How To Help Your Stress By Acupuncture!
- Dr Manesh ND
- Sep 15, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 10
How Acupuncture help with Stress?
Acupuncture is a modality that Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) utilize to treat many conditions including anxiety and stress. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes in presence of a flow of energy named “QI” (vital force) running in your body and Acupuncture stimulate the flow of QI. In TCM philosophy QI moves in your body just as blood does, but separately. Blood circulates in the blood vessels and carries oxygen and nutrition to different organs. However, QI circulates in its own circulatory channels named Meridians. Whenever a factor blocks the flow of Qi like anxiety, different diseases or poor nutrition, the Qi will be trapped behind the block and become stagnated which is usually followed by signs and symptoms of different mental and physical diseases.
To improve your health condition, we need to remove the stagnation of QI, so it can flow freely. For this purpose, Traditional Chinese Medicine utilize the “Acupuncture” technique. In acupuncture your practitioner uses fine needles on especial points along the meridian, to help remove the blockage. Therefore, by doing acupuncture we can reinstate the free movement of Qi, which leads to improvement of anxiety and health status overall.
The findings of a research, published in the Annals of General Psychiatry says that acupuncture treatment has beneficial effects compared to controls for helping anxiety in patients with Generalized Anxiety Syndrome, but still, they need more researches to better understand the role of acupuncture in helping with anxiety and stress presentations.
How often should I do acupuncture for stress?
Depending on chronicity of your anxiety and intensity of your stressful situation, your practitioner plans for 1-2 times per week for the first 2 weeks and then once a week might be enough, again, depends on your special circumstances.
How long does it take for acupuncture to work for stress?
Most patients feel a calm in mkind from the first session. However, you will get the best result after a course of 10–12-week treatment. In a research comparing traditional acupuncture and sham acupuncture, it showed a considerable initial decrease in perceived stress in the first few weeks. At the end of treatment (12 weeks), the traditional acupuncture group had better treatment outcome than the sham acupuncture group.
Where do my practitioner insert the needles for my stress?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, there are very specific locations based on your physical or mental symptoms. Stimulating these points by needling helps your vital force move properly. Points for anxiety may include somewhere on your ears, between your eyebrows, or the insides of your wrists or on the lower legs. Choice of the acupuncture points is based on the Chinese medicine comprehensive History, TCM diagnosis and examination of your tongue and pulse.
What happens after acupuncture for anxiety?
During and after the acupuncture session, usually people feel relaxed. Some people feel energized. This relaxation depending on the patient’s especial environment and circumstances and stays with them for few days after the session. Overall, as the acupuncture is holistic approach to address the root cause of your presentation, people tend to have better sleep, mood and digestion for few days afterwards. Still, people are different and the results may varies.
What to avoid after acupuncture?
It is highly recommended to avoid Alcohol, tobacco, junk food, strenuous exercise and cold weather for a while. It is recommended to choose more nutritious food to continue build up on healthier Qi. Whole food, warm cooked food is the best. Considering the holistic perspective of doing acupuncture, choosing better lifestyle such as avoiding stressful situations and limiting screen time is profoundly recommended,
What are the side effects of acupuncture?
Overall, acupuncture is a low-risk procedure. However, few side effects are accompanied with acupuncture such as minor bleeding in the site of needling and bruise afterwards, soreness where the needles were inserted during the treatment. Very rarely infection of the needle site, however, as using disposable single-use needles is the standard of practice nowadays, so the risk of infection is minimal.
Is there any contraindication for acupuncture?
Acupuncture despite being relatively safe procedure, has few relative contraindications.
1) Bleeding disorders or if you are taking blood thinners, anticoagulants. There is a greater chance of bleeding in the site of needling and bruise afterwards
2) Having cardiac pacemaker. If acupuncture treatment is accompanied by use of electro-stimulation, it may interfere with the pacemaker’s function.
3) Pregnancy. There are a few acupuncture points are forbidden for needling during pregnancy
How many sessions of acupuncture are needed for anxiety?
The chronicity of your condition primarily determines the duration of treatment you may need and the number of sessions per week and in total. Traditionally perception of stress may decline after 10-12 sessions. However, it really depends on how long you were in this condition, how chronic your anxiety is, your lifestyle factors, the environment and job factors and whether you can avoid your exposure to stressors. These are determinants that contribute to the level of your response to acupuncture.
How long do the effects of acupuncture last for me?
Generally speaking, the effects may last from a few days to 10-14 days. However, the longevity of your acupuncture treatment outcome depends on the chronicity of your symptoms, your lifestyle, your health status and your previous medical condition.
How long is an acupuncture session for anxiety?
The first session which is the Chinese Medicine comprehensive history taking, Chinese appearance, tongue and pulse examination plus point selection, is usually 60-90 minutes. The following treatment sessions are 20-30 minutes each.
How long do acupuncture needles stay in my body?
The acupuncture needles are very thin needles which are single use, disposable and sterile. During the treatment your practitioner based on your special needs decides to let the needles stay 20-30 minutes. During that period it is recommended that you relax and practice let it go.
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Author’s Bio:
This article was written by Dr. Masoumeh Shayesteh Manesh, ND, MD (IMD) a Registered Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario, Canada, practicing in Midtown Toronto. Dr. Manesh ND helps in Women's health, Men's health, Natural skin health, hormonal health, with additional focus on digestive wellness, stress management and mood balance.
Before moving to Canada, Dr Manesh, ND, MD (IMD) earned her degree as Doctorate of Medicine abroad and spent over 30 years practicing as Medical Doctor, bringing a unique integrative perspective that combines medical experience with natural, evidence-informed approaches to patient care.
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