If you are feeling discouraged by the side effects of depression or anxiety medications, or if you would like to explore other options for de-stressing or healing your mind and body, then acupuncture might be a treatment option worth exploring.

The two most prevalent mood disorders are anxiety and depression, and roughly one-third of patients do not improve with conventional treatments like medication and psychotherapy. As a result, many people look for complementary therapies to manage their mood disorders, such as Eastern medical procedures. At i spa Health Studio, we offer acupuncture for reducing stress and anxiety to our clients searching for relief—as well as other forms of treatment that incorporate a holistic approach and natural therapies.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Depression and anxiety are considered warning signs in the Eastern philosophy because they are signs that something more serious is going on inside the body. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to this source of life energy as "qi," and when it is out of balance, it can show up in the body as depression and anxiety. Although acupuncture is not a cure, it can help with the symptoms of depression and anxiety when used as a part of an integrative strategy to make the entire body healthy.

A licensed practitioner places thin, thread-like needles into particular bodily nerve sites during acupuncture. Each needle then activates a sensory nerve, causing it to become active and begin communicating with the brain. The immune system then responds and is released by the brain.

6 Reasons to Try Acupuncture for Anxiety

There are many benefits to this ancient practice, including the potential to help with depression and anxiety. Here are six reasons to try acupuncture if you're looking for relief:

1. It works – Through analysis of various research studies on acupuncture and depression, acupuncture can significantly reduce the severity of depression.
2. It’s an alternative to toxic medications – Acupuncture has virtually no adverse side effects. When used as a part of a holistic approach to treating depression, it can help you heal depression naturally.
3. It releases endorphins – Endorphins are a hormone that acts as a natural pain killer in the body. When needles are inserted into sensory nerves just below the skin’s surface, the body stimulates a response in the immune system, which increases circulation to that area of the body and triggers the release of endorphins.
4. It can reduce inflammation – Acupuncture prompts an anti-inflammatory response from the immune system There is increasing evidence that chronic inflammation can affect your mood.
5. It’s relaxing – Many patients find the experience of acupuncture so relaxing that they fall asleep during sessions. Acupuncture can also help to improve sleep quality. It has been shown to be effective in treating insomnia and other sleep disorders.
6. It gives you much more than a mood boost – Because acupuncture aims to make the body well, not treat specific symptoms, you’ll benefit from an overall increase in health. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraine and tension headaches and can help to treat allergies and infertility.

For people with anxiety, acupuncture may be a natural way to reduce symptoms. In one study, researchers found that just eight weeks of acupuncture treatments significantly reduced symptoms in patients who had been diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments. Today, it is also an excellent alternative for people dealing with anxiety and depression—if you're looking for a natural way to seek relief from anxiety or depression give us a call today!