Acupuncture for Anxiety

Anxiety Disorder At A Glance

Updated May 25th, 2015

Anxiety occurs when the body and mind reacts with more apprehension.
Symptoms of anxiety include irritability, feelings of fear, worry, slight shakiness, heart palpitations (when you can feel your heart beat), headache, easiness to being startled, muscle tension, nausea, and a frequent need to urinate.

Causes of anxiety can vary, but no limited to stress from work, school, home, tests, marital issues, or whatever causes us to take a more apprehensive stance. In Traditional Chinese Medicine multiple reasons can be the cause for anxiety, including blood deficiency (relates to bad circulation or production), liver qi stagnation (relates to mood and circulation), or yin deficiency (dehydration, highly temperamental individual).

Acupuncture can be an effective form of treatment for anxiety. Wrist-ankle acupuncture has been shown to be a safe and a significantly effective treatment in pre-exam anxiety¹.

Acupuncturist will use certain points depending on what other symptoms you may have. Herbal supplementation may also be used, such as herbs and formulas that calm the spirit, formulas that clear heat, and herbs that promote the movement of qi (increase circulation, better vitality).

Increased anxiety can play an important role in motivating alcohol consumption during the period of withdrawal². Acupuncture has been shown to help reduce anxiety like behavior in alcohol withdrawal, in particular a point called heart-7 (ht-7), or shenmen. It

means the mind doorway, or the doorway into the mind. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there is a connection between the heart and the mind, and in theory the mind resides in the heart. Much of this information did not begin to emerge in western research until the last two decades. 

Acupuncture is a great treatment option for anxiety, as wells as other stress related issues. It all begins with taking the first step to take control of your health, mind, and body.

Other Resources: Anxiety symptoms, cause, treatment – MedicineNet.com

References
1. Shu S, Li TM, Fang FF, He HL, Zhou QH, Gu W, Zhou S. Relieving pre-exam anxiety syndrome with wrist-ankle acupuncture: a randomized controlled trial. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2011 Jun;9(6):605-10
2. Zhao ZL, Zhao GW, Li HZ, Yang XD, Wu YY, Lin F, Guan LX, Zhai FG, Liu JQ, Yang CH, Kim SC, Kim KW, Zhao RJ. Acupuncture Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behavior by Normalizing Amygdaloid Catecholamines during Ethanol Withdrawal in Rats.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:429843. Epub 2011 Feb 14.