One may think acupuncture is only for new age people and tin foil hat conspiracy theorists who don’t trust Western medicine but a growing number of scientific research actually shows that acupuncture can treat a condition that affects everyone on some occasions: anxiety.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, severe anxiety can be a tricky thing to manage because it usually involves therapy, which may not produce results for weeks or months. Moreover, it may also include the taking of anxiety drugs that tend to produce serious side effects. With acupuncture treatment for anxiety, not only do the symptoms decrease after the first few sessions, the root cause of the anxiety is also addressed.
How Does Acupuncture Treatment in Maitland for Anxiety Work?
According to the University of Chicago Medicine, ancient Chinese medicine theory states that each person has an energy force within that regulates the overall health of the body. This energy force is called Qi and like blood, circulates throughout the body through energy vessels known as meridians. According to the University of Miami Health System, when factors such as a change in environment, poor nutrition, stress, or injury arises, it tends to disrupt the flow of Qi causing illnesses to occur. The University of Chicago Medicine reports that when acupuncturists insert needles at certain points in the body, they bring back balance to Qi as well as the body’s overall health.
To some people, this theory may seem archaic but modern acupuncturists believe that Qi is merely a metaphor for the chemical reactions or metabolic function constantly taking place in the body.
An acupuncturist inserts each needle 0.5 millimeters away from a nerve. And based on what acupoint is used, acupuncture treatment stimulates the nervous system to create and release painkilling neurotransmitters, initiate the natural self-healing processes of the body, and activate the area of the brain that controls anxiety and other types of emotions. All these benefits that acupuncture can accomplish leads to treatment of a variety of diseases and helps people feel more balanced.
What Are the Mechanics Involved in Acupuncture for the Proper Management of Anxiety?
Ever since acupuncture become popular in the 1970’s in the US, there’s been continuous research going on about the treatment and most of the research dealing with anxiety shows that acupuncture works exceedingly well for anxiety and other mental conditions.
One study that was published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies in 2013 of October showed that after a 20-minute acupuncture session, students immediately experienced better memory and less anxiety compared to those who did not get acupuncture treatment.
Why Does Acupuncture Work?
In Chinese medicine, external circumstances beyond the control of a person can cause anxiety to develop. Acupuncture restores the person‘s power to take back control of his body.
Most of us are constantly under pressure and stress to perform, which weakens our body and causes the rise of illnesses and disease. Acupuncture is a great way to maintain our balance and health helping us to enjoy a long and better quality of life.
A team of researchers from Georgetown University used lab experiments to prove that acupuncture inhibits the production of stress hormones in the body. The results of the experiments were published in the Journal of Endocrinology in April 2013.
Only a handful of procedures work a hundred percent of the time. This includes acupuncture. What’s more, acupuncture has benefits that conventional treatments such as drugs and psychotherapy do not. However, acupuncture also has side effects such as dizziness and bruising but they occur rarely and are minimal. Compare this to prescription medication that can lead to serious side effects and even dependency.
Individuals who have undergone people acupuncture usually experience significant results after just one treatment. This rarely occurs in counseling. With acupuncture, the benefits accrue with continued treatment. Acupuncture has proven extremely useful for people who want to cease or lessen their over-the-counter or prescription drug use. And since it naturally normalizes the chemical balance in the body, acupuncture can even make medication redundant for some people.
Getting Started With Acupuncture
You have nothing to lose when you decide to try acupuncture. Under the skilled hands of a licensed or certified acupuncturist, the associated risks are virtually nil and far outweigh the potential benefits. A majority of people who have just a few sessions acupuncture have experienced a stronger sense of well-being and far better sleep.
For people who are currently getting treatment for anxiety, it is very much recommended that you add acupuncture to your treatment plan. If you think it can help with your problem, you can work with your physician to slowly wean yourself off anxiety drugs.