by admin
2 January 2026 
As we count down towards the end of December, many Londoners find themselves struggling with a specific type of seasonal malaise, or you could call it post-holiday blues. It is the familiar “weight” of the season. Think creaky limbs in need of lubrication, a cloudy brain, and an accompanying tightness in the shoulders and neck area.
Blame it on the mince pies all you want, but post-festive inflammation is often the cry of an unhappy body, not just an unhappy diet.
In the experience of our practitioners at Acubody, what you are experiencing is a physiological “cold-shock.” This is because your physiological system is being challenged by the perfect storm of plummeting London temperatures, your cortisol levels spiking to meet holiday deadlines, and your nervous system no longer remembering how to shut down.
The Science of “Winter Stagnation”
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the peak season of Yin is winter, a season of storage and quieting. But this is just the opposite of what London life now demands. We press through the darkness and damp of the mornings, and our muscles contract involuntarily in response, shielding our internal heat.
Such persistent contraction has the effect of a vice, constricting the flow of lymphatic fluid and “securing” the presence of inflammatory cytokines within the soft tissue. The effect of all this, when combined with the systemic effects of seasonal anxiety, is a body that literally feels “stuck.” This is where the specific application of acupuncture for stress in London makes itself so integral, working instead as a kind of neurological reboot, instructing the body to turn out of survival mode and back into flow.
Why Do Your Muscles Feel ‘Frozen’?
Holding patterns occur in the body due to cold stress. It starts with shoulder movement towards your ears or a clench in your jaw that won’t release. This is more than just a habit. It’s what leads to myofascial trigger points.
These “knots” are extremely tender areas on a band of tight muscular tissue. During the winter months, they are even more intensely tender and may refer to pain elsewhere in the body, even though an injury may not have occurred. To treat this condition successfully, we employ trigger point therapy in London to “defrost” these areas. This results in applying highly specialised pressure or dry needling on these points so that a local twitch response occurs that makes the muscular tissue release its hold on its fibres and immediately resolves local circulation and releases chemical by-products of inflammation.
Flow Restoration: Main Points for Winter Revival
To reduce the post-festive inflammation, we concentrate on certain points that act as a link between the nerves and the physical body:
- SP6/Sanyinjiao: Four finger-widths above the inner ankle bone. This is the “Three Yin Intersection” and is a powerful point where the “dampness” (inflammation) is moved, as well as the hormonal fluctuations created by year-end stress.
- Taichong (LV3): This is the point located on the top portion of the foot, situated midway between the first and second metatarsals. This is the beginning point for treating Liver Qi Stagnation, the traditional Chinese medical expression for the physical and emotional tension we experience as being on edge.
- Zusanli (ST36): Below the kneecap. Also known as “The Master Point,” it is scientifically studied for its function of regulating the immune system and increasing energy reserves when experiencing “post-festive burnout.”
Entering 2026 with Clarity
Stop waiting for a New Year’s resolution to make changes for the better. The aim of all bodywork is to find and work with the underlying cause of discomfort; to balance the muscle tightness with what the body actually needs from its nervous system.
By clearing the physical “clutter” of December with integrated acupuncture and myofascial release, you are not only treating a symptom; you are preparing your body to withstand what is to come this year.
Take the Next Step
If your body feels like it’s in a state of cold shock, we help restore your flow. We offer an integrated solution to resolve underlying tension in the body, restoring your energy. Book your integrated treatment at our London clinic today.
