Long hours, heavy loads, and short lunch breaks equals a potential recipe for burnout in a skilled labor environment. Tradespeople who work in these conditions give a lot of body and spirit to their work over their years of employment. What does this mean for the workforce? Fatigue, pain and breakdowns to name a few long-term issues. Not to mention co-worker stress, never-ending deadlines and vacation negotiations that can put the heart and mind through the ringer! What can be one solution to this issue? Acupuncture to the rescue!

Most have heard of acupuncture in the Western Hemisphere, but it still has not claimed the title as one of the most viable options for pain, stress and overall health benefits. It is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to balance the flow of energy (qi) and stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities. 

Acupuncture is extraordinary for relieving pain for laborers who lift heavy equipment and make repetitive stress movements all day long. Whether you are a plumber experiencing back pain from crawling under a sink, or an electrician who has neck pain from looking up constantly, many can find relief in this ancient medicine. 

Emotional Stress and Illness

Besides helping with physical pain and body weariness, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are great options when dealing with stress and emotional issues at work and beyond. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023, down 8.4% from 2022. Of these, 946,500 involved days away from work. Nonfatal cases involving days away from work occurred at a rate of 0.9 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023, down from 1.2 in 2022. 

Americans tend to work more than employees in any other developed country and take less scheduled time off. The fact that many missed days are due to injury and illness means that time off is often not restful or rejuvenating. Instead, it’s spent worrying about paychecks and how quickly we can recover. We should strive to maintain our healthiest selves while on the job and then take that much-needed vacation to recoup the qi we’ve lost!

Qi

Acupuncture and herbal formulas inherently work on the internal organ system by keeping them at their optimum working levels. Our organs’ work is involuntary; we don’t think about our heart beating — it just does. We think about our back hurting or our tennis elbow pain, but we don’t understand where the pain comes from or how it is related to blood and qi flow. Qi — much maligned and often misunderstood — is simply the free flow of things. (For a somewhat complicated but intense dive into how it works, read www.yosan.edu/what-is-qi/. For a simpler explanation, check out www.health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/chinese/qi.htm.)

If you loosely interpret qi as energy, as many publications do, you can think of it as a capacity to do work. Not just physical work, but also thinking, growing, digesting, etc. We are born with an inherent amount of this energy to grow to an expected level as we age. What we do in our teen to adult years is what depletes or enhances this potential energy. When we are young and feel no pain, able to conquer the world on late nights and no sleep, the body is resilient and can handle such tension. As we age, it takes longer and longer to recover and the stress on our system accumulates. 

What to Expect 

Helping the qi and blood to circulate is what acupuncture is all about. Acupuncture sessions are extremely relaxing despite what individuals think about needles. A session is usually an hour long. The needles are sterile and only used once; after they are placed in their specific spots, the patient rests for 45 minutes. Most acupuncturists come in halfway through the treatment to turn the needles and reactivate the qi. Some points are more sensitive than others. There are points all over the body, but most acupuncture is done from the elbow down to and in the hand, the knee down to the feet, as well as relaxing points in the head and ears.

Pain is generally stagnation or lack of movement. The body is a serious of miraculous networks that sometimes lose connection just like the internet. The needles are like small linemen who reconnect the organ to the location of complaint — and things are up and running again! Although not everyone enjoys the needles and some are afraid, the vast majority of those who try acupuncture love it and the extremely relaxing side effects it renders.

Best Practices

Obviously, strenuous jobs with laborious days will deplete our energy stores, as will stressful relationships, poor food choices and lack of sleep. So, implementing more best practices for our bodies will keep that inherited qi high and us feeling our best. Chinese medicine, which can include massage, cupping, herbal prescriptions, moxibustion, and of course, acupuncture, is a full spectrum healing and preventative program that can aid and assist many people, particularly those with busy and stressful lives. Many have also reported that acupuncture has helped them with neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders, and more.

There are various treatment plans and protocols available, and a qualified, licensed practitioner can help find the right one for each individual. These treatments can reduce work-related stress and provide peace of mind, knowing that a calmer, more balanced personal life awaits. Imagine how much happier and more productive everyone could be if we looked forward to going home to our families after work! Regular treatments, lifestyle advice, nutritional support, and a focus on overall healthy living can make this a reality.

Dr. Andrea V. Danti, L.Ac., has been helping people live healthier lives for over 20 years. She began her journey at the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage, where she laid the foundation for her career in healing. After opening a massage clinic specializing in lymphatic massage, Dr. Danti was inspired by a powerful acupuncture session with her future mentor. This experience led her to pursue a master’s degree at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CSTCM), where she studied acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, and Qi Gong. Today, her wellness clinic, Acupuncture by Andrea, is dedicated to healing through Traditional Chinese Medicine practices. Learn more at www.acupuncturejacksonville.net.