Acupuncture Depression and Anxiety Treatment.

Acupuncture Depression and Anxiety

Acupuncture Depression Treatment.

Depression is the most common mental illness in Australia affecting 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives. It’s often experienced as a persistent low mood with feelings of sadness, melancholy, withdrawal and lack of interest for long periods of time.

How does Chinese Medicine view depression?

In mandarin, the word for depression “yu” is also the same word used for stagnation. Chinese medicine views depression as energy stagnating in the body. Energy stagnation may be caused by emotional suppression, poor dietary habits, trauma, stress and hereditary weakness.

One of the most common causes of depression seen in clinic is due to emotional stagnation. When we respond emotionally to an event or thought and that emotion isn’t expressed, where does it go? Unexpressed emotional energy stays in your body and stagnates. This stagnating energy affects your energy flow and is eventually reflected in your life as feelings of being “stuck, stagnant, dull, down, tight, and gloomy”. Eventually this stagnation can manifest as other more serious health problems.

What to do?

To clear stagnation from a Chinese medicine perspective means moving energy. Below are some great ways to start clearing the blockages.

Acupuncture Depression. Acupuncture strongly moves energy and effectively elevates moods by adjusting hormones. By moving blocked energy, events can start to unfold in your life to process old emotions and move you into a bright new future.
Herbal Medicine. Herbs can be formulated taking into account any medications you are on to help balance your emotions. A common formula used is “xiao yao san” also called “free and easy wandering powder”. This combination of herbs strongly moves energy and and allow you to feel a state of “flow” once again. Always seek guidance from a qualified herbalist before taking herbs as some can interfere with pharmaceutical medications.
Talk. One of the healthiest things ever, is talking through your problems. Explore counselling and psychology or simply tell a trusted friend how you are feeling.
Exercise. Start with 30min per day of vigorous exercise. Most people who regularly exercise notice they process stress and raise serotonin levels, making them feel great.
Write. Start at the top of an A4 page “I feel depressed because”……..and write any ideas that arise no matter how absurd. You may find yourself pouring out emotion as you discover the feeling and thoughts behind your feelings.
Dance. For 5 min per day put on some music where nobody’s looking and move your body in whichever way you feel. Our bodies were made for movement.
Eat simply. Get in the habit of cooking brown rice, legumes and copious amounts of fruit and vegetables. Drink lots of water and green tea.
Laugh. Your body doesn’t know the difference between fake and real laugher…you feel good either way. So when by yourself or even in your car start chanting “HA HA” , “HA HA” and you may be surprised to find yourself laughing for no reason. You’ll move lots of energy as well as give yourself a good abdominal workout.

Start with these simple ideas and make an appointment with an acupuncturist and herbalist for a customized treatment plan.