This week’s focus of Real Housewife bloggers is the feud between Brandi and Kyle but, I’m looking at the show differently and have a question for all of you – which “housewife” should stop by my Chicago acupuncture office for treatment? The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has several women on the show who could benefit from Chinese Medicine. Plus, I’m sure acupuncture is trendy out there in Hollywood. Last year I wrote a post about how acupuncture could help Camille Grammer. Camille, if you have become a fan of acupuncture, let me know; I’d love to hear about it.
So, who are this season’s best candidates for help? The two most obvious women are Kim Richards (who I loved in the movie Escape to Witch Mountain) and Taylor Armstrong. What difficulties would Chinese Medicine help? Kim, on a recent episode, complained of severe anxiety and panic attacks. Taylor has clearly gone through a lot with her abusive marriage and the suicide of her husband so I imagine that she’s suffering from anxiety and depression. Chinese Medicine works well for anxiety. Often, acupuncture can calm down an anxious person in one treatment. If the anxiety is chronic, more than one treatment is needed to get lasting results.
How Acupuncture Can Help Anxiety & Panic Attacks
In Chinese Medicine, problems like anxiety and panic result when your qi (pronounced ‘che’ and is often translated as energy) is stagnant, unable to flow freely. Through acupuncture treatments, these energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture points, where the needles are inserted, serve as conductors/signs on the energy highway. Acupuncture smoothes out the flow of qi and thereby alleviates stress and anxiety.
From a Western Point of View
Now that more research is available, acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating anxiety can also be understood in Western terms
1. Acupuncture can have an impact on serotonin, a chemical in the brain that affects a person’s emotional state.
2. Acupuncture raises the level of endorphins, pain killing/feel-good chemicals in your brain. In a study conducted at the University of New South Wales, healthy patients underwent MRI brain scans while they received acupuncture and it was observed that portions of the brain related to “mood regulation” were affected.
3. Acupuncture can improve circulation, decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure and relax muscles, providing a calmer state.
Which Housewife?
I still want to hear your opinion but here is mine. The truth is, I would much prefer Kim to stop by; I still have the VHS of her last film (her costar was James Spader) Tuff Turf!
Kim call me ;).
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