Next to pain issues, the problem that people probably ask us about most frequently is how acupuncture can help with their anxiety. Anxiety disorders affect millions of people worldwide, impairing their daily lives and overall well-being. While various treatments exist, acupuncture has gained significant attention as a natural treatment option. Scientific evidence supports acupuncture as an effective method, for some people, to alleviate anxiety without the side effects that often come along with prescription medication.
☝️Before we explore how acupuncture can help alleviate anxiety, it's crucial to understand how common it is and that a person’s experience of it exists on a wide continuum. Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD and phobias. Symptoms can vary from excessive worrying and restlessness to insomnia, irritability, and physical manifestations such as rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. It’s important to note that seeking acupuncture is not a substitute for consulting with a physician or mental health care provider about your symptoms.
📍Acupuncture has been practiced for over 2,500 years and is based on the concept of Qi (pronounced "chee"), the vital energy that flows through pathways in the body known as meridians. According to traditional Chinese medicine, when Qi is disrupted or blocked, it can lead to various health issues, including anxiety. In recent years, scientific research has shed light on the mechanisms underlying acupuncture's efficacy in anxiety relief.
Here are some key findings that validate its scientific merits:
🧘🏽♀️Neurochemical Effects: Acupuncture has been found to trigger the release of endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters associated with mood regulation. These neurochemical changes induce a sense of calmness and overall well-being, effectively reducing anxiety symptoms.
😎Stress Response Modulation: Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can regulate the body's stress response by reducing the release of stress hormones like cortisol. This modulation helps individuals manage anxiety-related physiological reactions, promoting a sense of relaxation.
🧠Brain Imaging Studies: Functional MRI studies have provided valuable insights into acupuncture's impact on anxiety regulation. These studies have shown that acupuncture can modulate brain activity in areas associated with anxiety, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. By influencing these brain regions, acupuncture helps regulate emotional responses and promotes a calmer state of mind.
👯♀️Complementary Therapy: Acupuncture has proven to be a valuable adjunct therapy when combined with other treatments like medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Its inclusion in a comprehensive treatment plan enhances the overall therapeutic effect, potentially reducing the need for higher doses of medication and promoting a more holistic approach to anxiety management.
📑Comparative Studies: To address skeptics who attribute acupuncture's benefits to the placebo effect, researchers have conducted comparative studies using genuine acupuncture and sham acupuncture (using non-penetrating needles). These studies consistently show that genuine acupuncture outperforms sham acupuncture in reducing anxiety, highlighting its efficacy beyond a placebo response.
Anxiety disorders can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, making it essential to explore diverse treatment options. Acupuncture, backed by a growing body of scientific evidence, proves to be a powerful ally. Its ability to stimulate neurochemical responses, modulate brain activity, and enhance overall well-being makes it a valuable addition to anxiety management strategies.
👉A course of treatment generally looks like 1-2 acupuncture sessions per week for 6-8 weeks. After that, you can discuss with your practitioner what frequency of treatment makes the most sense for you.
It’s also crucially important to consider other mitigating factors, such as high caffeine intake, poor work/life balance, lack of home support with household tasks and child care, lack of social connection and community support, low physical activity and insufficient time for rest and enjoyment. Acupuncture will not make up for these kinds of issues not being addressed.
That said, acupuncture can diminish or eliminate panic attacks, can make an opportunity for valuable quality rest time, and provide a meditation like experience in a calm environment outside of one’s normal daily life. Our patients find a lot of value in regular acupuncture even if they can’t currently change other factors. But for more complete relief and management of anxiety, a lifestyle overview is often pivotal.
👉By integrating traditional practices like acupuncture with modern scientific research, we can unlock a wealth of other options to obtain anxiety relief. Remember to approach anxiety management holistically, seeking support and guidance from healthcare professionals and rule out any underlying health issues that need to be addressed. Anxiety’s manifestion is complex and a can be related to underlying health conditions - which is crucial to understand before embarking on any course of treatment. Keep in mind that imbalances in thyroid function, cardiovascular issues, respiratory disorders and reproductive hormone imbalance can all have anxiety as a symptom.
References:
Chavez LM, Huang SS, MacDonald I, Lin JG, Lee YC, Chen YH. Mechanisms of Acupuncture Therapy in Ischemic Stroke Rehabilitation: A Literature Review of Basic Studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Oct 28;18(11):2270. doi: 10.3390/ijms18112270. PMID: 29143805; PMCID: PMC5713240.
Amorim D, Brito I, Caseiro A, Figueiredo JP, Pinto A, Macedo I, Machado J. Electroacupuncture and acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety - A double blinded randomized parallel clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2022 Feb;46:101541. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101541. Epub 2022 Jan 30. PMID: 35124475; PMCID: PMC9760487.
Cai RL, Shen GM, Wang H, Guan YY. Brain functional connectivity network studies of acupuncture: a systematic review on resting-state fMRI. J Integr Med. 2018 Jan;16(1):26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2017.12.002. Epub 2017 Dec 11. PMID: 29397089.
Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, Gong YN, Dou BM, Lyu ZX, Ulloa L, Wang SJ, Xu ZF, Guo Y. The autonomic nervous system: A potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture. Front Neurosci. 2022 Dec 8;16:1038945. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945. PMID: 36570846; PMCID: PMC9772996.