by Josh Zimmer, L.Ac, DOM

 

As people, we are always looking for the “magic bullet” to improve our health. It might be a diet craze, a new supplement or a trendy workout routine. But there are times, frequent enough, when these good-faith efforts don’t yield the results we hoped for. Our bodies still hurt, our energy remains low, and our weight just refuses to melt away. Our sleep is still inconsistent, while both stress and anxiety are as high as ever.

Putting aside for a moment the details about diet, exercise, and mental or emotional peace that matter to a licensed acupuncturist, the real problem for many of us is simple. Our energy is blocked. The regulatory functions that govern our health—blood circulation, hormones, digestion and the nervous system—are being internally mismanaged by the same factors we attempt to overcome. These pathways, and the energy meridians connected to them, do not flow.

In situations like these, we must expand our focus beyond exercise, diet and supplements and invest in the process of acupuncture. There is nothing better than an acupuncture treatment to unhinge the internal and external forces that allow us to operate at the higher levels we aspire to. Acupuncture is all about flow, so recognizing the importance of flow in overall mental and physiological function plays into one of acupuncture’s strongest hands—making the mind and body more receptive to healthy changes.

To be in optimal condition, for example, we need to have a smooth-functioning digestive system to absorb healthier food and lose weight. We need relaxation, stronger blood circulation and sleep for energy and sustained performance. There’s also a stifling condition many of us experience that summarizes the effect of all the previously mentioned problems. For lack of a better description, it can be called “feeling heavy.”

Much of the time, this is a byproduct of being overweight, the metabolic residue of a slow digestive system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we call it “dampness.” But oddly enough, even trim people can experience a sense of inertia that results from the accumulation of the negative factors previously mentioned.

Consequently, after an acupuncture session, many people report feeling lighter, more relaxed and alert. So give this modality a shot. Continue regulating your diet and supplements. Keep working out. But throw in some acupuncture treatments for general relaxation and energy flow. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

 

Josh Zimmer is a Nationally Certified, State Licensed Acupuncture Physician.  He graduated from the East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota in 2008.  Josh is the acupuncturist at Four Pillars, providing natural healing for pain relief and digestive issues. He also treats symptoms of cancer, stroke and neuropathy. Four Pillars is located at 8209 Natures Way, Suite 221, Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 941-373-3955, email [email protected] or visit FourPillarsFlorida.com