Acupuncture at the sharp end of stress relief
Complementary therapies such as acupuncture are playing a bigger part in the way people tackle mental health issues, according to new research.
At least one person in six suffers from some form of depression in the course of their lives, and the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has found that more people are turning to traditional acupuncture to alleviate symptoms caused by the strains of everyday life.
The BAcC survey revealed that depression is the main reason for seeking acupuncture, with 18 per cent of patients citing it as the grounds for their treatment. This was followed by anxiety (13 per cent) and insomnia (10 per cent) with stress following closely behind.
According to the BacC, longer working hours and the economic and social pressures of today are affecting younger people, with 57 per cent of those turning to acupuncture for help with emotional issues being under the age of 40.
Acupuncture is an Oriental therapy that aims to improve the overall wellbeing of the patient, rather than treating specific symptoms in isolation. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the patient’s skin to help stimulate the body’s own healing process.
Westfield Health has developed a range of benefits to enable its policyholders to access treatments designed to manage the stresses and strains of everyday life. One of these is the therapy treatment benefit, which includes acupuncture as well as physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment.
Many of Westfield’s health cash plans cover the cost of acupuncture, up to set limits, when a GP or consultant recommends treatment.
Other Westfield benefits can offer peace of mind to policyholders during difficult times; a 24-hour counselling and advice line enables them to talk to a counsellor, lawyer or medical advisor at any time in complete confidence.
Up to six face-to-face counselling sessions are also available on Westfield’s Foresight and Chamber Plans.
For more information on the Advantage Health Cash Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/advantage/index.asp
For more information on the Good4you Health Cash Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/individual-health-plans/health-cash-plan.asp
For more information on the Foresight Health Cash Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/foresight/index.asp
For more information on the Chamber Primary Health Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/chamber/index.asp
For more information on the Westfield Flex Health Cash Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/flex/index.asp
Reference:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123097.php
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