Beat the Holiday Rush: How Acupuncture Can Prepare Your Body and Mind

The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it can also leave you feeling stressed, exhausted, and run down. Between family gatherings, travel, shopping, and busy schedules, your body and mind are under extra pressure. 

Getting your body ready to face the holiday madness now means you’re less likely to succumb to the effects of stress during. Acupuncture is a safe, effective way to support your health before the rush begins. 

At Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Kierstin Beaman, DACM, can help you get your mind and body ready for the holiday hullabaloo now with effective acupuncture therapy.

How acupuncture works in the body

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, but modern research is now helping explain how it works. Studies show that acupuncture calms the stress response by lowering cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone) and activating the “rest and digest” side of the nervous system. This helps reduce tension, promote relaxation, and improve sleep.

Acupuncture also strengthens immunity by boosting natural killer (NK) cells. These are special white blood cells that help your body fight off viruses and keep your defenses strong.

Another benefit of acupuncture around the holidays is the digestion support it provides. There are inevitable dietary changes that come around the holidays that can cause distress. Acupuncture works to regulate the nervous system pathways that control gut function, thus reducing  indigestion, bloating, or discomfort associated with indulgent holiday eating.

By increasing the release of “feel-good” brain chemicals, such as serotonin and endorphins, acupuncture can help you feel more positive all season long. You experience a lift in your mood and ease anxiety or fatigue.

Why before the holidays is the time to start

Many people wait until they’re already overwhelmed to schedule acupuncture, but getting ahead of the season allows your body to build resilience. Regular sessions in the weeks leading up to the holidays can:

• Lower overall stress levels so you’re less reactive when life gets hectic
• Strengthen your immune system before cold and flu season peaks
• Keep digestion on track, even with bigger meals or irregular schedules
• Improve sleep quality so you feel rested and energized
• Support emotional balance, making it easier to enjoy the season fully

Preserving your wellness, rather than repairing it, means you have a seamless holiday season and can enjoy important moments.

Prevention means a healthier season

The holidays ask a lot from your body and mind. Acupuncture can not only help resolve emotional, immune, and gastrointestinal symptoms, but it can also prevent them from flaring in the first place. By supporting your nervous system, immune health, digestion, and emotional balance, you give yourself the best chance to stay well and enjoy the season.

Dr. Beaman often recommends starting a short series of treatments before the holidays. This way, acupuncture primes your body to handle stress more gracefully. You’ll also find your immune system is stronger and your energy is steadier. Acupuncture makes you more able to focus on what matters most this season.

Call Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture at 651-964-3868, or book an appointment online today to make wellness a priority as you move into the holidays.