Psychovegetative disorders

Depression, exhaustion / burnout, sleep disorders, anxiety, restlessness, trouble concentrating, study and exam stress

Depression

Depression is the third most common mental disorder, with growing numbers. Clinically, depression is distinguished from the normal emotions of sadness and grief. The symptoms of sadness, grief and helplessness are much more pronounced. With time, these emotions can even lead to a loss of self-esteem. Statements such as “I ‘m not worth it” or “nothing means anything to me anymore” are typical of people suffering from depression.
From the perspective of Chinese medicine, depression has various causes. A major cause of depression are emotions that have not been processed properly and tend to accumulate, blocking the flow of Qi in the body. Such blockages can manifest in several ways, leading either to a deficiency or an excess (restlessness, nervousness, etc.) pattern in the body. In order to treat or even prevent depression, Chinese medicine believes strongly in dealing with the root cause (the emotions). Acupuncture can assist by resolving the inner blockages and thus creating a good footing for healing.

Stress / Burn-Out

Stress is nowadays unavoidable. Stress appears at work, at school and even during our leisure time. During a stressful situation the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and the body releases so called stress hormones. This affects the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for digestion and relaxation.
A distinction is made between acute and chronic stress. In a stressful situation stress hormones provide the body with energy. A long-term release of these stress hormones can lead to digestive disorders, heart problems, high blood pressure and exhaustion (burnout).
From a Chinese medicine perspective, the liver is extremely susceptible to stress. Stress inhibits the flow of Qi in the liver meridian. Blockages in the liver meridian consequently impact other organs such as the heart, spleen, stomach and lungs. The Uterus can also be affected, leading to menstrual disorders. TCM can help harmonize the liver, preventing further complications.

Look after your body by minimizing the harmful effects of chronic stress with either one treatment per week or one treatment every two weeks. A Chinese proverb says: “There is no better solution to health than free-flowing liver Qi”.

Insomnia

The are many factors that play a role in sleep disorders. External factors such as noise or internal factors such as stress or illness my result in impaired sleep. Sleep disorders lead to reduced performance, as well as impact on our mental wellbeing.
Chinese medicine attributes insomnia to a wide variety of causes. From a TCM perspective, the Shen (the spirit) is responsible for sleep. The Shen is easily disturbed by an excess of Yang (stress, anxiety, restless legs, etc.), such that one cannot sleep well. In such a case, sleep is restless or even accompanied by nightmares. Alternatively, if the Shen is not balanced as a result a Yin deficiency in the body (* for example blood deficiency caused by exhaustion), sleep will also be restless and characterized by frequent awakenings. Our doctors take the time to thoroughly review your case (making the correct diagnosis) and choosing a personalized treatment program, in order to restore relaxed and healing sleep.

* Please do not confuse the blood deficiency in TCM with anemia in conventional medicine. They are not related.

Fear

Fear is a deep-seated human emotion. It is provoked by biological reactions and ensures our survival. Fear becomes pathological, when the strong feelings restrict a person in their everyday life.
Chinese medicine categorizes fear under deficiency patterns, usually due to a heart blood or yin deficiency. Blood and yin are responsible for accommodating and nourishing the Spirit. When there is a deficiency, the Spirit becomes troubled and anxious. Accordingly, the treatment principle is mainly to strengthen Heart Blood and Yin. However, fear can also have many other causes. It is therefore important to take time during the initial visit to make the correct diagnosis and tailor a suitable treatment plan for the individual.

Please do not confuse the blood deficiency in TCM with anemia in conventional medicine. They are not related.

Restlessness

Restlessness can be understood as the continuous “activity” of body and mind. One is thus not able to rest and recover properly. Medically speaking, hormones play an important role in inducing such a state. It is particularly the stress hormones here that affect the heart, the lungs, the circulatory system and the brain.
From the perspective of Chinese medicine, restlessness may develop due to various reasons. Similar to conventional medicine, TCM also views stress as a major cause of unrest. Acupuncture can help one to relax, at the same time it strengthens the body helping it adapt to stress better.

Concentration Problems

Concentration problems can arise due to various reasons. There is often a psychological connection. For example, concentration problems resulting due to dissatisfaction with one’s job or family life.
Chinese medicine believes that optimal concentration is supported by various organs. The spleen, the heart and the liver must all work together harmoniously in order to achieve good concentration. TCM thus focuses on strengthening or harmonizing the above mentioned organs, depending on where the weakness lies. At the same time, it is also important to talk about and to find solutions to rectify the dissatisfaction in order to avoid recurring concentration problems.

Studying and Exam Stress

Students face a lot of pressure in today’s society. The academic performance is of ever increasing importance and has implications for one’s future. For some, the stress and pressure are so great that they develop real test anxiety.
From the Chinese medicine perspective, stress to perform can overburden the liver and the spleen. A “stressed-out liver” can lead to stagnation in the liver meridian, triggering depression or anxiety. Furthermore, too much learning can strain and weaken the spleen. This can lead to symptoms such as poor concentration, fatigue, and digestive problems. TCM can support students on their way through college. It can help them to relax, as well as strengthen and harmonize their organs. By so doing, it helps them to cope with stress better, enabling them to approach their tests with confidence.