I have treated many patients with either Anxiety as their primary issue or their secondary issue. I have listed some information from a 2017 study, The Acupuncture Evidence Project, co-authored by Dr John McDonald, PhD and Dr Stephen Janz,  which was published, providing an up-to-date comparative review of the clinical and scientific evidence for acupuncture.

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In my own 15 years of practicing Acupuncture I have witnessed how it benefits releasing and reducing our stress levels. One of the most sensitive measures of the body’s ability to cope with stress is something called Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Rather than beating consistently at the same rate like a metronome, the heart actually changes its rate based on its fine-tuned response to the environment. A higher HRV has been associated with better health in all domains, including mental health and low levels of anxiety. Acupuncture has been shown to improve the body’s ability to cope with stress through improving HRV.

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Most all of my patients after a treatment will remark how relaxed they feel. When the body is under stress, an area of the brain called the hypothalamus releases neurochemicals and research shows that acupuncture can calm this response.

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Acupuncture has also been shown to increase the release of endorphins,the body’s own ‘feel-good’ chemicals, which play  an important role in the regulation of physical and emotional stress responses such as pain, heart rate, blood pressure and digestive function.

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According to the comparative research above mentioned, all of these acupuncture mechanisms have a direct effect on reducing anxiety.Studies show that acupuncture is more effective than pharmacotherapy and comparable to talking therapy, making it a helpful referral choice.