Life can be stressful; pressures of work, financial worries, relationship or family problems and even the weather are just a few things that can cause us to feel stressed or low.

A little bit of stress is good for us - it gets the adrenalin pumping and causes the fight or flight response that can be essential to save us from dangerous situations. Our ancestors needed sufficient adrenalin to enable them to run away from a fast approaching woolly mammoth! Nowadays there aren't too many woolly mammoths around but adrenalin is still useful in helping us meet a deadline, run for a bus when we're late for an important meeting or survive difficult and unwanted conversations.

A constant state of stress however is exhausting to the body; cortisol levels increase, blood pressure goes up and immune functionality goes down. We end up feeling anxious, irritable and tired, yet unable to sleep. It can also cause physical symptoms such as irregular periods, increased PMS, weight changes, headaches or digestive disorders.

Research has shown that acupuncture can increase the output of endorphins, and this explains why people often feel very relaxed during and after treatment.

By inducing a feeling of well-being and confidence, acupuncture can help us to become more able to deal with the challenges presented to us each day. Acupuncture can provide a safe and effective way of alleviating not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety but also help to reduce the stress and anxiety themselves.