Experiments show that acupuncture reduces stress by affecting steroid hormones.

acupuncture for stressAcupuncture increase some hormones while decrease some hormones to maintain balance within the body when under stress. Researchers found that acupuncture reduces stress by affecting glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein expression. Acupuncture simultaneously increase GR protein expression in the hippocampus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and pituitary gland while lowering expression in the adrenal cortex when laboratory rats were put under stress. This is the opposite biochemical reaction caused by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). The researchers note that acupuncture balances bodily biochemistry in adaptagenic manner.

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https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1231-test-reveals-acupuncture-controls-hormones-to-reduce-stress#sthash.siweEoCU.dpuf

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