The limbic system is the area of our brain where learning, memory and emotion are first imprinted. Acupuncture has been shown through fMRIs to have a good affect on this area of the brain, which is ccommonly experienced as a feeling of calmness during and after a treatment session. Most of us are operating in a highly stimulated mode, so getting a momentary break is a real opportunity to stop, breathe, and make better choices for ourselves.
Here’s how this system works: emotions, memory, and learning are processed in a distinct region of the brain known as the limbic system, where molecules (neurochemicals) interact with nerves.
The limbic system is a network of neurons that link the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to the cerebrum. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are part of the “secondary feedback loop” in the body that regulates hormones and some neurotransmitters. This means that the limbic system has direct effect on on the nervous and endocrine systems.
Culturally we don’t think of emotions as “real,” yet they are actually made up of a string of molecules, in a sort of sentence that then gets stored in the body. Translation: emotions and memories can be molded and changed by us, so we are not forever in their thrall.
Acupuncture is used for stress management, self-care and for people who are actively working on their personal development. Because acupuncture has a profound effect on the nervous system and the brain, it can be utilized when the time is right to quiet habitual thought, change behaviors, adjust attitudes and reckon with emotions that have been getting in the way of enjoying and growing in one’s life.
Mountaintop Acupuncture
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