 - 6 sessions is recommended.

Addictions

Ear acupuncture following the NADA treatment protocol is offered to help with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, stress and mood changes. A course of initial treatment involving 3 - 6 sessions is recommended.