Anxiety is one of the top 3 things we treat in our practice- and certainly, daily. Acupuncture is a natural, safe, and effective treatment option for your emotional health and wellbeing.
Here’s how acupuncture works for anxiety:
regulates serotonin (impacts mood, sleep, etc)
regulates ANS (autonomic nervous system)
reduces elevated heart rate
regulates hormones (ie, postpartum, perimenopausal, etc)
lowers cortisol levels
increases endorphins
takes the body out of fight or flight mode
Research in the last ten years is plentiful and supports the use of acupuncture for reducing generalized anxiety and panic attacks with this conclusion: “overall, there is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorder as it yields effective outcomes, with fewer side effects than conventional treatment” - (Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research. NIH, May 2018)
As for how it works, an article from John’s Hopkins Medicine explains that acupuncture can stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes can stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of common illnesses including the following mental emotional issues: stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Chinese Medicine + Anxiety
Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach to health: it’s a medical system that treats the whole person and sees the body, mind, and spirit as connected. You can;’t treat one without the other!
This is why acupuncture is a very effective treatment option for anxiety, since many people experience physical symptoms with their anxiety like IBS, dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath, etc.
While acupuncture can really excel at treating anxiety, interestingly, we don’t really use the word “anxiety” in Chinese Medicine. There is over-thinking, pensiveness and nervousness. But with all of these, there’s a common theme: the movement of and allocation of Qi (energy) is concentrated upwards, into the mind, heart and chest.
Therefore, anxiety is a condition of too much Qi focused upwards instead of evenly distributed and anchored downwards. That’s why acupuncture is so helpful: it circulates the Qi and by using the right points, can help ground you again.
AND, not all points will be the same for everyone! Acupuncture is a highly individualized approach to wellness, and seeks to correct the root imbalance of an issue, not just the symptoms. And not everyone experiences anxiety the same exact way. Here are examples of differential diagnoses for anxiety:
Shen (spirit) disturbance: this means something is bothering you emotionally and affecting your Spirit- the Shen. Your shen lives in your heart and is reflected in your complexion and your eyes. When disturbed, consciousness, mental functions, mental health, vitality, and our "presence" are affected.
Blood deficiency: blood and qi hang out together. Qi is ethereal, we can’t touch it, but blood is tangible. If the quality and quantity of blood is low, the energy has nothing to ground in and we feel unsettled and anxious.
Heart heat: Heat, like fire, can be reckless and has a tendency to rise (like in the atmosphere). Excess heat in the body rises up to the head and possibly the chest, making everything move quickly like your thoughts and your heart rate.
Kidney and heart not in harmony: the heart, the fire element, and the kidney, the water element, are said to stabilize each other when in harmony. When out of balance, there may be insomnia, anxiety, panic, fear and phobias.
Spleen qi deficiency: the Spleen is related to the Yi- our mind and intellect- and is nourished by food and our diet. When deficient, we may experience excess worry and rumination, in addition to digestive issues.
Acupuncture restores the body to balance (aka homeostasis) and helps you feel more in your body and more in control. Because acupuncture regulates the body’s chemical balance naturally, treatments can help prevent the need for medication at all, and is particularly helpful for those who want to stop or limit drug use.
Your Treatment
To start, we recommend weekly sessions for 6 to 8 weeks- treatment results are cumulative and results improve with continued treatment. Many will feel a difference (calmer, less tension, slower heart rate...) after the first session! For those with more chronic anxiety, we recommend continuing monthly treatments once you feel the anxiety is well managed.
For those with needle anxiety: know that acupuncture needles are nothing like the needles used in a doctor's office! Acupuncture needles are hair thin and very gentle needling technique is used. As an alternative, we have non-needling options to use in treatment, like essential oils and tuning forks. Remember- acupuncture can quickly dissolve our “fight or flight” mode, which helps you feel at ease with your treatment.
We will work with your comfort level while still ensuring a relaxing and effective treatment. Most people, regardless of what they are coming in for, find the experience deeply relaxing and restorative!
In conclusion…
It is definitely an anxious time right now for many people. If you’re ready to give acupuncture a try, give your local acupuncturist a call!
In the meantime, making a routine, or a small ritual for yourself daily can help with your anxiety, as can journaling, talk therapy, eating well, reducing caffeine, breath work, aromatherapy, and movement. Anything that you feel moves your energy and especially ground it downwards into the earth is best.
We offer virtual wellness visits to discuss at-home remedies, herbal treatments, essential oils, food therapy and more that may benefit you. Both Andrea and Lauren specialize in emotional health, stress, and anxiety- let us know how we can help: (843) 790-4295
Resources:
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research, Amorim et al. Comp Therapies Clin Practice, 2018 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29705474
NIH, Acupuncture, Nov. 3-5, 1997, Vol. 15, No. 5 2. World Health Organization. Viewpoint on Acupuncture. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1979.
