ACUPUNCTURE FOR MENTAL HEALTH - ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS.
NATURAL ANXIETY RELIEF; SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING WITH THE WISDOM OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Chinese Medicine has long recognised the importance of emotional well-being in relation to overall health. According to Chinese medicine theory, emotional factors constitute an aetiological possibility for every manifestation of ill health.
Here at Vessel Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Brisbane, we believe in the power of expressed and regulated emotions. We see mental health challenges as an opportunity to make changes that will positively shape one's life, provided one is well supported.
Mental health challenges and emotional trauma can be accompanied by a wide range of symptoms that can affect well-being. At Vessel Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, we support you in your quest for ease and equilibrium through Acupuncture, a practice grounded in the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and backed by modern evidence.
We collaborate with your existing primary care team or help you build one if you lack the right support.
A LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF ACUPUNCTURE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Acupuncture for Anxiety & Stress
The best available evidence (systematic review and meta-analysis) demonstrates that acupuncture alleviates anxiety symptoms (1). Further, research has revealed several known biochemical and biophysical mechanisms that may explain how this ancient modality works.
Acupuncture for Depression
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis (2) concluded that acupuncture, either in isolation or as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment, has clinical benefits and can be considered a safe option for managing depression.
A 2020 overview of meta-analysis (3) concluded that acupuncture appears to be more effective and safer than no treatment, control acupuncture and antidepressants. The study also concluded that more high-quality evidence is required to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture for depression.
Acupuncture for Insomnia
A review article published in Sleep Medicine Reviews in 2024 (4) describes acupuncture as a promising drug-free therapy for individuals with primary insomnia, especially those who cannot tolerate hypnotics. Acupuncture improves subjective sleep quantity and quality and normalises disordered sleep architecture associated with primary insomnia. In some studies, it also improves other concurrent symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and cognitive impairments.
For a deeper dive into our treatment approach and the research for acupuncture and mental health, you can read our Journal Articles on Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia.
Acupuncture modulates parasympathetic activity, the nervous system branch associated with rest, relaxation, digestion, tissue healing and immune function, helping you to get out of flight, fright, freeze, or fawn.
Acupuncture also stimulates the vagus nerve, which has been shown to help regulate stress, anxiety, depression, migraines, pain, and gut dysfunction.
At Vessel Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, we recognise that every person’s experience of mental health and emotional well-being differs, and we tailor your acupuncture treatments to meet your unique needs.
After your first appointment, you will receive a comprehensive treatment plan outlining the frequency of treatments and the duration of time we expect to need to see lasting changes. You can read more about how we approach treatment plans here.
SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH WITH THE WISDOM OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Your unique experience of stress and emotional turmoil helps guide your acupuncture treatment. Your treatment will always be different from someone else's. We use the framework of the five elements to understand how the different emotions emerge in the human experience:
Earth
If you tend to experience rumination, worry, and overthinking, this indicates a need to nurture your Earth Energy. Your acupuncture treatment would focus on the channels associated with the Spleen and stomach. We would also consider introducing mindfulness meditation and improving your diet, digestion, and movement patterns.
Wood
If you tend toward irritability, impatience, frustration, anger, or rage, we look at Wood Energy as the cause. Your acupuncture treatment would focus on harmonising and moving the channels associated with the Liver and gallbladder. We’d also consider getting out in nature more regularly, reducing alcohol, and introducing gentle breathwork practices to move your qi.
Fire
Suppose you often experience overstimulation & excitability to the point of becoming almost manic, and you use nervous energy and seem to thrive on that euphoria for a while before you crash with exhaustion. In that case, we are guided to your Fire Energy, looking to harmonise the channels of the Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium & San Jiao. We want to get you focused on sleep hygiene and activities like foot soaking to help circulate that energy through the entire system rather than burning it up & out through the chest.
Metal
If sadness and grief flavour your experience, we are guided to Metal Energy and work with the Lung and Large Intestine channels. We look at what needs letting go and work through unresolved grief. Often, for metal types, this will include letting go of perfectionist tendencies or coveting and admiring others' perceived perfection.
Water
If life sends you packing with fear, fright, and worry about the future, we are focusing on your Water Energy and the channels of the Kidney and Bladder. We will befriend guided imagery, creativity, finding your true path, and cultivating the will to follow it. We will also explore fear, safely support you in experiencing it, and maybe sometimes do scary things anyway.
In Chinese Medicine, we recognise five emotions and their resonance with internal organ and channel systems:
Greif resonates with the Lung Qi
Joy resonates with the Heart Qi
Anger, resentment and stress resonate with the Liver Qi
Fear resonates with the Kidney Qi
Anxiety and worry resonates with the Spleen Qi
A Natural, Holistic Approach - we provide care for sensitive people.
Living with stress, anxiety, depression, overwhelm or the impacts of ADHD can be tough, but with support, you can move through this world with more ease. Let us help you navigate your mental-emotional landscape naturally with acupuncture and whole-person care.
Schedule your consultation today.
How Acupuncture Supports Your Mental Health
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points in the body to restore the smooth flow of Qi and support hormonal balance. In TCM, emotional disharmony is often linked to imbalances in the Yin, Yang, Qi and Blood. By addressing these imbalances, acupuncture can help to:
Regulate hormones: Acupuncture engages with the HPA axis, which regulates hormones including cortisol. Greater hormonal balance may help you find greater mental-emotional harmony.
Boost energy and improve sleep: By harmonising the body’s internal systems through stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, acupuncture supports deeper rest and may help to revitalise energy levels and mental clarity.
Stress, depression and anxiety: The calming effects of acupuncture may reduce emotional strain, promoting mental clarity and emotional well-being.
Improve circulation and alleviate pain: Acupuncture enhances blood flow and influences the release of pain-relieving chemicals to reduce aches, pains, and discomfort.
Releases endorphins
Acupuncture can trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural chemicals that can ease tension and improve mood.
What to Expect at Vessel Acupuncture
At Vessel, we take an integrative, patient-centred approach to your care. Your first visit will include a thorough consultation to discuss your symptoms, lifestyle, and health history. Based on this, we create a tailored treatment plan designed specifically for you.
Your Treatment Plan
Acupuncture for mental health is most effective with regular sessions. Depending on your symptoms and health goals, we may recommend weekly or bi-weekly treatments to start. As your body adjusts, we will reassess and adjust the frequency of treatments. Most people experience gradual improvements in symptoms after a few sessions, but lasting change often comes with sustained treatment.
We also incorporate lifestyle recommendations, Chinese herbal medicine, and nutritional guidance to support your mental health and emotional well-being.
In Australia, Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine are complementary therapies; they do not replace treatment from primary healthcare providers such as your GP, psychiatrist, or psychologist. If you are struggling with mental health issues, please reach out to your primary healthcare team.
Research into Acupuncture is growing exponentially, but more research is needed in all of these areas. Our article here explains the evidence base of Acupuncture.
References
(1) https://annals-general-psychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36509453/