A Real-Life Case: When the Body Speaks
I once had a patient come in for low back pain. She was healthy, motivated, and active. The pain was interfering with her gym workouts and disrupting her daily life. After her first two treatments of acupuncture, she experienced significant relief. Her back was loosening up, her mobility was improving, and her workouts were going better.
But when she came in for her third session, her pain was worse.
It had come on suddenly, after a chiropractic adjustment. For a moment I entertained the idea that perhaps something had gone wrong with the adjustment. It would have been an easy place to put the blame. But I had a hunch that wasn’t it. Another treatment passed by, and she still wasn’t better. It seemed like her progress with me had stopped. Now I knew for certain something else was going on.
I asked if I could tune in to her body. She gave me the okay, so I listened.
I could sense emotional tension held in her lower back. It wasn’t something she was consciously aware of, but when I guided her through a simple breathwork and body awareness technique, something shifted and her pain released.
She left that session feeling lighter and pain-free. We hadn’t “fixed” a structural problem. We had unwound emotional tension her body had been carrying, tension she didn’t even realize was there.
But how does it work?
The Science of Stuck Emotions
Life doesn't always give us the time or tools to process stress. Emotional tension builds up, and instead of being released, it often gets stored in the body. Over time, this stuck energy can create pain, tightness, and imbalance. Acupuncture helps move that energy, calm the nervous system, and restore flow. That’s why many people feel lighter, looser, and more relaxed after just one treatment. But when there’s a deeper emotional root to the problem, we have to resolve that too or the pain comes back, just like it did with my patient.
Emotional Work Without the Storytelling
One of the most powerful things about this work is that you don’t need to rehash the past. You don’t have to explain every feeling or tell your full story. Healing often comes from simply tuning in to your body, listening to what’s there, and letting it go.
When emotional release is needed, I guide patients through breathwork and mindfulness techniques, sprinkled with delicious essential oils. Together we locate where the stress is being held and create space for it to move. These tools combined with acupuncture, dissolve old patterns of stress and restore balance.
What Her Pain Was Really Telling Us
This was exactly what my patient experienced. Her pain didn’t return because of a failed treatment or a misstep. It resurfaced because her body was ready to let go of something deeper. Once we acknowledged that and created space for it to release, her healing could continue.
It’s a reminder that back pain isn’t always just about the body. Sometimes it’s about the burden we carry on the inside.
And that’s what I’m all about - healing the heart along with the body.