Lots of people suffer from depression, anxiety and stress. Seeking alternatives to anti-depressant medication.
There are some promising recent studies showing how acupuncture can treat depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as providing clear, biological explanations for the clinical evidence I have seen.
So how does acupuncture work? The acupuncturist inserts fine needles into certain identified acupuncture points on “meridians” which run throughout the body and correspond to certain organs. Meridians can be thought of as a highway of energy, or “qi” in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is theorised to work by getting rid of the “roadblocks” on this energy superhighway.
When there is congestion on the highway, energy gets backed up. When the meridians are clear (no roadblocks), the qi flows freely. Each meridian “homes” to an organ and each organ has certain associations, such as emotions or body parts. For example, in Chinese medicine, the emotion of the liver is anger. When the qi is blocked, it can cause liver qi stagnation, which can result in anger. It goes both ways, though—when you’re angry a lot, you can block the flow of liver qi. Western medicine has shown that acupuncture releases endorphins, and activates natural pain killers.
Now we see that it affects other biological functions as well. Chinese medicine sees acupuncture as improving functioning by correcting blockages or imbalances in the organs.
Factors which contribute to Yin and Yang Qi imbalance:
Dietray habits- Overeating, Caffeinated/ alcoholic
Emotions- Anger, Sorrow, Extreme happiness
Exhaustion from activities- Excessive exercise, Overstimulation of brain
Prolonged illness
Old age
By addressing these factors, acupuncture works to clear the roadblocks on our energy superhighway and restore the natural flow of qi. This process not only relieves the physical symptoms associated with blocked meridians but also helps balance the emotional aspects tied to each organ—just as liver qi stagnation can lead to anger.
Promising recent studies support these ideas by showing that acupuncture releases endorphins and activates natural pain killers, providing clear biological explanations for the clinical evidence I have seen.
While further research is needed to fully understand all its mechanisms, this holistic approach offers a compelling alternative to anti-depressant medication by bridging ancient Chinese medicine with modern clinical insights.
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