How Acupuncture Can Support Your Mental Health
You may be familiar with acupuncture treating physical aches and pains, but you may not know that acupuncture and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) is also great for mental health support. Here are a few key symptoms we treat often at Oak Integrative:
Anxiety. A meta-analysis found that acupuncture was associated with significant reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to control groups. Acupuncture may modulate neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which play key roles in mood regulation and anxiety management. Acupuncture treats anxiety by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” (as opposed to the “fight or flight” sympathetic) aspect of the autonomic nervous system to achieve biochemical and emotional homeostasis in the body. A 2016 integrative review of studies documenting the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety concluded that ‘the effects from acupuncture for treating anxiety have been shown to be significant compared to conventional treatments’. The largest study in this review found that acupuncture had a significant effect on reducing anxiety and depression compared to prescription medication and psychotherapy treatment with double the reduction in symptoms.
Depression. Research suggests that acupuncture may serve as an adjunctive therapy for depression, enhancing the efficacy of standard antidepressant treatments. A systematic review and meta-analysis reported that acupuncture combined with antidepressant medication was more effective than medication alone in reducing depressive symptoms.
Stress. Acupuncture has been shown to mitigate the physiological and psychological effects of stress by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs the body's stress response. Acupuncture helps reduce cortisol levels, promote relaxation, and improve resilience to stressors. Studies show acupuncture has the ability to stimulate the body to release neurochemicals such as endorphins (the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals) to calm the sympathetic nervous system response, and regulate the symptoms of physical and emotional stress.
Insomnia. If stress and anxiety is keeping you up at night, acupuncture can help with that, too! Getting good quality sleep is essential for optimal physical and emotional wellbeing. Research shows that acupuncture can enhance sleep quality by regulating neurotransmitters involved in sleep-wake cycles and promoting relaxation. It’s even been shown to be effective in comparison to pharmacological treatments like sleeping pills.
One of the strengths of acupuncture lies in its individualized approach to treatment. Acupuncturists assess each patient's unique constitution, symptoms, and underlying imbalances to tailor acupuncture prescriptions accordingly. By addressing the root causes of mental health issues rather than just alleviating symptoms, acupuncture is great for fostering long-term well-being. If you are looking to support your mental health, book with one of our acupuncturists to get started today.
In health,
Allison Locke R.TCM.P, IHP, FABORM, OBAAM