The effectiveness of acupuncture is supported by anecdotal and empirical evidence that it may reduce anxiety.
Sticking a few needles into your skin when you're feeling stressed may not seem like self-care, but acupuncture is still used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments and relieve pain. It has been used for thousands of years.
To treat anxiety, acupuncture needles are placed on the inside of the wrist, between the eyes, and in the ear. The effectiveness of this practice is also supported by anecdotal and empirical evidence.
“Acupuncture relieves anxiety by regulating the nervous system, particularly by restoring balance to branches of the autonomic nervous system,” said Ashley Flores, a licensed acupuncturist in Chicago. health. “Acupuncture helps bring the body back into a relaxed state where the sympathetic nervous system is balanced and non-dominant.”
Chinese medicine believes that energy, or Qi, flows through the body along specific paths.
“Sometimes, energy is blocked, deficient, in excess, or out of balance. This can lead to an imbalance in the body and, in turn, disease,” says China, who practices in Miami Beach, Florida. says Elizabeth Tratner, a board-certified physician in medicine and integrative medicine.she said health. “Acupuncture restores homeostasis and promotes healing.”
Your body isn't just randomly covered in needles. The exact spots that should be inserted depending on your physical or mental symptoms are called acupuncture points. Pressure points that can cause anxiety include:
Between the eyebrows.
inside of wrist.
At your feet.
The sternum or the ears.