Anxiety and stress

Acupuncture for Anxiety and Depression: How It Works

Acupuncture works as an excellent ally in reducing the symptoms of both conditions. This type of treatment has great results for anxiety and depression, especially in women.

It is not new that anxiety and depression are known as “the evil of the century”. Over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience issues with anxiety each year. Most people develop symptoms before age 21.

Besides conventional methods and the use of medication, many people have increasingly sought alternative treatments, such as acupuncture for anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture works as an excellent ally in reducing the symptoms of both conditions. Studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) show that this type of treatment has great results for anxiety and depression, especially in women.

Anxiety and stress

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the treatment, needles are used at certain points on the body. There are specific points for people with gastric problems, just as there are other acupuncture points for anxiety problems, for example. In other words, the points on the body that are treated will depend on the patient’s condition.

The main goal of acupuncture is to understand each individual in his or her totality. According to this view, diseases are caused by imbalances between yin and yang, influenced by climatic and emotional factors, and also by lifestyle. The needles work as a way to harmonize these imbalances caused by diseases.

Besides the fact that the acupuncture treatment for anxiety and depression presents excellent results, it is also indicated to treat other issues, such as insomnia, migraine, gastritis, and stress.

If you are interested in acupuncture, check out the magic of this traditional medicine in our Acupuncture Section!

acupuncture

Learn about the benefits of acupuncture for anxiety

Acupuncture has several beneficial effects to our body, such as pain reduction, immunological and endocrine changes.

“Acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural feel-good hormones and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol,” says Mathew Kulas, MA, RAc, an acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health System. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for anxiety, with fewer side effects than medications.
Mathew Kulas
How To Get The Most Out Of Acupuncture For Your Anxiety

The acupuncture treatment for anxiety involves the balance of the so-called meridian channels. According to the Chinese technique, our body possesses a vital energy, known as IQ. As previously mentioned, when this energy imbalance occurs, diseases are originated.

This type of treatment helps to alter neurotransmitters, thus causing substances such as serotonin and noradrenalin to have their concentration increased in the nervous system, leading to a feeling of well-being.

Regions such as the forearm, wrist, feet, and ankle are acupuncture points responsible for harmonizing and balancing the symptoms of anxiety. Self-massage in these areas can also bring benefits to the mind and heart.

Similarly, the help of acupuncture for weight loss is also worth looking forward to!

Never underestimate anxiety, although someone tells you it is “common”.

Heart palpitations and rapid breathing patterns are commonly experienced during a bout of anxiety. The persistent rush of stress response hormones at persistent, high levels of anxiety may cause high blood pressure and coronary problems such as heart disease or heart attack.

Medanta
Acupuncture

The role of acupuncture in the treatment of depression

Acupuncture treatment for depression also has excellent results. Just as in the treatment for anxiety, the application of needles to specific points stimulates the nervous system.

According to the Chinese technique, the mind is a form of energy (IQ), and its main basis and nutrition comes from elements stored in the kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and stomach. In other words, any problem in any of these organs can directly influence depression and other emotional issues.

Acupuncture as a treatment for depression helps mainly in some neurochemical pathways, such as cortisol and dopamine. A relaxation and deactivation process occurs in the “analytical” brain, which is linked to worries. In addition, the stimulation of certain points is beneficial in reducing sensitivity to pain and stress, which in some cases can be related to depression.

Thus, acupuncture for anxiety and depression is capable of bringing countless benefits to our mental health and emotional well-being. Moreover, if you still have doubts about this type of treatment, you should know that the technique is officially recognized by the WHO as a complement to traditional therapies, and by the Federal Medical Commission as a medical profession. In other words, the benefits are numerous and scientifically proven.

Trusted source

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders

https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/the-dark-side-of-anxiety-7-effects-of-anxiety-on-the-body/

Michael Zhang
Michael Zhang

Michael Zhang is a long-time health buff. He's committed to a lifestyle that's rooted in science. You can count on his articles to be accurate and reliable.

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