Emotions are physical. They happen in our bodies. They are created by our bodies. They sometimes happen to our bodies.

Emotions are specific movements in the body, specific physiological cascades and relationships running from head to toe.

Anxiety is a knotting of movement. An acupuncturist finds the places in the body that are knotted, unties those knots in the muscle, blood and nerves. By regulates the turbulent movement of emotions, acupuncture helps the body relax so that the mind can settle.

I have answered this many different ways over the years. It changes depending on who I am talking to, how I personally have been thinking about it, and the context of the discussion. My perspective on the question, “What does acupuncture do?”, after years of pretty dramatic transformations, has by now settled somewhat, so I will take another stab at an answer.

It’s warming up. With the thaw of spring, comes the pollen and dust that triggers seasonal allergies, sinus congestion and pressure headaches. Over-the-counter medications for allergies may help you survive the day, but they are not long-term fixes.

Acupuncture is highly effective for not only managing the symptoms of seasonal allergies, but also retraining the immune system to be less reactive so that the allergy itself fades away.

Stretching is widely accepted as a good thing to do, but the question is whether there is a right way to do it. Do you reach and hold it? Do you bounce? Do you get a trainer to do it for you?

The answer lies in the difference between static and dynamic stretching.

There are many reasons why someone might not be sleeping. Acupuncture treats insomnia very effectively whether it is caused by stress, anxiety and worry, acid reflux, hot flashes, pain, frequent bathroom trips, or even those inexplicable nights when you are just staring at the ceiling.

Acupuncture can immediately get rid of a migraine headache. If the headache is present at the moment of the treatment, we actually focus our work on the feet. Very often, when someone has a migraine headache, their feet are tight and cold. By warming and relaxing the feet, blood descends out the head, and then the nervous system can settle. This combined with manual massage techniques on the arms, shoulders and neck, can clear up even a severe migraine headache.

This is the first step in healing from chronic migraines.

Movement is life. The choreographed movements of Tai Chi help our bodies re-learn more natural ways to move. This brings more life into our bodies, and with that, more health, strength and focus.

Mindfulness is not simply to observe, but to remember the truth of what you are observing.

Breathing becomes more than breathing. It is a rhythm pulsing under every experience in life, reminding you that you have a body, you have emotions, you have a mind. Reminding you that your breath is a tool to focus yourself on joy, pleasure and tranquility. Reminding you of the truth of impermanence, to “give up greed and distress for the world”.