How Acupuncture Can Help Anxiety

Traditional medicine primarily uses relatively strong drugs to bring relief to those who suffer from anxiety. While the drugs do provide a degree of relief, some of the complications make one wonder if it is really worthwhile.

There is another way, however, and this article will show you how acupuncture can help anxiety.

Acupuncture In The United States

The Food and Drug Administration in 1996 officially welcomed acupuncture into the United States. Since that time, many have found it to be beneficial in quite a variety of ways, including for anxiety.

Many who practice the use of acupuncture are medical doctors who now combine it, into their medical practice. There are now over 20,000 certified practitioners in the United States.

While it has been tested both in the United States and England, it still remains a little on the outside - partly because people don't like needles. Alternatives to the needles now use more hi-tech methods - acupressure and mild lasers, which they say has about the same effect.

How Does It Work?

The basic idea of how it works is a little foreign to the minds of those of of us who live in the West. Still, the idea is interesting. They believe that the body, when healthy, allows the free flow of energy, called qi (chi) throughout the body.

The energy, they say, flows through 12 channels, called meridians, where the streams of chi come together and intersect. When there is a restriction of chi, the result are symptoms, and health problems.

Acupuncture, through the use of the needles, works on those points where the channels intersect, to unblock the flow of chi.

Those of us that live over on this side of the ocean might replace chi with the words life-force. With that restoration of the proper flow of the life force, the body can then begin to use its natural self-healing mechanisms. Acupuncture specialists often also use herbal remedies as part of a treatment program.

Modern research has shown that acupuncture stimulates the body to release chemicals in your body called endorphins. Endorphins are your body's natural pain-relievers. They may have something to do with how acupuncture helps to relieve anxiety.

Treating Anxiety

Many of the treatments for anxiety largely involve the acupuncture points found on the ear. However, studies have shown, with various control groups, that only particular areas of the ear bring any noticeable difference.

But the differences were rather amazing. While doctors still do not know why it works, they do know that there are measurable differences.

The patients that had the correct areas of the ear needled, were those that had a significant reduction in anxiety and stress-levels.

Acupuncture works on both the physical and the emotional states to bring about a general good state of well-being. It also works for other emotional problems, too.

Before you visit your local acupuncturist for depression, however, make sure that they are certified by your state.

Acupuncture Treatments

A couple of nice things about acupuncture is:

· Many insurance companies now cover it · It is drug free - though your doctor may desire you to continue · It uses natural healing

The average treatment can last anywhere from a couple of minutes, up to about an hour - with no negative after-effects.