How Can Massage Therapy and Acupuncture Help After a Disaster?

We're certainly no strangers to picking our lives up after natural disasters in Florida – but post-disaster care goes so much deeper than simply taking care of the logistics. The effects of stress and trauma can stay in the body long after the last storm shutters have come down, and can have long lasting, negative effects on everything from your physical health to your relationships. That's why it's so important to address them early, with an effective plan of care, like acupuncture and massage.


Why Massage and Acupuncture After a Disaster?

We all have a laundry list of items to do after a disaster – but our bodies, minds, and spirits often fall to the bottom of that list in all the chaos. Even if you've got "look for massage near me" on your list, chances are that goes right out the window the second you get a call from the insurance company. But if you're not taking care of yourself, how can you possibly be in a place to take care of the others around you, not to mention all the cleanup, bureaucracy-wrangling, and putting the rest of your life back in order?

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What's more, disasters have a powerful effect on your health, even if you don't feel particularly traumatized when you're going through one. Being exposed to an experience like that puts your body into an open loop with your sympathetic nervous system – aka "fight or flight mode" – and unless you consciously close that loop, that stress can remain, stuck in your body and causing problems for decades. Where things get really crazy is that this response can happen at any time during or after a disaster. Some people feel it right away, whereas others "crash" days, weeks, or months later.


Body treatments like acupuncture and massage can help you process this stress and move through it in as close to real-time as possible. In fact, studies show that providing trauma-informed acupuncture shortly after a disaster helps with both physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, and can even help prevent long-term health problems. One study done in Japan showed that acupuncture had a significant effect on pain and stiffness, and helped practitioners screen for health and wellness issues that might crop up later, so they could address them before they took hold.

What Should You Look For in a Provider?

Finding a new provider for acupuncture or massage in Jacksonville, Florida can be a bit of a challenge, since it's a highly personal experience.  After all, you're trusting this person with your health, which can feel especially tender in the wake of a disaster, so you can't just go with the first results you see when you look up "Acupuncture near me." That's why you'll want to find a provider that's licensed and has a strong reputation for providing effective care to their community. 


While you're doing this, double-check reviews to see what other clients have said about the way they provide care. Different clinics have different styles, so you might have to shop around before you find one that's a fit for you. Acupuncture clinics that have their staff bios listed can be especially helpful, since you can get a sense of what provider you might want to work with.


And while you're at it, consider whether you prefer to go to different clinics, or have a one stop shop for your health and wellness care. Some clinics only provide one service, like acupuncture, or massage, or chiropractic care, whereas others provide a full menu of massage and acupuncture services alongside other specialties, sometimes even including beauty treatments!


You'll also want to consider your budget, and whether you prefer to acupuncture receive care privately, or in a group setting. Pricing for care varies, with some clinics – ours included – providing one-to-one appointments as well as community acupuncture in Jacksonville, Florida, which is done in a group and offers a budget-friendly option for care that's still safe and legit.

And ideally, you'll find someone who's trained in...

NADA Acupuncture Protocol for PTSD

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) has developed a specialized protocol for supporting people through disasters and PTSD. It's non-verbal, gentle, and incredibly effective.

Recipients not only experience relief from stress and an increased capacity to process emotional trauma, they also enjoy the somatic benefits that come with feeling more grounded in themselves With just a few carefully-placed needles, recipients develop a sense of calm, which helps them sleep better and heal more effectively. Plus, the benefits fan out to any other therapeutic work they might be doing – recipients of the NADA protocol also find it easier to develop rapport with counselors and therapists, further speeding the healing process.


There's so much to do in the wake of a disaster, but you've got to be sure to take care of yourself as well. 

And we're here to help! We're proud to have built a reputation as trusted providers for acupuncture and massage in Jacksonville, Florida with our decades of combined experience in a team of licensed, compassionate therapy providers. 


We'd love to give you the support you need to feel your best in the wake of all the recent stressors. Whether you're looking for individual, specialized massage, or community acupuncture in Jacksonville, we're here for you.

Find out more about our services and book your treatment today.


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We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more.
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