Examining Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine as Means to Provide Grief Support
Grief can be an intensely personal, emotionally draining experience that manifests both physical and psychological symptoms in different forms. While no single method for recovering from grief exists, alternative therapies like acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer support during the grieving process.
We will examine in this blog post whether using specific acupuncture points and herbs might assist with managing grief more successfully.
Acupuncture for Grief: What You Should Know :
Acupuncture may provide relief to emotional discomfort associated with grief in various forms:
Stress Reduction and Emotional Balance:
Acupuncture can stimulate endorphin production, the natural painkillers that boost moods. By targeting specific points during the grieving process, acupuncture therapy could provide additional support and reduce stress significantly while providing emotional balance during this trying time. Some key points could include:
Yin Tang (Yin Tang ):
Positioned between one's eyebrows, this point can help calm one's mind and promote emotional balance. Heart 7 (Shen Men ): When placed on one's wrists, Heart 7 may help relieve anxiety while encouraging relaxation.
Physical Symptom Relief:
Grief can manifest physically as headaches, digestive issues and insomnia; Acupuncture provides physical comfort by targeting specific points to provide comfort in these affected areas. Two key points which provide physical comfort during grieving are as follows.
Pericardium 6 (Nei Guan):
Situated on the inner forearm, this point can help relieve nausea, anxiety and insomnia associated with grief. Stomach 36 (Zu San Li): Widely recognized for boosting energy levels while alleviating digestive problems and relieving fatigue, this point lies at lower leg level and may offer significant relief from those feelings of fatigue and exhaustion.
Herbal Medicine for Grief:
Herbal medicine employs specific plant medicinals with distinct properties to aid overall wellbeing and ease symptoms associated with grief. Here are a few suggested herbs along with their Chinese names:
Adaptogens:
Adaptogenic herbs have long been recognized for their ability to assist the body's adaptation and build emotional resilience during grief, like Ashwagandha which may aid the body by aiding with stress adaptation while simultaneously improving resilience during bereavement.
Ginseng has long been used to enhance energy, stamina, and mental clarity during times of grief or distress.
Nervine Herbs:
Nervine herbs such as lavender or valerian have long been employed to soothe nerves and promote sleep during these trying times.
Chamomile Flower or Manzanilla may help relax nervous systems and ease tension, while Passionflower could offer support during grief by relieving anxiety and encouraging better restfulness during its symptoms.
Mood Enhancing Herbs:
Herbal remedies have long been utilized as natural ways of elevating mood and soothing any mild depressive symptoms associated with grief. Two such plants which help improve our wellbeing:
St John's Wort has long been used as an effective natural way of elevating mood and relieving mild depressive symptoms while providing pain relief through inflammation reduction and reduced swelling.
Lavender has long been revered for its soothing properties during times of grief-inducing processes, helping ease discomfort while lifting mood and well-being. It may provide much-needed comfort during this difficult period.
Conclusion:
Acupuncture and Herbal medicine offer invaluable support for those dealing with grief. Acupuncture has long been used as an effective way of relieving stress levels, cultivating emotional equilibrium and treating physical symptoms; its recommended points such as Yin Tang, Heart 7, Pericardium 6 and Stomach 36 can all prove invaluable during a grieving process. Chinese herbs such as Ashwagandha, Ginseng, Chamomile Flower Passionflower as well as St John's Wort and Lavender have long been utilized to alleviate symptoms associated with grief-induced trauma.
By combining these alternative therapies with comprehensive grief support, individuals may find a more holistic approach to healing and navigating the challenging journey of grief.