How Acupuncture Can Ease Stress and Anxiety
Acupuncture Theory About Anxiety
Traditional Chinese medicine relates anxiety to an imbalance of the heart and kidney. Fire represents the heart and joy according to the five elements. The diagnosis is that too much heat in the heart will imbalance the interaction with the kidney (represented as water and fear).
This will result in the water organ failing to contain the fire organ rising up to the mind, leading to anxiety. Acupuncture on points around the heart, kidney, spleen and ear are used to treat anxiety.
Acupuncture is used to treat the root cause of your symptoms. You can experience incredible relief in 3-6 visits. When clients receive relief from their depression symptoms after acupuncture, they also experience a reduction of anxiety, insomnia, an increase in energy, and over-all well-being. Best of all, there are no side effects from acupuncture treatments. On top of these benefits, once clients get well, they will remain well even when they stop receiving acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture for depression and anxiety are commonly treated together. According to eastern medicine when you are feeling depressed your energy is low and you can feel a lack of motivation and fatigue, this can be associated with depressive liver qi. This qi or energy can become stagnant and can build up within the body causing episodes of anxiety and/ or irritability. Acupuncture points for depression are used to decrease these symptoms once your history and symptoms are reviewed to select the best points.
Review Of Acupuncture Studies On The Treatment Of Anxiety
This review aims to examine the volume and quality of the evidence base which supports the use of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety disorders. A literature review was conducted using pubmed, google scholar, amed, bmj, embase, psychinfo, cochrane library, ingenta connect, and cinahl databases. Keywords were “anxiety,”“anxious,”“panic,”“stress,”“phobia,” and “acupuncture” limited to year 2000 onwards and english language where available. The quality of research examining the use of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety disorders is extremely variable. There is enormous variety regarding points used, number of points used in a session, duration of sessions, frequency of treatment and duration of treatment programme. The volume of literature, consistency of statistically significant results, wide range of conditions treated and use of animal test subjects suggests very real, positive outcomes using a treatment method preferred by a population of individuals who tend to be resistant to conventional medicine.
Acupuncture –especially russian ear-lobe and japanese scalp acupuncture techniques. Acupuncture points in the body are stimulated by needles or magnets that release endorphins, enkephalins, and other well-being hormones into the body. These substances are natural painkillers. They tend to reduce anxiety and depression, promote better sleep, and alleviate neck and shoulder spasms and pain. Magnet therapy and ear lobe magnetic pellets.
Acupuncture reduces anxiety levels. Researchers from Heilongjiang university of Chinese medicine investigated the efficacy of electroacupuncture at huatuojiaji acupoints combined with scalp acupoints for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (gad). The results were compared with a traditional acupuncture group and a drug therapy group. The electroacupuncture group had a total effective rate of 96. 7% and the traditional acupuncture group achieved an 83. 3% total effective rate. The drug therapy group, receiving paroxetine, achieved a 73. 3% total effective rate. Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that electroacupuncture at huatuojiaji and scalp acupuncture points is effective for the treatment of anxiety.
What Are the Health Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment for Depression?
Depression is a major problem for the world today. Unipolar major depression accounts for 4. 4% of the world's total burden of disease as measured by disability adjusted life years (dalys). 1the daly is a health gap measure introduced in 1993 by the Harvard school of public health in collaboration with the world bank and the world health organisation to assess the global burden of disease (gbd).
Dalys are essentially a summation of years of life lost due to premature mortality (yll), years of life lost due to disability for incident cases (yld) and potential years of life lost due to premature death or less than full health (pyll). Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability for incident cases (yld's), and the fourth leading cause of disability overall (dalys).
Based on current trends the outlook for the future looks even bleaker and depression will become the second leading cause of lost dalys by 2020.
The economic burden of this illness on society is huge, although only a small proportion of the total cost is due to treatment. For example, a uk study identified total costs of £9 billion with £370 million of this figure representing direct treatment costs.
Thus the majority of the economic burden of depression comes from indirect costs including lost working days and mortality (premature death due to suicide), which increase if the illness is not treated. However, a significant proportion (50–60%) of clients with depression do not fully respond to medication.
A further problem is that psychological treatments, for example cognitive behavior therapy, for which there is good evidence of effectiveness for depression, may not be suitable for a number of clients with depression if cognitive functioning is too impaired by illness for the intervention to be feasible.
Doctors acknowledge depression as an area of clinical practice where there is an effectiveness gap whilst clients have expressed a desire to see more options, and more effective solutions. It is thus of paramount importance that new treatments for depression are identified and it is this context, that it is of interest that when acupuncture, which originated in China, was introduced to the west, a main focus for therapeutic work became psychological and emotional concerns of clients.
Indeed, the primary reason for using acupuncture is, according to a survey conducted in the USA, for “mood care”. It is possible that acupuncture has something to offer.
The purpose, or aim of this review is to examine the evidence for acupuncture's effectiveness as a depression intervention, and outline what can potentially be learned about the benefits, or disadvantages, of acupuncture care for depression, from the trials and reviews to date.
Dalys are essentially a summation of years of life lost due to premature mortality (yll), years of life lost due to disability for incident cases (yld) and potential years of life lost due to premature death or less than full health (pyll). Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability for incident cases (yld's), and the fourth leading cause of disability overall (dalys).
Based on current trends the outlook for the future looks even bleaker and depression will become the second leading cause of lost dalys by 2020.
The economic burden of this illness on society is huge, although only a small proportion of the total cost is due to treatment. For example, a uk study identified total costs of £9 billion with £370 million of this figure representing direct treatment costs.
Thus the majority of the economic burden of depression comes from indirect costs including lost working days and mortality (premature death due to suicide), which increase if the illness is not treated. However, a significant proportion (50–60%) of clients with depression do not fully respond to medication.
A further problem is that psychological treatments, for example cognitive behavior therapy, for which there is good evidence of effectiveness for depression, may not be suitable for a number of clients with depression if cognitive functioning is too impaired by illness for the intervention to be feasible.
Doctors acknowledge depression as an area of clinical practice where there is an effectiveness gap whilst clients have expressed a desire to see more options, and more effective solutions. It is thus of paramount importance that new treatments for depression are identified and it is this context, that it is of interest that when acupuncture, which originated in China, was introduced to the west, a main focus for therapeutic work became psychological and emotional concerns of clients.
Indeed, the primary reason for using acupuncture is, according to a survey conducted in the USA, for “mood care”. It is possible that acupuncture has something to offer.
The purpose, or aim of this review is to examine the evidence for acupuncture's effectiveness as a depression intervention, and outline what can potentially be learned about the benefits, or disadvantages, of acupuncture care for depression, from the trials and reviews to date.
Auricular acupuncture at the “relaxation” point can decrease anxiety in healthy volunteers. Adult clients undergoing surgery frequently experience intense levels of anxiety before surgery. In fact, the reported incidence of preoperative anxiety in adults can be as frequent as 80% in certain surgical procedures.
Because preoperative anxiety has a negative impact on postoperative outcomes, sedative medications and preparation programs are used to treat preoperative anxiety. Both these interventions, however, are associated with increased operational costs for the health care system.
Alternative low-cost interventions such as acupuncture and related techniques are therefore worth considering as treatment for preoperative anxiety.
Because preoperative anxiety has a negative impact on postoperative outcomes, sedative medications and preparation programs are used to treat preoperative anxiety. Both these interventions, however, are associated with increased operational costs for the health care system.
Alternative low-cost interventions such as acupuncture and related techniques are therefore worth considering as treatment for preoperative anxiety.
These findings suggest that, compared to usual care alone, both acupuncture and counselling when provided alongside usual care provided significant benefits at 3 months in primary care to clients with recurring depression. Because this trial was a pragmatic trial, these findings cannot indicate which aspects of acupuncture and counselling are likely to be most or least beneficial.
Nevertheless, they do provide an estimate of the overall effects of these complex interventions, an estimate that is of most interest to clients, practitioners, and health care providers. Moreover, because this trial only considers the effect of these interventions on clients with moderate-to-severe depression as classified by the bdi-ii; it provides no information about the effectiveness of acupuncture or counselling compared to usual care for clients with mild depression.
Importantly, however, these findings suggest that further research into optimal treatment regimens for the treatment of depression with acupuncture and counselling is merited.
Nevertheless, they do provide an estimate of the overall effects of these complex interventions, an estimate that is of most interest to clients, practitioners, and health care providers. Moreover, because this trial only considers the effect of these interventions on clients with moderate-to-severe depression as classified by the bdi-ii; it provides no information about the effectiveness of acupuncture or counselling compared to usual care for clients with mild depression.
Importantly, however, these findings suggest that further research into optimal treatment regimens for the treatment of depression with acupuncture and counselling is merited.
Along with acupuncture, anxiety treatment may include herbal medicine, nutritional counselling , psychotherapy , or other services tailored to the individual needs of the client.
Many clients have found that an integrative approach results in far better outcomes than taking prescription anxiety or depression medications; studies also support these findings.
The body functions as a whole, with all systems working together. This is why you enjoy greater physical, emotional, and spiritual health with acupuncture and herbal medicine than with treatment that is simply focused on alleviating symptoms.
Many clients have found that an integrative approach results in far better outcomes than taking prescription anxiety or depression medications; studies also support these findings.
The body functions as a whole, with all systems working together. This is why you enjoy greater physical, emotional, and spiritual health with acupuncture and herbal medicine than with treatment that is simply focused on alleviating symptoms.
Acupuncture has been used to address illnesses for over three thousand years. But the western world has only recently discovered and used acupuncture as a tool to promote and restore a healthy self-care routine; and for many great reasons, acupuncture has evolved into being known as one of the best alternative medicinal treatments in the world.
Since its creation, ancient Chinese acupuncture has revolved around qi, an internal energy force that can regulate your body’s balance and energy. When factors like a stressful commute or family fight disrupt your body’s qi, it is said to create anxiety, disease, and pain offsetting the body’s median.
Since its creation, ancient Chinese acupuncture has revolved around qi, an internal energy force that can regulate your body’s balance and energy. When factors like a stressful commute or family fight disrupt your body’s qi, it is said to create anxiety, disease, and pain offsetting the body’s median.
Using Acupuncture For Anxiety
If you or your child is struggling with anxiety, you are not alone. Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in our country. Nervousness, stress, feeling overwhelmed, fear, irritability, worry and panic attacks are some of the ways that you may experience anxiety. Often mixed with depression or insomnia, anxiety whittles away your energy and can be debilitating.
In fact, many don’t realize that anxiety is closely linked with suicide, which has skyrocketed in recent years. Luckily acupuncture for anxiety is an effective and natural solution for all ages.
In fact, many don’t realize that anxiety is closely linked with suicide, which has skyrocketed in recent years. Luckily acupuncture for anxiety is an effective and natural solution for all ages.
These needles may be left in place for up to half an hour, but far from being uncomfortable, acupuncture is an extremely relaxing experience. This makes it ideal for treating conditions such as anxiety.
So how does acupuncture work for anxiety and depression ? the answer is all about balance. Acupuncture has been shown to have a number of different effects of the central nervous system.
It stimulates the release of what are known as endorphins. These are the body's natural painkillers and “feel good” chemicals. These have the effect of relaxing the body and calming the mind. Acupuncture also regulates the levels of several other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin which have an effect on your mood.
So how does acupuncture work for anxiety and depression ? the answer is all about balance. Acupuncture has been shown to have a number of different effects of the central nervous system.
It stimulates the release of what are known as endorphins. These are the body's natural painkillers and “feel good” chemicals. These have the effect of relaxing the body and calming the mind. Acupuncture also regulates the levels of several other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin which have an effect on your mood.
Acupuncture stimulates the natural production of brain chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins which function like natural pain killers, tranquilizers and antidepressants for us.
Acupuncture also promotes the internal organ’s energy flow, remove toxins from our body and restoring general well-being. Acupuncture has helped many clients walk away from mild or moderate short term depression.
Many Chinese doctors believe the depression in many instances is most likely the result of prolonged anxiety. So if clients experience certain symptoms like worrying, headaches, insomnia, and/or anxiousness, they should seek professional help immediately.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is very effective in treating those symptoms and will bring your body back into balance.
A clinical study conducted in china in 2010, has concluded that acupuncture is a “safe and effective” treatment for mood disorders including depression and severe anxiety, in some cases proving to increase the effectiveness of medication-based treatments.
Additionally a 2009 study, again in china, determined that acupuncture alone could help clients who suffer from anxiety but cannot be chemically treated due to intolerable side-effects of medications.
Additionally a 2009 study, again in china, determined that acupuncture alone could help clients who suffer from anxiety but cannot be chemically treated due to intolerable side-effects of medications.
In many western schools of thought, anxiety disorders are considered to be dysfunctions in a person’s brain chemistry.
An acupuncturist does not view anxiety as a brain dysfunction, but rather as an imbalance in a person’s organ system. In traditional Chinese medicine, this imbalance is called shan you si (“anxiety & preoccupation”), and is believed to affect the main organs: the heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidneys.
Each organ is related to different aspects of a person’s emotions. For instance, worry is said to affect the spleen, grief affects the lungs, anger the liver, fear the kidneys, and lack of joy the heart.
If a person experiences one or more of these emotions over a long period of time due to lifestyle, dietary, hereditary and environmental factors, it can cause an imbalanced emotional state and lead to various anxiety disorders.
The role of an acupuncturist is to investigate the underlying causes of the anxiety by carrying out a thorough diagnostic evaluation in order to determine which organ system has been affected and is out of balance.
The acupuncturist will then seek to restore the imbalance by inserting fine, sterile needles into the points correlating to those organs.
Additionally, acupuncture helps to reduce stress, ultimately encouraging and supporting a greater sense of well-being and balance.
An acupuncturist does not view anxiety as a brain dysfunction, but rather as an imbalance in a person’s organ system. In traditional Chinese medicine, this imbalance is called shan you si (“anxiety & preoccupation”), and is believed to affect the main organs: the heart, lung, spleen, liver, and kidneys.
Each organ is related to different aspects of a person’s emotions. For instance, worry is said to affect the spleen, grief affects the lungs, anger the liver, fear the kidneys, and lack of joy the heart.
If a person experiences one or more of these emotions over a long period of time due to lifestyle, dietary, hereditary and environmental factors, it can cause an imbalanced emotional state and lead to various anxiety disorders.
The role of an acupuncturist is to investigate the underlying causes of the anxiety by carrying out a thorough diagnostic evaluation in order to determine which organ system has been affected and is out of balance.
The acupuncturist will then seek to restore the imbalance by inserting fine, sterile needles into the points correlating to those organs.
Additionally, acupuncture helps to reduce stress, ultimately encouraging and supporting a greater sense of well-being and balance.
When we use chinese medicine and acupuncture for anxiety issues, it’s not just the emotion itself that we consider, we take into consideration the whole body, we look at the physical, the mental, the emotional and diagnostic tools like the tongue and the pulse, all of these things help give us insight as to why the patient is experiencing this imbalance and they also give us insight as to what the best acupuncture points are for this particular patient.
What To Expect From An Acupuncture Treatment
If you go for an acupuncture treatment, you’ll give a thorough medical history to your practitioner. Then, you’ll relax on a comfortable table, face up or down, while very fine needles—about the width of a hair—are carefully inserted under the surface of your skin. When done right, they shouldn’t hurt.
But the needles don’t just go in random places along your anatomy. They need to be inserted into very specific locations based on your physical or mental symptoms. Points for anxiety may include your breastbone, between your eyebrows, or the insides of your wrists.
But the needles don’t just go in random places along your anatomy. They need to be inserted into very specific locations based on your physical or mental symptoms. Points for anxiety may include your breastbone, between your eyebrows, or the insides of your wrists.
Few people know how effective acupuncture can be for anxiety. Anxiety is caused by a heart energy deficiency in Chinese medicine. When the heart energy is out of balance, it is impossible to not be anxious.
There is no separation of the emotions from the internal organs in Chinese medicine. Many acupuncture points treat anxiety. In fact, most acupuncture points will calm you down.
They increase the energy balance in your body and “pull down energy” from your head, so they can be very calming.
There is no separation of the emotions from the internal organs in Chinese medicine. Many acupuncture points treat anxiety. In fact, most acupuncture points will calm you down.
They increase the energy balance in your body and “pull down energy” from your head, so they can be very calming.