Acupuncture as an effective treatment for anxiety
- cgojiji
- Jun 8, 2022
- 3 min read
Here in the UK the definition of anxiety is best described by the NHS as feelings of unease, worry or fear which have become more constant as to affect one’s daily life.
According to the Mental Health and Wellbeing in England 2014 survey, 6 in 100 people suffer from a General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
With the recent covid pandemic and the current economic situation throughout the world, that figure is unlikely to have diminished and it is therefore unsurprising that I am receiving many more enquiries from patients suffering with anxiety related conditions.
Common symptoms of anxiety include feelings of agitation and unease, worry and in many cases feelings of fear and of being overwhelmed. Insomnia including the inability to fall asleep, irregular waking patterns or dream disturbed sleep, fatigue, irritability, restlessness, palpitations, and an inability to concentrate, are all recognised as typical symptoms by the NHS.
Other anxiety disorders include panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, (OCD), and post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
With referral waiting lists in the NHS being pressurised by the Covid pandemic and an increasing willingness by the public to look for alternatives to medications which are commonly prescribed by conventional medical practitioners and which can bring their own symptoms and side effects, acupuncture can offer an alternative less invasive mode of treatment.
What does Acupuncture have to offer ?
Ancient Chinese Medical texts refer to the seven emotions of human mental activity, those being Joy, anxiety, contemplation, grief, fear, fright, and anger. These emotions are said to directly affect the corresponding organs to bring on disease, which is known as an “internal injury” excessive joy impairs the heart, anxiety and excessive contemplation (or overthinking/overwork) impairs the spleen, grief (or loss) injures the lungs, fright and fear impair the kidneys, while anger impairs the liver.
You can now see how the predominant emotion being displayed could lead the trained acupuncturist to explore further a specific organ disfunction.
Here again it’s worth highlighting the holistic nature of an acupuncturists diagnosis, the key is to find out why this particular patient is suffering with this particular emotion, it’s important to treat each patient individually according to their personal needs based on their signs and symptoms.
Acupuncture points for anxiety.
The experienced acupuncture practitioner will have a wide range of acupuncture points available to them to help relieve specific symptoms and return the body and minds natural balance, but their ultimate choice will depend on the specifics of the individuals diagnosis and symptoms. Some of the most commonly used points are:
Spleen 6 (Three Yin Meeting)
Location: 4 finger widths superior to the height of the medial malleolus, in a small depression close to the posterior border of the tibia.
This point has a strong calming influence on the mind, it is often used where there is blood deficiency leading to insomnia, it will tonify the spleen which is said to control blood, nourish blood and calm the mind.
Kidney 6 (Shining Sea)
Location: on the medial aspect of the foot 1 finger width below the height of the malleolus in the groove or depression between the two ligament bundles
Regarded by many as the go to point for nourishing Kidney Yin, and in doing this it will calm the mind where low grade restlessness, agitation and anxiety reside. Useful in treating insomnia as part of the Yin Stepping vessel it brings moisture and energy to the eyes.
Heart 7
Location: On the wrist crease in a depression at the proximal radial corner of the pisiform bone.
One of my favourite points, it calms the mind, and works well for patterns of insomnia and depression, returning joy, lifting sadness and fear. It nourishes heart blood and through this benefits the spirit.
There are many aspects to a full Chinese medical diagnosis, and at Charlie Glover Acupuncture a traditional form of questioning, and observation, play a key role in determining your treatment principles, which are communicated and explained at each step along the way, your consent is requested before any mode of treatment is administered whether that be through acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, or gua-sha.
You will often be offered some lifestyle advice ranging from dietary recommendations, through to specific exercise suggestions or proposals, you may also be instructed with some acupressure points to be utilised at home, as your condition is approached from the position of a proposed partnership between you the patient and myself the practitioner, both working together to resolve your individual situation.
If you would like to find out more about how acupuncture could potentially help you or a loved one suffering with anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, OCD or PTSD, please contact myself Charlie Glover on 07429 348 196 or via e-mail: info@charliegloveracupuncture.co.uk for a free 15 minute no obligation consultation.
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