Acupuncture for Anxiety: Where Do The Needles Go?
Introduction
Anxiety can feel like a storm cloud, constantly looming, making it hard to find peace. For Sarah, a 34-year-old teacher, this was her daily reality. After years of being on antidepressants, she still found herself battling sleepless nights, racing thoughts, and persistent tension.
Frustrated with the lack of progress and the side effects of medication, Sarah decided to explore acupuncture, a decision that transformed her life. After a series of treatments, she experienced a profound sense of calm, reduced anxiety symptoms, and renewed control over her mental well-being.
This blog explores how an acupuncture session offers relief for anxiety, delves into the science behind it, and explains why it’s a compelling alternative to long-term antidepressant use.
Acupuncture for Anxiety: A Natural Path to Calm
Anxiety affects nearly 1 in 6 adults in the UK, often presenting as persistent worry, restlessness, and tension. With increasing demand for mental health services, many people turn to prescription medication, especially antidepressants. While these medications provide relief for some, long-term use can lead to significant drawbacks.
The Challenges of Antidepressant Use
Antidepressants are often prescribed to manage anxiety, offering relief for many, but long-term use can bring challenges.
Research shows 73.5% of long-term users experience withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and "brain zaps," making it hard to stop medication. Many also report feeling emotionally numb or "not like themselves."
According to a Sky News report, long-term use may cause dependency and even permanent changes in brain chemistry, potentially worsening anxiety over time. Read more about this here.
While antidepressants can be life-saving for severe cases, long-term use should involve careful consideration and regular check-ins with a healthcare provider.
A study(Cartwright et al., 2016) found 43% of users feel "addicted", facing issues like increased anxiety, mood swings, and, in rare cases, serious thoughts of self-harm.
For those seeking an alternative, acupuncture offers a natural, evidence-based approach to managing anxiety by addressing root causes and restoring balance, without the side effects of medication.
Does Acupuncture Work for Generalised Anxiety Disorder? The Science Behind It
Anxiety affects between 1-30% of the global population, presenting in many forms, from restlessness and tension to more severe symptoms like panic attacks, headaches, and insomnia.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common condition within this spectrum, affecting a significant portion of the population. While traditional treatments often rely on medications or therapy, acupuncture offers a natural, effective alternative backed by science.
Studies have shown that acupuncture can be as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in managing anxiety symptoms, providing a viable option for those seeking alternative treatments.
What Does the Research Say?
A comprehensive review by The Acupuncture Evidence Project (2017), confirmed that acupuncture is moderately effective in treating anxiety based on high-level evidence. Among the studies included was a systematic review of over 400 randomized patients, which found that acupuncture for anxiety provided significant relief compared to conventional treatments like medications and psychotherapy.
One of the largest studies, involving 120 participants, revealed that acupuncture reduced anxiety and depression symptoms twice as effectively as pharmacological treatments. A more recent 2018 systematic review supported these findings, with all 13 studies showing greater anxiety reduction in acupuncture groups compared to control groups, including those receiving medications.
How Does Acupuncture Help Relieve Anxiety Symptoms?
Acupuncture helps relieve anxiety by stimulating the body’s natural ability to balance the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls your stress response. When the ANS is out of balance, it can heighten feelings of anxiety. Acupuncture restores this balance through several key mechanisms:
Regulating the Nervous System: Acupuncture balances the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems, promoting relaxation and easing anxiety symptoms.
Improving Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Higher HRV is a key indicator of better stress resilience. Acupuncture has been shown to enhance HRV, helping the body adapt to stress more effectively.
Reducing Stress Hormones Like Cortisol: Acupuncture lowers cortisol, the hormone responsible for many stress-related symptoms, such as restlessness and tension.
Stimulating the Body’s Natural Feel-Good Chemicals: Acupuncture boosts the release of endorphins, your body’s natural mood stabilizers. These "feel-good" chemicals reduce anxiety and create a sense of calm.
By calming the hypothalamus, the brain’s stress centre, acupuncture not only provides immediate relief from anxiety but also builds resilience against future stress.
Why Choose Acupuncture Over Medication?
Traditional treatments for anxiety, such as medications and therapy, often have limitations:
Medications: While drugs like SSRIs and benzodiazepines can help, they come with side effects like drowsiness, dependency, and memory issues. Research shows that 50% of patients treated with medication experience inadequate results or adverse effects.
Therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is highly effective but requires time and commitment, which isn’t always feasible for everyone.
Acupuncture provides a natural, holistic alternative. Acupuncture strategies for managing anxiety emphasise the importance of stimulating specific points in the body and maintaining the positive effects between sessions through various at-home practices.
It’s comparable to psychotherapy in effectiveness and even outperforms pharmacological treatments in reducing anxiety symptoms without the risk of dependency or harmful side effects.
Some studies included sham acupuncture as a control condition to evaluate the true therapeutic effects of acupuncture, indicating its role in clinical research for establishing efficacy.
The Evidence Is Clear
Scientific research confirms that acupuncture offers a safe, effective, and evidence-based solution for managing anxiety. By addressing both the root causes and symptoms, acupuncture provides not only immediate relief but also long-term benefits for your mental and physical well-being.
For more information, the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has a helpful factsheet on acupuncture for anxiety that’s worth reading. It offers valuable insights into how acupuncture works and the research behind its effectiveness.
If you're looking for a natural approach to feeling calmer and more in control, acupuncture could be the solution you’ve been searching for.
Why Acupuncture Is a Safer, Smarter Choice
No Dependency or Addiction: Acupuncture doesn’t rely on chemicals or risk creating a dependency. It supports your body’s natural ability to heal and self-regulate.
Side-Effect Free: Unlike antidepressants, acupuncture is free from harmful side effects or withdrawal symptoms.
Addresses Root Causes: Acupuncture doesn’t just mask anxiety; it works to restore balance in the body, treating the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of your health.
Tailored to You: Every session is uniquely designed to meet your specific needs, ensuring your treatment evolves as you do.
Empowering Your Healing Journey: Acupuncture gives you a sense of agency over your health, helping you reconnect with your body and mind in a natural, holistic way.
Acupuncture for Relaxation: Finding Peace in Every Session
In the whirlwind of daily life, finding a moment of peace can feel like an impossible task. Acupuncture provides a sanctuary of calm, offering profound relaxation for both the mind and body. It has also been shown to help alleviate preoperative anxiety, making it a valuable alternative to traditional anti-anxiety medications before surgical procedures. Each session is designed to create a space where you can let go of stress and tension, allowing your nervous system to reset and your body to restore balance.
How Acupuncture Calms the Mind and Body
Acupuncture works by targeting specific points along the body’s energy pathways, or meridians. These points are carefully chosen to release blockages, calm the nervous system, and harmonise the flow of qi (energy) throughout the body. This creates a deep sense of relaxation that extends far beyond the session itself.
Physically, acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system,the part of the nervous system responsible for the “rest and digest” state. This counters the “fight or flight” response often triggered by stress, leaving you feeling grounded and at ease.
Mentally, the gentle, rhythmic process of acupuncture soothes the mind, helping to quiet racing thoughts and promote emotional stability. Many patients describe the sensation as a deep meditative state or a reset for the brain.
Where Do Acupuncture Needles Go for Anxiety Relief?
Acupuncture involves the precise placement of ultra-fine needles on specific points of the body to restore balance and promote healing.
These acupuncture points, located along the body’s energy pathways or meridians, are carefully chosen based on an individual’s symptoms and overall energy imbalance. In the case of anxiety, certain points are known to have calming, grounding, and tension-relieving effects.
Top 5 Acupuncture Points for Anxiety
Yintang (Third Eye) Located between the eyebrows, Yintang is often called the "calm point." It’s widely used to quiet the mind, reduce overthinking, and promote a sense of emotional clarity.
Shenmen (Spirit Gate) – Auricular Point Found in the ear, Shenmen is a go-to point for easing stress and enhancing relaxation. It’s frequently used in ear acupuncture and is particularly effective for emotional imbalances.
PC6 (Neiguan) Positioned on the inner forearm, a few finger-widths above the wrist, this point is renowned for soothing anxiety symptoms like palpitations and nausea. It also helps regulate the heart and calm the mind.
LI4 (Hegu)Situated between the thumb and index finger, LI4 is a versatile point used to release tension and support emotional release. It’s excellent for relieving physical and mental tightness caused by stress.
HT7 (Shenmen – Wrist Point)Located on the wrist crease, HT7 is known as the Spirit Gate in Chinese Medicine. It’s commonly used to calm the mind, ease anxiety, and improve sleep.
Integrating Treatment and Support
These points are often combined in acupuncture treatments to create a deeply relaxing and effective experience. To extend the benefits beyond your session, we frequently use ear seeds, tiny, discreet seeds placed on auricular points like Shenmen. These allow you to gently stimulate the points yourself between treatments, offering ongoing relief and support for your anxiety.
Additionally, there are various strategies for managing anxiety at home that can enhance the benefits of acupuncture. By incorporating both in-session treatments and at-home tools like ear seeds, acupuncture offers a comprehensive approach to managing anxiety and helping you feel more balanced in your daily life.
Acupuncture Stress and Anxiety: A Powerful Combination
Stress and anxiety don’t just affect your emotions, they manifest physically, too, contributing to muscle tension, headaches, poor sleep, and even digestive issues. Acupuncture works on both levels, providing relief for physical symptoms while calming the mind.
Physical and Emotional Benefits of Acupuncture
Improved Sleep: Acupuncture helps regulate the nervous system, improves sleep quality, and helps you wake up feeling rested.
Emotional Stability: By promoting the release of endorphins and balancing stress-related hormones, acupuncture fosters a sense of emotional equilibrium.
Reduced Physical Tension: Acupuncture alleviates muscle tension, headaches, and other stress-related physical symptoms, leaving you feeling lighter and more relaxed.
Achieving Calm with Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture treatment offers a natural and effective way to achieve calm and reduce anxiety symptoms. By stimulating specific pressure points on the body, acupuncture helps regulate the nervous system and promote relaxation. In traditional Chinese medicine, this practice is believed to restore balance to the body’s energy, or “qi,” which can alleviate anxiety and foster a sense of calm.
Research supports the effectiveness of acupuncture for anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
For instance, a pilot study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders (Acupuncture for generalised anxiety disorder: A pilot randomized controlled trial, 2015) suggested that acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, though further large-scale research is needed to confirm these findings.
Read the study here.
To achieve calm through acupuncture treatment, it’s crucial to find a licensed acupuncturist experienced in treating anxiety disorders. A licensed acupuncturist will use sterile needles and adhere to proper sanitation procedures, ensuring a safe and effective treatment. During the session, the acupuncturist will insert fine needles into specific pressure points on the body, such as those on the head, neck, and wrists.
In addition to acupuncture treatment, several strategies can help achieve calm and reduce anxiety symptoms:
Deep Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing can slow down the heart rate and promote relaxation.
Meditation: Meditation helps reduce stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and minimizing negative thoughts.
Yoga: Yoga can reduce stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and enhancing mood.
Exercise: Regular exercise can alleviate stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and improving mood.
Does Acupuncture Help with Anxiety Long-Term?
Acupuncture’s benefits are cumulative, meaning regular sessions can create lasting effects. By addressing the root causes of anxiety, acupuncture helps the body adapt to stress more effectively over time.
Acupuncture also complements other treatments, such as therapy, mindfulness practices, and lifestyle changes. When used alongside these approaches, it can enhance overall mental well-being and provide a solid foundation for long-term recovery.
Acupuncture Relaxing: What to Expect in a Session
Step-by-Step Process
Consultation: Your practitioner will begin by discussing your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle to create a personalized treatment plan.
Needle Placement: Ultra-fine needles are gently inserted into specific acupuncture points chosen to address your unique needs.
Relaxation Time: You’ll rest for 20-30 minutes while the needles work their magic, often experiencing a deep sense of calm and relaxation.
Many patients describe the session as deeply restorative, with effects that extend long after the appointment.
FAQs About Acupuncture for Anxiety
How quickly can I see results from acupuncture for anxiety?
Some patients notice immediate relief, while others experience gradual improvements over a few sessions.
Is acupuncture safe for anxiety relief?
Yes, acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment when performed by a licensed professional.
How often should I have acupuncture for stress and anxiety?
Weekly sessions are often recommended initially, transitioning to maintenance sessions as needed.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people feel little to no pain during acupuncture. The needles are extremely fine and gently placed.
How do I find the right licensed acupuncturist?
Look for a licensed practitioner with experience in treating anxiety. The British Acupuncture Council (BACC) website has a comprehensive register of qualified acupuncturists, ensuring you find a trusted and experienced professional. Testimonials and professional memberships can also help guide your choice.
Why Choose Acupuncture for Anxiety Over Other Treatments?
Unlike medication, acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that doesn’t rely on chemicals or risk long-term dependency. It stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of anxiety. This holistic approach makes it a safer and gentler option for many.
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture helps to treat anxiety by restoring balance in the body’s energy pathways.
Each session is tailored to your individual needs, ensuring a personalised experience.
Acupuncture sessions not only provide immediate relief but are also cumulative, meaning their benefits build over time with consistent treatment. This makes acupuncture especially effective for long-term anxiety management.
While therapy focuses on cognitive strategies and medication alters brain chemistry, acupuncture complements these approaches by working with the body to reduce stress, balance hormones, and calm the mind.
If you’re seeking a natural and comprehensive way to treat anxiety, acupuncture is an effective alternative treatment.
Conclusion
Acupuncture offers a natural, effective way to alleviate anxiety and promote relaxation. By addressing the root causes of anxiety, it provides both immediate and long-term benefits for your mental and physical health.