Essential Mental Health
May is National Mental Health Awareness month. It is estimated that millions of us suffer from mental unease at some point. Whether just the blues or more serious issues like, PTSD, anxiety, or depression mental health can make everyday tasks challenging. We here at Essential Mind and Body believe that good physical health can keep you on the road to good mental health. We offer several modalities that have been proven to bolster your mental health.
Please note, if you or a loved one are suffering please reach out to a trained counselor you can find one near you at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
How Chiropractic Care Helps Mental Health
Chiropractic deals with maximizing the health of the nervous system. Emotional and psychological health are greatly affected by chiropractic care because they are controlled through the nervous system. Recent studies remark on the improvements in the autonomic nervous system with chiropractic care. Specifically, removing nerve interference allows regulation of the sympathetic nerves which control the fight or flight mechanism of the brain.
Other studies are showing that following adjustments people are more relaxed due to hormonal changes in oxytocin, cortisol and a few other important hormones noted only in groups following chiropractic adjustments. Studies today show improvements in blood flow to the brain following upper neck adjustments. This increased blood flow plays a large role in the healing of and restoration of mental health.
Acupuncture for mental health
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine each work to circulate, boost and relax the necessary systems, to reduce the symptoms and also to make the individual more resilient against future issues. There have been a number of research pieces now that point to the mechanisms of acupuncture for mental health. Research shows that acupuncture:
reduces the brain’s sensitivity to stress
relaxes the analytical brain that causes anxiety
reduces stress-induced changes in behavior and biochemistry
reduces inflammation, which can contribute to anxiety and depression
stimulates the production of ‘happy’ and relaxing chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, GABA etc.)
boosts the parasympathetic nervous system, which is our ‘rest and digest’ system
regulates levels of neurotransmitters and hormones in order to bring the system back into a relaxed state of balance
resets the resting brain, which can become dysfunctional in depression
assists with related conditions such as insomnia and chronic pain, allowing the body and mind to relax
The Healing Power of Touch
Human touch is essential to our sense of well-being, as starkly demonstrated in Harlow’s infamous monkey experiments. Far from simply being an arbitrarily pleasurable sensory experience, skin-on-skin contact with other human beings is critical to not only early childhood development but to maintaining emotional and social wellness throughout our lives. One particularly remarkable benefit of human touch is its ability to induce oxytocin release. Oxytocin, also known as the love or bonding hormone, imbues us with a sense of belonging, stability, trust, and enhanced sociability. Research has found that the hormone can decrease social anxiety, depression, and stress, while increasing empathy, generosity, self-esteem, and optimism, and alleviating psychological distress. Oxytocin has even been found to reduce fear in people with PTSD and improve responsiveness to treatment.
Effects of sound healing
Entrainment is a method of synchronizing our brainwaves by producing a stable, solid frequency that our brains adjust to and then match. By using this method of resynchronizing the brain waves we can affect the function of the brain and stimulate the release of beneficial hormones and enzymes. This method can involve bells, chimes, drums, the use of chants, and even simple clapping.
Healing with sound has been shown to improve many ailments including:
Autism
Depression
Learning disabilities
Anxiety disorder
Stress
PTSD
Pain
It can also bring about:
Clarity and balance
Relaxation
Improved memory and concentration
Improved sleep
A stronger immune system
Improved creativity
Heightened awareness, both of the self and the environment
You are the steward of your own mental health! We here at Essential Mind and Body believe in using a holistic approach to health, and we recognize the connection between a healthy body and a healthy mind. Let us use our skills to help you live your best life!
Yours in Good Health!
The Team at EMB
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