Acupuncture for Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety is a general feeling of being worried. Everyone experiences anxiety once in a while. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), however, feel anxious often or feel very anxious, not necessarily because of a situation. For them, anxiety interferes with their daily lives.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of anxiety may include:

·         Muscle tension, trembling

·         Feeling restless or on edge

·         Fast heartbeat, tachycardia

·         Fast or troubled breathing, dyspnea

·         Stomach upset

·         Having a hard time concentrating

·         Headache

·         Sweating

·         Fatigue

·         Irritability

·         Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

There are many different protocols to treat/manage anxiety which include:

Drug therapies:  Which are fast acting and effective, but also habit forming with side effects and should be used only for short term treatment.

Exercise:  studies have shown that intense exercise appear to lower stress and anxiety

Nutrition: Although there is no diet to relieve anxiety, eating healthy meals keeps your body well-nourished and strong. Avoid caffeine because it can make you feel restless. Avoid alcohol and nicotine as well. Eat more fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Keep your blood sugar steady by eating frequent small meals that contain protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Herbs: Studies have shown that herbs can be effective in treating stress and anxiety, however if not taken correctly, herbs can have side effects and negative interactions with medication. It is highly recommended not to self-prescribe and to consult an herbalist for proper treatment.

Acupuncture:  Some evidence shows that acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of anxiety, especially when combined with behavioral therapies including psychotherapy. One study showed that benefits lasted as long as one year after treatment. A systematic literature review revealed that many studies reported positive findings in effectiveness of acupuncture for treating generalized anxiety disorder or anxiety disorder.

Acupuncturists treat people with anxiety based on an individualized assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians. With anxiety, a qi deficiency is often detected in the kidney or spleen meridians. In addition to performing needling techniques, acupuncturists may also use lifestyle and breathing techniques as well as herbal and dietary therapy.

Massage: Massage can help reduce anxiety and stress

At Acuwellness Center we provide, Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, massage therapy, nutritional consultation to treat and manage anxiety and stress. Please call us today for more information or for an appointment.

Sources:

1. Pilkington. K, Kirkwood. G, Rampes. H, Cummings. M, Richardson. J. Acupunnture

for anxiety disorders-a systematic literature review. Acupunct Med 2007;25:1-10 

2. Lakhan SE, Vieira KF. Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review. Nutr J. 2010 Oct 7;9:42. Review.

3. Linde K. St. John's wort - an overview. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009 Jun;16(3):146-55.

4. Mantani R, Cimino A. A primer of complementary and alternative medicine and its relevance in the treatment of mental health problems. Psychiatr Q 2002;73:367-381.

5. Van der Watt G, Laugharne J, Janca A. Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 Jan;21(1):37-42.

6. Wang SM, Kain ZN. Auricular acupuncture: a potential treatment for anxiety. Anesth Analg. 2001;92:548-553.