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Call (312) 863-0731 For An Appointment

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture Center Chicago Square Logo

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture Treatment for Anxiety

Acupuncture is a natural treatment practice growing in popularity in the United States. Have you heard of it, but have never been sure of what it is? Using small fine needles inserted into specific points of the body, acupuncture treatment is linked to various beneficial effects on health. Acupuncture treatment can improve mental and emotional functioning, reduce chronic pain, and help with appetite regulation and gastrointestinal issues. Recently, acupuncture treatment has become popular for the treatment of anxiety. This may come as a surprise. Below is more information on how acupuncture treatment works and how the natural treatment can help reduce anxiety.

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is a drug-free treatment where hair-thin needles are placed in pre-specified locations on the body to stimulate blood flow and hormone release. The practice is thousands of years old and was once central to ancient Chinese medicinal practice. Today, the treatment is known for its use to treat chronic pain and a variety of physical ailments. How different ailments are targeted is based on what locations of the body are targeted during the acupuncture treatment. When the needles are inserted into the body the nerves being targeted send signals to the brain, and the brain releases hormones, such as beta-Endorphins. This approach works to excite the body and release extra hormones that help the body control inflammation and alleviate stress and pain.

Acupuncture Treatment for Anxiety

Research studies have shown acupuncture and acupressure can be an effective treatment for anxiety. Extensive evidence shows that there are numerous different acupuncture regimes that can reduce the severity of generalized anxiety. When the small acupuncture needles are inserted into specific locations of the body, the needles can be used to target neurotransmitters involved in the body’s emotional regulation, such as serotonin. Acupressure is another widely used to treatment method to treat anxiety. Acupressure is the use of pressure, not needles, on specific body locations. To treat anxiety, pressure is applied around the ears.

Adverse effects of Acupuncture

Overall, acupuncture treatment is a safe and relatively pain-free treatment approach to many conditions. While it mostly risk-free, there are possible adverse effects associated with acupuncture, include bruising, fatigue, and nausea after treatment. It is incredibly rare, but there have been cases of pneumothorax (i.e. a condition caused when an acupuncture needle results in the collapse of a lung) reported.

Limitations

Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular in the United States, but the treatment especially for some conditions, is still not commonly accepted. The acceptance of the practice is still limited in some medical settings. There is a need for more research studies examining the possible benefits and side effects to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the treatment. More recently, doctors are starting to encourage the use of acupuncture treatment in conjunction with traditional medical practices and medicines.

If you are interested in seeking out acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety, you should start to do some research of qualified and experienced acupuncture practitioners in your area.

Services We Offer : Conveniently Located in the Chicago Loop

Sunae Son, L.Ac, M.S.O.M. has spent much of her life exploring and researching western and eastern medicines, combining these practices over a decade of field and laboratory studies into mindful patient care in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

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