Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief

In Treating One, we May Benefit the Other

By Paul J.O’Brien
B.A., N.C.E.H.S., Dip. Acu., Cert Clin. Med. M.T.C.M.C.I., M.C.Th.A.

Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief often go hand in hand. In Acupuncture for Anxiety I cover the major forms of Anxiety Disorder and introduce some of the major Traditional Chinese Medical Patterns as they relate to these disorders as well as some suggested treatments for Acupuncture for Anxiety. Often time the constant stress, tension and worry of Anxiety can have a profoundly exhausting effect leaving us vulnerable and depressed.

Acupuncture and Depression covers the nature of Depression in more detail, discussing the signs and symptoms of Depression and the TCM understanding as well. This is expanded upon in the second article in that series - Acupuncture for the Treatment of Depression. Finally you may wish also to read “Is Acupuncture better than Pharmaceuticals for Depression?An article providing a balanced view of the benefits and drawbacks of Pharmaceuticals vs. Acupuncture for the treatment of Depression.

With those articles in mind it may be of use to briefly touch upon the link between Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief. In treating the various patterns that give rise to anxiety there is often the diminishment of Yin Qi or Energy is characterized as the mental-emotional aspect of our natures as opposed to the energy used for physical activity (Yang Qi). As such when our Yin Qi weakens and becomes low, so too does our mental strength and ability to cope with the daily trials of life.

The mind can become scattered without a strong root, and can wander into obsessive negative thoughts – a large component of Anxiety Disorders. This lack of mental resolve and the inability to cope with stresses can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed and the first stages of clinical depression. As such Acupuncture for Anxiety and Depression can be very useful in alleviating both conditions.

In western medicine symptoms are often viewed in isolation. This differs greatly from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture as each symptom, while they may be contradictory, are all expression of an underlying disharmony in the body. Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief is a result of treating and rectifying this underlying cause of disharmony as well as focusing on presenting symptoms. In this manner the goal is to provide a long lasting state of health as opposed to a suppression of the symptoms.

An excellent example of how Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief can be achieved is in a case such as Heart Yin Deficiency. In this case the Yin Qi (that energy used by the mind for thinking feeling that I mentioned above) associated with the Heart (not your actual Heart, but the Chinese Medical equivalent that shares its properties and functions) is weak.

The Heart in Chinese Medicine, as do all organs in Chinese Medicine, contains both physical and mental emotional attributes. The physical attributes of the Heart would be involved in the circulation of blood. It’s mental emotional function would be involved in feelings of joy and happiness. If the Heart is weak, then blood doesn’t flow freely, nor do you feel happy.

It’s easy to see how this relates to depression, a feeling of weakness, lassitude and lack of motivation as well as feelings of unhappiness. Perhaps less obvious is how this relates to anxiety.

In order to understand this it is important to understand the role of Blood in the Chinese Medical system. Blood has many functions, nourishing both the body and the mind. And it is the mind in this instance which is of particular interest. According to ancient Chinese texts, the blood is the residence of the mind. Without strong blood our mind has no refugee, nowhere to seek rest when we sleep. As such our mind flitters and becomes lost in obsessive and unhealthy thought that manifests as anxiety.

This also gives rise to the correlation between Acupuncture Anxiety and Insomnia.

I hope this brief explanation as given some insight into the complicated and interweaving nature of Traditional Chinese Medical Diagnosis and how Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief can achieve a resolution of both symptoms.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief or if you wish to start a course of treatment then please feel free to contact me or make an appointment where we can discus any specific concerns or questions you may have.

You have been Reading about Anxiety Acupuncture and Depression Relief. It may interest you to read about Acupuncture Anxiety and Insomnia Here.