Acupuncture for Anxiety

We live in an era of ever-rising anxiety As much of the country has suffered through extreme heat records, eco-anxiety grows as we are not sure if we can ever count on "normal" weather ever again, only new extremes, new records, and disasters with increasing frequencies. As inflation has made many everyday expenses significantly higher than 5 years ago, economic anxiety has grown as well.

However, while the changes needed to address all these causes of of anxiety in society will not happen quickly, the chronic anxiety many of us feel can still be managed right now through many tools -- one of which is acupuncture.

Acupuncture is excellent for reducing anxiety symptoms, and there’s a surprising amount of research on the topic.⠀

It has been found that acupuncture can help take the brain and body out of sympathetic or “fight or flight” mode by  

• increasing endorphins and regulate serotonin 

• regulating the autonomic nervous system and reduce elevated heart rate 

• lowering cortisol levels 

Each of these effects make acupuncture ideal for relieving anxiety.

The Science Behind Acupuncture and Anxiety Relief

In research, the gold standard is the systematic review. This type of review gathers all the high-quality studies conducted on a particular topic, compiles the data, and draws conclusions from a large pool of information. Systematic reviews provide a broad perspective on how effective a treatment is.

Over the past decade, several systematic reviews have supported the use of acupuncture for reducing generalized anxiety and panic attacks:

• A 2016 systematic review on acupuncture and anxiety revealed "positive and statistically significant effects from using acupuncture for treating subjects with anxiety."

• Another, more recent review in 2018 examined an even larger set of studies, many of which compared acupuncture to pharmaceutical treatments. The conclusion? "There is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorders, yielding effective outcomes with fewer side effects than conventional treatment."

Can Acupuncture Really Help Calm My Anxiety?

Absolutely! It might sound surprising that you could relax with needles in, but most of my patients actually fall asleep on the treatment table—regardless of what they're being treated for.

How does it work?

Two main reasons:

1. The needles are extremely thin—about the width of a human hair—and most people barely feel them being inserted.

2. Acupuncture disengages the body's "fight or flight" response, allowing you to gradually relax as you rest on the table.In research, the gold standard is the “systematic review.” A systematic review gathers all of the high-quality research studies that were completed on a particular topic and compiles the data. From this very large pool of data, they draw broad conclusions about the topics being researched.

How many acupuncture treatments should I expect to manage anxiety?

Acupuncture works cumulatively, meaning that with each treatment, the aim is for you to feel a bit better and for those improvements to last a little longer each time. Eventually, this helps you manage stress more effectively, allowing us to space out your treatments and see how you respond.

Many people feel relaxed and less anxious after just one session. However, to maintain that sense of calm, multiple treatments are usually recommended.

So how many treatments are needed?

That varies from person to person, as everyone is unique. Typically, I suggest starting with one session per week for 6–8 weeks. After that, we’ll gradually increase the time between sessions—first two weeks, then three, and so on.

Many of my patients dealing with anxiety continue coming in for monthly maintenance sessions. Acupuncture is highly effective in preventing anxiety once it’s under control, and regular wellness visits can be a valuable part of your ongoing care.

Here's a great series of articles from Medical News Today that gives loads of info including points used, the use of ear seeds for long-lasting effects, and helpful diagrams for giving yourself acupressure.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, come in and give acupuncture a try. I think you’ll be surprised at how relaxed your body feels during and after your treatment.