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Acupuncture treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorder is a condition that makes the sufferer to have a sense of excessive and persistent apprehension.1 It is a mental illness that when anxiety occurs, people feel an inappropriate amount of anxiety more often than is reasonable.2 Another concept often used to relate to anxiety is psychological distress. This refers to a state of general emotional discomfort in response to a stressor or demand3 and is typically characterized by symptoms of depression and anxiety itself. These symptoms often coexist and co-occur with common somatic complaints e.g., insomnia, headaches and fatigue; a wide range of chronic conditions, as well as with medically unexplained syndromes4 e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia. Psychological distress is associated with disability and poor adherence to treatment protocols.5
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities for treating psychological distress is substantial6 and it has been suggested that people with this condition are more likely to use CAM therapies than conventional medical or mental health treatments. One of the most widely used CAM therapies is acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce psychological distress in many studies. In this vein, acupuncture appears to be a promising treatment option for psychological distress.7 However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on psychological distress are not fully understood. It is possible that acupuncture influences neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways underlying emotional states. For example, acupuncture stimulates secretion of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters presumed to be associated with depression.8 Acupuncture may also stimulate sensory nerves, induce the release of endogenous opioids and modulate the autonomic nervous system and thereby influence mood and increase the patient’s sense of well-being.
CONTENTS
SYMPTOMS
CAUSES
TREATMENTS
SYMPTOMS
Anxiety disorders are considered to be a group of conditions rather than a single condition. Symptoms of this disorder would be fear of driving, uncontrollable and intrusive thought, and also worry about anything and everything.9 Other symptoms of this disorder are panic attacks, self doubt, stage fright, and sleep problems.10
CAUSES
The cause of an anxiety disorder is not unique. There are many causes that contribute to this disorder which are, family history of mental health conditions, ongoing stressful events, work stress or job change, and also death or loss of a loved one.11
TREATMENTS
The following acupoints have been shown to treat anxiety: GV-20, CV-6, PC-6, HT-7, LI-4, LV-3, SP-6, ST-36 and accipoints. Manual needle retention time: 20–30 minutes, recommended treatment once a week for eight consecutive weeks. Each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.12 Another study suggests the following acupoints: Sishencong (EX-HN1), Shenting (GV-24), Yintang (EX-HN-3), Shenmen (HT-7), Neiguan (PC-6), and Taixi (KD-3). The needles are to be retained for 20 minutes. Sishencong (EX-HN-1), benefits the eyes and ears; calms the spirit; and is indicated for poor memory. Shenting (GV-24) benefits the brain and calms the spirit. Additionally, the GV channel goes to the brain. Yintang (EX-HN-3) calms the Shen and is indicated to calm anxiety and agitation.13 Shenmen (HT-7) calms the spirit, regulates and tonifies the heart; and is indicated for poor memory, fear and fright. Additionally, the heart organ houses the mind. Neiguan (PC-6) is indicated for poor memory, apprehension, fear and fright. The pericardium is the protector of the heart and treats disorders of the spirit. Taixi (KD-3) is chosen because the kidney is associated with the brain and because its low position on the body balances the effect of all the points on the upper body.14
Another type of treatment which has shown positive results for anxiety is bilateral auricular acupressure at a “relaxation” point as documented by Wang et al.15 This acupuncture point is located at the superior lateral wall of the triangular fossa. Acupressure is to be performed with a small plastic ball (1-mm diameter) that is pressed on the mentioned relaxation point and fixed with an opaque ear patch, which remained there until the end of transport.16
The potential mechanism for the effectiveness of auricular acupressure may be similar to that documented in the acupuncture literature. Stimulating a particular point with either a needle or pressure can activate small myelinated nerve fibers that send impulses into the spinal cord, midbrain, pituitary, and hypothalamus, causing a measurable release of endorphins into the blood. Besides this, various neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and possibly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are known to interrupt incoming stress signals in the central nervous system.17
More anxiety related acupuncture points:
KD-6, LV-3, SP-4, SP-5.18
Footnotes
- Definition of anxiety disorder – medicinet.com – 2017, http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9948
- What is an anxiety disorder? – healthyplace.com – 2017, http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-disorders/what-is-an-anxiety-disorder-anxiety-disorder-definition/
- Effects of an integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients – a pragmatic randomized controlled trial – BMC – 2013, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-13-308/
- Medically unexplained physical symptoms, anxiety, and depression: a meta-analytic review – Psychosom Med – 2003, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12883101?dopt=Abstract
- Psychological distress as a risk factor for cardiovascular events: pathophysiological and behavioral mechanisms – J Am Coll Cardiol – 2008, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19095133?dopt=Abstract
- Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: results of a follow-up national survey – JAMA – 1998, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9820257?dopt=Abstract
- Anxiety, depression and acupuncture: a review of the clinical research – Auton Neurosci. – 2010 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20451469?dopt=Abstract
- Manipulation of neurotransmitters by acupuncture (?) (A preliminary communication) – J Neural Transm – 1975 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/239999?dopt=Abstract
- 12 Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder – health.com – 2017, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20646990,00.html/view-all
- Anxiety disorders and anxiety attacks – helpguide.org – 2017, http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-attacks-and-anxiety-disorders.htm
- What causes anxiety? – beyondblue.org – 2016, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/what-causes-anxiety
- Effects of an integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients – a pragmatic randomized controlled trial – BMC – 2013, https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-13-308/
- The Effect of Acupuncture on Working Memory and Anxiety – JAMS – 2013, http://www.jams-kpi.com/article/S2005-2901(12)00215-4/abstract
- The Effect of Acupuncture on Working Memory and Anxiety – JAMS – 2013, http://www.jams-kpi.com/article/S2005-2901(12)00215-4/abstract
- Auricular Acupressure as a Treatment for Anxiety in Prehospital Transport Settings – anesthesiology – 2003, http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1943510
- Auricular Acupressure as a Treatment for Anxiety in Prehospital Transport Settings – anesthesiology – 2003, http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1943510
- Auricular Acupressure as a Treatment for Anxiety in Prehospital Transport Settings – anesthesiology – 2003, http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1943510
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) : Basics – yingyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/conditions-treated/alternative-natural-options-for-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd