Acupuncture for Mental Health

Looking for “acupuncture for mental health near me?” Whether you are interested to reap its benefits for your own or if you are just curious, there is certainly a lot that acupuncture has to offer.

Acupuncture is increasingly being used as a supplement treatment for various mental health services. This is because it can aid in relieving the feelings of stress and anxiety of a person. In this article, we will explore the many benefits of acupuncture for mental health.

The Practice of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the ancient practice of placing fine, hair-like needles throughout the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that our bodies are composed of “acupuncture points”. These points are connected through pathways called meridians. Meridians are responsible for the flow of energy in our bodies. Thus, when our energy flow is well-balanced, we are able to achieve good overall health.

Generally, acupuncture is not painful. In most cases, patients only feel a tinge of pressure or a small pinch when the needles are inserted into the body. Your acupuncturist can also use other forms of stimulation like applying electricity, suction, and heat.

How can acupuncture help?

Now, you might be wondering, “how can this help my mental health?”. Many studies show that there is a connection between our physical and mental health. Each can affect the other if one is in bad shape. And, both are an important part of our overall health. Acupuncture helps in revitalizing our energy flow by targeting our central nervous system. When chemicals are released causing biochemical changes to our bodies, our bodies are able to heal from certain diseases or conditions naturally. There are many mental health disorders that benefit from this, such as:

Depression
Anxiety
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder
Other mental conditions

Mental health and its importance

Mental health pertains to the state of our overall mental well-being. This includes our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Having good mental health is important in taking care of ourselves and in relating with others.

The significance of mental health is sometimes taken lightly by people. They view it as a small part of their well-being and underestimate its influence on other aspects of human life. However, evidence suggests that the status of one’s mental health can affect multiple areas of our lives. When we don’t take care of our minds, we are at a high risk of developing chronic physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Having poor mental health also affects our relationships at home and at work. It also affects how we are able to handle stress effectively.

The Benefits of Acupuncture for Mental Health

Knowing the benefits of acupuncture can help you decide if it will be a good fit for your overall treatment. Here are some of its important benefits to your mental health:

Depression – acupuncture can help treat depression through the release of the natural chemicals, endorphins. This is significant because endorphins are considered our happiness hormones and our body’s natural painkillers. In a review and meta-analysis study, it was found that acupuncture was a good addition to other treatments of depression such as medication and psychotherapy.
Anxiety – A growing number of studies on people with General Anxiety Disorder shows that their anxiety levels have been significantly reduced with the help of acupuncture treatment. There are also anxiety patients, who have not responded to other treatments like therapy and prescribed medications, but who are reporting improved symptoms due to acupuncture.
Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – Acupuncture helps people to have better stress management, since it regulates the neurotransmitters and hormones in our bodies that help balance our moods.

In addition, Acupuncture can be an effective way of treating many common symptoms of people who are diagnosed with mental health conditions. These symptoms include insomnia and feelings of fatigue.

Acupuncture treatments at Irvine Meridian Health Center provide an individualized approach for your healing journey, the natural way. If you are considering acupuncture for mental health, you can talk with our doctor to learn more about how we can help you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many sessions do I need to get the best results?

Acupuncture in general reduces one’s anxiety and stress. Even patients during their first session report feeling very relaxed and sometimes falling asleep. However, note that there are individual differences between patients. Some patients may feel instant gratification from their first session, while other patients may report a gradual positive effect on their mental health after regular treatment sessions.

2. Are there any side effects that I should know?

As with any form of treatment, there are possible side effects that you can encounter. Some side effects that people encounter are soreness, itching, and slight bruising on the area where the needles were inserted. However, compared with taking strong medication, acupuncture’s side effects are relatively rare given that it uses the natural method of healing. It also rarely has any serious side effects. Nonetheless, you should be able to talk with your doctor if you are considering acupuncture alongside other medical treatments that you currently have.

To give you a personalized treatment plan, your certified acupuncturist will also ask you questions about your general health, your current medications, if you have other ongoing treatments, or other related questions during your initial visit. This will help him assess your condition in a holistic manner. Be sure to ask him any queries that you might have for you to get a clear understanding of the treatment.

3. Is acupuncture for me?

Now that you know the benefits of acupuncture for mental health, you can decide if it is a proper alternative or additional treatment for you. If you are considering it, feel free to ask for recommendations from people who have tried acupuncture first-hand and discuss it with your doctor.