According to the Confederation of Mental Health Spain, in our country, 6.7% of the population is affected by anxiety, the same number of people with depression. A mental health problem that affects a higher proportion of women (9.2%) than men (4%).
Given the current global situation, it is essential to take steps to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. For this, therapies such as acupuncture for anxiety offer very positive results in controlling the symptoms of anxiety. Read on to find out more about the technique of acupuncture and its benefits in the management of anxiety.
Acupuncture: What is it?
Acupuncture is a complementary practice or therapy that uses wonderful steel needles inserted into the skin to stimulate specific points throughout the body, commonly including the back, neck, head and various face areas.
Acupuncture, which aims to relieve a health condition or symptom, originates from traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific studies have confirmed its effectiveness for some conditions, such as anxiety and stress.
Benefits of acupuncture
Generally, the main benefits of acupuncture include relief of chronic pain, improvement of symptoms of anxiety and stress and other health problems.
Many people use acupuncture to relieve pain in various areas of the body, such as headaches or migraines, back pain, or joint pain.
Some studies have also shown that acupuncture may be a complementary treatment option to help improve symptoms of various conditions, such as immune system problems, infertility or the effects of menopause.
Does acupuncture work for anxiety?
Acupuncture for anxiety can be an effective therapy for many people. Research has shown that this therapy has been able to reduce anxiety symptoms significantly. Here are some of them:
- Study 1: “Effectiveness of acupuncture in anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials” – Demonstrated that acupuncture can be effective in reducing preoperative anxiety compared to taking a placebo or no treatment.
- Study 2: “Additive effects of acupuncture to relieve anxiety: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial” – found that acupuncture, in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, improved anxiety symptoms. People in this study lived with a variety of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
- Study 3: “Efficacy of acupuncture for generalised anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis” – concluded that acupuncture can effectively relieve anxiety symptoms in patients with generalised anxiety disorder with fewer side effects, but randomised controlled trials with a large sample size and high quality are also needed to support the result.
- How long does acupuncture for anxiety take to work?
After an acupuncture session, a person may experience a relaxing sensation within minutes of inserting the needles. The number of sessions required for each person to notice a significant anxiety reduction will vary from case to case.
Some acupuncture practitioners report that symptom improvementis usually experienced after one or two sessions.
Acupuncture needles: Where do acupuncture needles for anxiety go?
Although a variety of points are used, the most common for treating anxiety are the needles placed on the wrists (inner side), between the eyebrows, and near the ears.
Acupuncture points for anxiety
Several acupuncture points may help relieve anxiety. This article focuses on five of them:
1. Yintang: located between the eyebrows, known as the “third eye”, has a mental stabilising effect.
2. Heart 7: located in the wrist crease. Stimulation of this point reduces anxiety related to alcohol exposure.
3. Baihui: This point is located at the top of the head. It is used to clear the mind and emphasise the spiritual part of the person. Although it has several therapeutic applications, such as reducing dizziness or headache, anxiety is one of the main ones.
4. Shenmen: located on the wrist. The application of electroacupuncture at this point can improve anxiety, regulate sleep and alleviate symptoms of depression in people suffering from sleep problems.
5. Hegu: located between the base of the thumb and index finger. It helps to improve mood.
Risks of acupuncture
Acupuncture generally has no risks or side effects.
In rare cases, the person may experience mild pain after the session, which usually disappears within a few hours. There may also be some minor bruising. Some people may experience discomfort from inserting the acupuncture needles during the session.
Acupuncture is not recommended for those with any of the following health conditions:
- Pacemakers.
- Haemorrhagic condition.
If the patient is currently being treated with prescription drugs, they should not stop taking them without their doctor’s supervision, even if they begin treatment with acupuncture sessions for anxiety.
Acupuncture for anxiety is an effective technique with no side effects that is worth a try.
Acupuncture claims that needling specific points on the body can stimulate the central nervous system and reduce anxiety, and several studies on this technique show positive results.
Did you know that a mineral deficiency hurts mental health? In the case of silica, as an essential mineral for the proper functioning of the body, it contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and psychological function. This micronutrient also combats the harmful effects of the primary inducer of oxidative stress in the brain, which is aluminium. The development of formulas such as G7 Neuro Health supports techniques such as acupuncture. It helps to improve states of anxiety thanks to its supply of organic silicon + biotin, low blood levels of which have been linked to depressive states and apathy.
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