Acupuncture is More than Just Needles: Here are 5 Hacks for Recovery!

Sleep More! 

I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and I go to bed at 9 pm. Sleep is a critical part of recovery. Based on our circadian rhythms, it is during the first part of the night that deep sleep is most likely to occur. Deep sleep is when growth hormone is released allowing your body to repair itself. So, if you are going to bed at 11 pm it is highly likely that you are cutting off your body’s ability to get into deep sleep mode. If you are not sleeping well, this is a critical part of healing that we can help you with!

Get Maintenance Acupunture!

I love acupuncture. Perhaps I am a little biased given the fact that I am an acupuncturist.

However, acupuncture helps me to feel good. In fact, studies have shown that acupuncture releases feel good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, producing an overall feeling of calm and contentment. It is believed that acupuncture does this by stimulating the central nervous system. Additionally, acupuncture sessions are one of the few opportunities that we have to relax in an undisturbed environment without interruptions, like your phone.

Eat Right for You!

There is no one size fits all approach to diet. Proper nourishment depends on your goals and a working knowledge of what makes you feel best. For me I eat a moderate amount of carbs and fat, and a high protein diet makes me feel great. I get tons of veggies and incorporate seasonal fruits when available. I avoid processed food and eat out with my family just once per week. It has taken me years to dial in my diet and figure out what works and what doesn’t.  When I am not sticking to a clean diet, my body can feel it- I feel sluggish and brain foggy and definitely not well rested.To help your body perform its best nourishment is key.

Try a Wearable Device like Whoop or Oura!

I love data.

I find it super interesting and it really helps me stay on track with my goals. I wear a Whoop which tracks data like resting heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, sleep efficiency, daily strain etc. Whoop compiles this information to give you a recovery score for the day. If I have low recovery I know I should take it easy, if I have high recovery I try to push myself a little harder. Oura ring is a similar device but it relies more heavily on sleep data to calculate your daily score. These tools are increasingly available and for anyone who loves data, I highly recommend getting one to help you maximize recovery and strain.

Start Daily Breathwork!

Daily breathwork is something I cherish in my recovery. When I am feeling stressed sometimes I just need to remember to breathe. Breathing helps release stress hormones in the body and balances physiological functioning. Certain forms of breathwork like the 4-7-8 breathing method are highly accessible and something you can perform anytime and anywhere. With this method, you breath in for a count of 4, hold for 7, and out for 8. This simple method was developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, one of the original integrative medicine doctors. It is a simple tool that can change the way our bodies respond to stress and help aid in your recovery.