Acupuncture for Anxiety

People that are looking for a drug-free approach to help with reducing anxiety have turned to acupuncture for relief. Acupuncture can be used as an alternative or in conjunction with therapy and medications. 

How does acupuncture work?

The way that acupuncture works is to restore the proper flow of Qi through the body. Qi is energy force in the body. It flows through pathways, called meridians. The flow of Qi can be disrupted by many things: poor diet, stress, environmental issues, or injury. If the Qi in the body is not flowing well, people can experience a variety symptoms, such as pain, anxiety, depression, illness, and many others. When an acupuncture needle is inserted into a specific point, the Qi in that meridian is balanced. This leads to a reduction in symptoms and an increase in the body's ability to heal itself. The needle can also stimulate part of the brain that controls emotion, resulting in a decrease of anxiety and an overall feeling of balance. 

There is also a lot of research coming out that acupuncture stimulates parts of the brain that deal with emotions, stress response, and more.  So there are a lot of nervous system impacts of acupuncture as well.

Are there any side effects?

Just like any therapy, there may be some side effects. The most common side effect is bruising at the insertion point, but that usually goes away in a few days. Some people experience dizziness or light-headedness when they get off the table, and if that happens a drink of water will usually make that feeling go away. With acupuncture, the side effects are minimal. 

How many treatments will it take?

Depends on the patient and the level of anxiety. We like to at least do a series of treatments before we decide if acupuncture is a good fit for a patient. Most people experience some level of relief right after an acupuncture session. Each session builds on the last, so it is important to keep with it!