The novel coronavirus has turned our world upside down. Along with stress and worry, many of us have been locked down and need some kind of relief from worries, isolation, and fear. But imagine getting away for a little while. Imagine letting everything go and feeling better both in mind and spirit right now. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be the way to set everything aside, take a moment for ourselves, and enjoy the overwhelming mental and physical benefits at the same time.

There are many benefits of traditional Chinese medicine during the pandemic. And some that may surprise you.

From stress relief to taking care of ourselves, these are important things during the pandemic. Here is more about taking advantage of Chinese medicine – especially now. And while these benefits help no matter what is going on, they’re even more important during COVID-19.

Helps Lower the Body’s Stress Response

Stress is an enormous factor in today’s climate. According to Help Guide:

For many people, the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle. We still don’t know exactly how we’ll be impacted, how long this will last, or how bad things might get. And that makes it all too easy to catastrophize and spiral out into overwhelming dread and panic.

Many of us lived with significant stress before the pandemic. From our job and family life to financial issues and more – it’s difficult to remain free of stressful situations.

The problem is that stress causes emotional, physical, behavioral, and cognitive issues. It is our body’s way of dealing with a threat – whether perceived or real. We function just fine with small doses of stress but as its prevalence increases, so may the following potential health concerns:

Emotional Issues

• Mood and behavioral changes
• Isolation from others
• Problems with relaxing
• Overwhelming feelings

Physical Symptoms

• Insomnia
• No energy
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Low libido
• Nervousness
• Increased infections and colds
• Aches and pains

Behavioral Issues

• Increased substance or alcohol use
• Nervous behaviors
• Avoiding tasks or responsibilities
• Changes in appetite

Cognitive Symptoms

• Hard to focus
• Negative thoughts
• Constant worry
• Poor judgment
• Forgetfulness
• Racing thoughts

The many negative (and alarming) effects of stress can affect every single aspect of our lives. Chinese medicine works to bring balance to the body’s physiological functions and internal organs. Not only does it work to lower stress, Traditional Chinese Medicine is relaxing, and that benefit alone helps minimize our mind and body’s stressors. And by lowering stress, it may reduce your symptoms. Triggers are a part of life but you can make things better by using Reiki, acupuncture, and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine to your advantage.

Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is a detriment with COVID-19. As notated by The World Economic Forum:

A common feature for many patients that get severe COVID is serious lung damage caused by an overly vigorous immune response. This is characterized by the creation of lots of inflammatory products called cytokines—the so-called “cytokine storm”.

And while we do not make any claims about cures, inflammation in any scenario is bad. Inflammation is sometimes brief but for some, it becomes a chronic problem. Inflammation happens similar to stress. It is our body’s way of fighting off harmful actions. If a cell gets damaged, the body triggers a response from the immune system by releasing chemicals. But for those with chronic inflammation, the body remains in a state of alert, even after the threat is gone.

This can lead to diseases including:

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart Disease
• Arthritis

Acupuncture helps including aiding the digestive tract. This body system is often a source of inflammation that goes unrecognized. Promising studies at Harvard University suggest acupuncture is effective in taming the inflammatory response.

Helps Cognitive Health

We all need to be as sharp as possible right now. Dealing with a worldwide pandemic is no time to have brain fog. And poor cognitive health affects all of our surroundings, even in the best of times.

Cognitive reserve is a phrase you may not be familiar with. But what it does is keep our brain sharper. It’s how you learn things in school or use logic to solve a problem. When an adequate cognitive reserve is present, it is easier to face life’s challenges and decide the best course of action.

Reiki is one form of traditional Chinese medicine helpful for mental health. Blind studies show increases in well-being and minimized depression through the use of Reiki. Others show evidence of increased relaxation and lower anxiety.

Improves Flexibility and Muscle Strength

Along with our health and mind, our bodies need care when you’re not sure what will happen next. A strong body aids in your overall health and well-being, and fortunately, acupuncture is a very helpful tool.

Muscle strength is more than just being able to lift a heavy box or push open a heavy door. Instead, muscle strength also gives the body the ability to heal faster. Powerful muscles translate to less downtime when you’re injured.

How acupuncture works is by creating tiny injuries where you won’t feel pain – just pressure sometimes. These minor injuries not only supply oxygen to the muscles but also trigger endorphins. Along with these immediate results, each visit shows increasing results in improving flexibility and muscle strength.

Finding Answers During the Pandemic

We can’t provide all the answers and no one knows how everything will play out. But keeping your body and mind healthy benefits every aspect of your life. There are multiple benefits of Chinese medicine and during the pandemic they are even more crucial to living the best, healthiest, and happiest life. Schedule an appointment with us now to see how traditional Chinese medicine can help you!