These days there are even more reasons than ever to make you worry: from global events including recent political upheavals and the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, to ongoing local worries about paying bills, sitting for exams, keeping your family happy. The latter can include ongoing daily life concerns like trying to bring up children or looking after ageing parents, and keeping up with the latest technological developments, all while still maintaining a good life-work balance – phew! All these situations can impact on your own health and lead to anxiety that affects everyone – either you or someone close to you – from time to time.
Managing severe anxiety through modern Western medicine tends to be a slow process as it generally involves therapy, which might not provide results for months. It also requires medication which sometimes has serious side effects. However, using acupuncture to treat anxiety usually lessens the symptoms after the first few visits, because it attacks the problem at its roots.
In a study published online in October 2013 in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, students who underwent a 20-minute acupuncture session were found to have less anxiety and better memory immediately afterward than those who didn’t have acupuncture.
Why does it work? It is said that external circumstances beyond your control can set off your anxiety and that acupuncture allows your body to take back control, relax. Any other symptoms like palpitations, and nausea can also be alleviated.
Article by Clare Donnelly
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