Acupuncture for Mental Health
Acupuncture can be extremely useful in treating a mixture of mental health conditions including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and so much more. Supporting people whether it’s a main complaint or in combination, or due to, other conditions.
The Importance of Mental Wellbeing
After seeing hundreds of acupuncture patients, I have come to believe that most people struggle to some degree with their mental health. This could be from feeling stressed at work, through feeling frustrated or upset about physical injuries, to suffering from things such as panic attacks. It's completely normal, especially in the tough times we live in, to have periods where we feel incredibly sad, angry, or experience a range of other emotions.
I've found that acupuncture's ability to balance the body and mind is remarkable. One way of doing this is through a Five Element Acupuncture perspective. Addressing any complaint's root causes brings a sense of calm and resilience. It isn't about erasing our emotions but helping people navigate their experiences more clearly and easily.
When discussing mental health in relation to acupuncture, two essential things to consider at the beginning are:
The body, mind, and spirit are intricately connected. Every acupuncture treatment addresses both the emotional and physical aspects of health. In chronic illnesses, this connection becomes even more pronounced, with mental and physical health often influencing each other, creating a detrimental cycle. This holistic approach is what sets acupuncture apart.
The free flow of emotions is crucial. We should embrace all emotions, even daily, as they are natural and human responses. For instance, it's okay to feel angry when stuck in traffic, cry when watching a sad film, or laugh at a funny joke. Only when we get stuck in one emotion, such as constant anger or frustration, do we start to experience issues. Understanding and accepting all our feelings is a powerful tool in managing our mental health.
"I have had several treatments (anxiety, exhaustion and cold sores) and can highly recommend Josh. He is knowledgeable, passionate about what he does, caring and someone to have a good laugh with too."
— Kristine
Prevalence of Mental Health
Mental health is one of the biggest problems facing our modern society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 450 million people are suffering from mental disorders, and this number is only expected to increase. Much of this, I believe, can be attributed to the way our society functions—constantly glued to our phones, where we act as addicts seeking dopamine rushes from 'doom scrolling,' continually multitasking (I, for one, go on my phone while watching TV), and so on.
Of course, mental health covers a range of conditions, from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Some of the statistics for these conditions are staggering. For example, depression affects roughly 264 million people globally, and anxiety affects approximately 275 million.
There are, of course, remedies for these conditions (of which acupuncture is one, obviously!).
A Deeper Dive into Mental Health
Some Causes
There are several reasons why mental health issues can surface, including:
Biological factors: Genetics and brain chemistry can affect mental health. This can include all aspects of neurodiversity. For example, chemical imbalances can impact mood regulation. This is how many antidepressants work. Antidepressants alter the balance of certain neurotransmitters and chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, in an attempt to improve one's mood.
Lifestyle factors: Diet, exercise, and substance use can affect our mental health. Substances can include things like smoking, alcohol, and drugs. It doesn't necessarily have to involve excessive drinking; even having a beer every night can have an impact.
Environmental factors: What we experience throughout our lives can affect our mental health, including trauma, abuse, and other significant life changes. This could result from major incidents that leave a lasting impact on us or from seemingly simple things.
Sometimes, it's the subconscious factors that have a profound effect. As adults, we can rationalise our experiences and emotions (or at least ask questions about them). However, as children, we cannot do so. For example, A father closes his office door to have peace while he works. In his mind, this allows him to work better to provide for his family. In the child's mind, they may perceive it as their father shutting them out when all they want is love. It may seem irrational from an adult's perspective, but we do not know better as children. These minor, repeated incidents can affect us in the long term.
Some Symptoms
There are numerous symptoms that someone can experience regarding their mental wellbeing. These symptoms can range from feeling withdrawn and desiring quiet time to experiencing panic attacks with palpitations. The meaning of these symptoms varies from person to person, and part of our role as acupuncturists is to understand what they mean to you as an individual. Below are nine signs of mental health struggles:
Feeling anxious or worried
Feeling depressed or unhappy
Emotional outbursts
Sleep problems
Weight or appetite changes
Quiet or withdrawn
Substance abuse
Feeling guilty or worthless
Changes in behaviour or feelings
There are several ways you can get help. This includes:
Talking therapies, such as CBT, psychotherapy, counselling, and more.
Medications, such as antidepressants.
Building support networks can include friends, family, support groups (plenty exist), and more.
Make lifestyle changes, whether stopping drinking for a month or going for a daily walk. Sometimes, it's the small changes that make a significant impact.
Finally, of course, there is acupuncture which can include Five Element acupuncture.
"Josh has been amazing for me. I’ve just switched jobs which has been highly stressful and overwhelming. I’ve been seeing Josh for a few months now which has been extremely helpful in so many ways. I feel better equipped to cope with my day-to-day job and responsibilities. It’s refreshing to speak to someone who has history in a corporate world. If you’re thinking about trying acupuncture then Josh is your guy - even if you don’t have an illness. He is such a good advocate and is brilliant in this field."
— Megan
How do we Help Mental Wellbeing as Acupuncturists?
There are multiple ways to do this. We've already explored some points in the previous section that might help. Still, acupuncture is so much more than just choosing a few random points. Acupuncture is about studying how someone is manifesting their symptoms, understanding what might be the cause, and being able to target the 'root' of the problem.
Some other ways of thinking that we might consider include:
Substances: For example, phlegm is caused by the lack of movement of qi and blood, which can lead to heat development. This can give rise to anger. Alternatively, when there is a buildup of fluids, dampness can occur. This causes the body to feel heavy, as if the world's weight is on your shoulders, making you feel like you are constantly sinking.
Symptoms: We've touched on this previously, but something like the Qi of the liver rising too much can cause extreme headaches or migraines. This is often observed through the TCM diagnosis of liver yang rising. In such cases, it is vital to ground someone, work on their feet, and ensure that they are rooted.
Certain elements and organs have their symptomology. One of my favourites is stomach heat, which suggests that someone will want to take off all their clothes, run to the top of a hill, and sing at the top of their lungs. Who hasn't felt like that before?
The interactions between the elements: Within the five phases, there are two cycles. One is the generating cycle, generally seen positively, and the other is the controlling cycle. This is where too much Water can dampen Fire (or too much fear will prevent joy). Working on this cycle can be an effective way of helping someone overcome their emotional wellbeing.
Point names or point functions: For example, Pericardium 6, Nei Guan, is said to be the command point for the chest, and hence, it opens the chest and heart. This makes it effective for things like palpitations or panic attacks. Other points, such as Du 23, are called "Upper Star," so they can be used to calm an anxious or overactive mind.
Supporting Trauma: There's also an additional layer of the channel system called the extraordinary vessels. Some of these channels are described in terms of how they affect us psycho-emotionally. For example, Chong Mai is about generational trauma and how our family history can affect us as individuals. This is much like the nature versus nurture debate and can help us determine what we are born with and how to address it.
An Introduction to Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a 2,000+-year-old medical practice that employs tiny needles to facilitate the body's self-healing process. It primarily focuses on restoring internal balance and operates by manipulating what we commonly refer to as "qi," often translated as energy or breath, and regulating its flow within our meridians. We can insert needles in 14 meridians; within these meridians, there are over 365 acupuncture points to choose from.
Acupuncture perceives illness as disharmony within the body, which can often be attributed to one or a combination of three disease causes:
Internal diseases (e.g., emotional imbalances)
External diseases (e.g., conditions like Wind cold, resulting in cold symptoms)
Miscellaneous diseases (e.g., COVID or poisoning)
It has been suggested that nearly 90% of all illnesses have an emotional component. In my experience of treating hundreds of patients, this is entirely true.
How the Emotions Affect us
In acupuncture, there is a concept called 'the eight principles.' These principles consist of four opposites encompassing most diagnoses: yin and yang, hot and cold, internal or external, excess or deficiency.
Let's explore two opposites, anger and sadness, from a Chinese Medicine perspective:
When we are angry, our Liver energy rises to the top, and our bodies generate heat. Consider the common phrase describing someone as "hot-headed," for example. This phenomenon can be easily explained in Chinese Medicine.
When we are sad, it affects our Water element (more on this later). The water element is associated with winter (thus coldness). Still, because it is the most physical and yin element, it resides at the bottom. This can result in everything sinking to our feet, giving us a sense of a sinking feeling and making everything feel heavy.
These are just two of the emotions explored from a Chinese Medicine perspective. An incredible study has examined the heatmaps of people's bodies when they experience certain emotions. The image below illustrates how our belief in acupuncture can be physically observed in our bodies.
Source: NPR
Other Ways you Can Help Yourself
The Importance of Diet
Diet can always play a role in our health. Diet and nutrition are important and can significantly influence physical and mental wellbeing. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the advice is primarily based on the flavours, which affect the movement of qi. These flavours include:
Water: Salty (The movement here is to purge, soften, and guide qi towards the Kidneys. Items such as miso and sea salt are potent here.)
Wood: Sour (This movement is all about moving upwards and outwards. Anything fermented, like sauerkraut, is good for you, as well as limes and lemons.)
Fire: Bitter (This movement drains downwards. Some interesting foods include kale, celery, and burdock root.)
Earth: Sweet (This movement tonifies, harmonises, and moistens the body. It is found in items like rice or millet rather than sugar.)
Metal: Acrid (The movement here is dispersion and vigorously moves accumulations. Items such as cinnamon, ginger, wasabi, and more fall into this category.)
These flavours can manifest as cravings. For example, if someone has an imbalance within the Earth element, they may tend to crave sugary foods. This is often observed in the clinic when someone complains that all they fancy is chocolate or sweets!
The importance of Humour
Smiling is free therapy. A Chinese proverb says, "A person should laugh three times a day to live longer," which I think sounds silly, but there must be an element of truth in that. It's the same: "A good laugh makes you ten years younger, while worry turns the hair grey." There is something about old wives' tales that have reality in them.
The Power of Movement
Suppressed emotions often arise when expressing them in the moment is challenging or inappropriate. (Screaming at the workplace or public setting is generally considered unacceptable behaviour.) Consequently, we may endure prolonged periods of tension and frustration or teeter on the verge of tears. These pent-up emotions can obstruct the flow of Qi, the vital energy within us.
Engaging in physical activity can help this energy regain its motion, reducing the intensity of these emotional sensations. It is important to recognise and acknowledge all emotions, including positive ones like joy and contentment. However, we typically withhold anger, grief, and sadness, and these suppressed emotions can detrimentally affect our emotional wellbeing.
This movement or physical activity can include anything from running or swimming to tai chi or qigong. A Chinese phrase says, "When there is free flow, there is no pain," which is where something like gentle movement comes in.
Learn From Difficulties
The Chinese word for crisis comprises two essential elements: one symbolises 'danger,' and the other signifies 'opportunity.' Within the fabric of their culture and language lies the firm belief that opportunities emerge from adversity.
By adopting this belief, we can cultivate a positive outlook on our capability to navigate any circumstance. Challenge yourself with the question, "What can I glean from this experience?" Whenever you encounter difficulties, this approach not only allows you to view yourself in a more favourable light but also enables you to take pride in personal growth and learning from life's trials.
Get Help when You Need It
You may feel too unwell to deal with your emotional health on your own; in this case, choose to seek help, speak to your doctor, get help and support, see a counsellor or therapist or find other professional help, such as a friendly acupuncturist! (hint hint, cough cough, clearing my throat) Someone who will take a holistic view and review of your life and advise on everything from diet to exercise to meditation and how you can gain your overall health and restore the balance in your life. The healthier we become, the better we can deal with new difficulties. If we are unhealthy, we are often at the mercy of our emotions.