Stress and Hormone Chaos: How Acupuncture Brings Relief
Stress can really throw your hormones out of whack, and it's something a lot of us deal with without even realizing it. I meet so many people who don’t think they’re “stressed” when they are (happens to me too!). It’s easy to dismiss stress as something you’re just powering through, but the truth is, even if you don’t feel stressed mentally, your body might be telling a different story. Things like constant fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, or irregular periods can all be signs that your hormones are being affected by stress, even if you’re not consciously aware of it. It’s no surprise that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, overwork is frequently cited as a key cause of dis-ease.
The tricky part? Many of us aren’t accepting stress as a valid reason to change our lifestyle. We think, "I’m fine, I’ve got this," but our bodies are begging for more downtime, play, self care, meditation, and relaxation. Instead, we often keep pushing through, adding more to our plates and wondering why we feel so off.
How Stress Impacts Your Hormones
Cortisol – The Main Culprit: When stress sticks around for too long, cortisol levels stay high. And when that happens, it throws off other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which are super important for feeling balanced and healthy. This can lead to things like mood swings, trouble sleeping, weight gain, and even lower libido.
Reproductive Health: For women, stress often messes with the balance of estrogen and progesterone, which can cause irregular periods, PMS, and even affect fertility. Conditions like PCOS or endometriosis can be made worse by stress too. And for men, chronic stress can lower testosterone levels, which impacts energy and sexual health.
Thyroid Function: Stress can also slow down your thyroid, which controls your metabolism. If your thyroid isn’t working right, you might feel tired all the time, gain weight, and just not feel like yourself.
Blood Sugar & Insulin: Cortisol messes with your blood sugar levels by encouraging your liver to pump out extra glucose. Over time, this can cause insulin resistance, leading to weight gain (especially belly fat) and increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
How Acupuncture and Herbs Help Combat Stress and Balance Your Hormones
This is where acupuncture and herbal medicine can really step in. They offer a natural, holistic way to get your body back on track. Here’s how:
Acupuncture – Calming Stress & Supporting Hormones: Acupuncture helps relax your nervous system by promoting the flow of Qi (your body’s energy) and reducing cortisol levels. It’s a great way to hit pause on your stress response and get your body back into “rest and digest” mode—basically, helping your body chill out. Studies show that acupuncture helps regulate hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which can improve menstrual cycles, fertility, and thyroid function. By calming your nervous system, acupuncture supports your overall sense of well-being, helping you feel more balanced, sleep better, and be less overwhelmed. For women, it can help regulate periods, reduce PMS symptoms, and improve fertility. For men, it can boost testosterone levels and improve energy.
Herbs – Nature’s Hormonal Helpers: Chinese herbs are another key player in helping your body deal with stress and keep your hormones balanced. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), herbs are often customized to address whatever imbalance is happening in your body. If stress is messing with your emotions, digestion, or reproductive health, there’s an herbal formula that can help! Please contact me for an herbal consult to get the best formula for your situation.
However, here are some of my go-to herbs for stress and hormone balance:
Chai Hu (Bupleurum): This herb helps smooth out emotional stress and gets your energy moving when it feels stuck.
Bai Shao (White Peony Root): Perfect for calming irritability and nourishing your body, especially when you’re feeling tense or PMS-y.
Gan Cao (Licorice Root): Great for supporting your adrenal glands and helping balance cortisol levels.
Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis): A fantastic blood-nourishing herb that’s perfect for regulating menstrual cycles and supporting reproductive health.
Together, acupuncture and herbal medicine make a powerful combo for tackling stress at its root. They don’t just treat the symptoms—they help your body recalibrate and heal itself over time.
TCM’s Take on Stress & Hormones
From a TCM perspective, stress tends to hit the Liver the hardest. When stress builds up, the Liver Qi (your energy flow) gets stuck, causing frustration, irritability, and hormonal imbalances. Over time, this stagnant energy can also affect digestion and reproductive health.
TCM also sees the Kidneys as a key player in reproductive and adrenal health. Stress depletes the Kidney energy, which can lead to long-term hormonal issues. Acupuncture and herbs work to nourish both the Liver and Kidneys, helping you build resilience against stress and keep your hormones in check.
Final Thoughts
Long-term stress has a sneaky way of impacting your body, even when you don’t think you’re "stressed." Acupuncture and herbal medicine offer a natural, holistic approach to managing stress and restoring hormonal balance. By addressing the root cause(s) of stress and supporting your body’s natural healing processes, you can reduce cortisol, regulate your hormones, and feel more like yourself again. So if you’re feeling off, it might be time to give yourself permission to slow down, incorporate more play and relaxation, and let your body heal.
If you're experiencing any of the imbalances mentioned, I’m here to help you restore balance and well-being. Please reach out > Book a Free Discovery Call.
