Anxiety Facts From an Acupuncturist
When it comes to managing and combating my anxiety, I use a combination of medication and mindful practices - and that includes Eastern Medicine as well. I started doing acupuncture in 2013 when I moved to Chicago from Los Angeles because my anxiety was having a hell of a time adjusting to the seasonal swings. I was feeling brave and wanted to give acupuncture a shot. It turned out, I would need all of my bravery, because let me just tell you, I fucking hate needles. I didn’t even asterisk that curse word because that’s how much I hate them. Whenever I need blood drawn, I frantically scroll my Instagram feed to stay distracted and avoid panicking during that 10 seconds of torture. I was nervous to try acupuncture because of that fear, but I’m totally fine getting needled up in acupuncture—surprisingly it doesn’t hurt at all and it’s extremely relaxing.
I found my girl Lexi Hagenson at Exhale Spa in Chicago. She is their lead acupuncturist, and also a nationally certified herbalist and certified health coach. Her 60 minutes of magic helps calm my nervous system when my anxiety is at it’s worst, especially when I’m having severe physical side effects. I also like to use acupuncture as a reset when I’m feeling run down or for when I’m having trouble sleeping—the benefits are pretty much endless. OK, enough from me, here are some excerpts from my recent conversation with Lexi to tell us more!
Acupuncture for Anxiety: Facts From an Acupuncturist
Can you give a brief description of what acupuncture is?
Acupuncture so much more complex than I ever thought. The first time I went to see Lexi I had no idea what to expect. The only thing I knew about acupuncture was that Sex and the City episode where Charlotte freaks out and runs into the waiting room with all these tiny needles in her face because she couldn’t relax. Not going to lie, I fully expected this reaction out of myself (running out of the room half naked, and all…). Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Lexi has a much more eloquent definition:
Acupuncture is the insertion of tiny needles at points throughout the body to influence circulation, thereby affecting all sorts of systems in the body including, digestion, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, nervous system, etc.
How does anxiety affect the body in terms of Eastern Medicine?
Lexi explains below how in Eastern Medicine, anxiety is due to too much heat in the body. This makes complete sense to me because my anxiety is always worse in the warm summer months. Don’t even get me started with the claustrophobic humidity that happens in Midwest. Is it bad that some summer Sunday’s I could just get down with a rainy day?
Anxiety is considered a heat pattern in Eastern Medicine. There is heat and agitation where there should be calm and coolness. “Yin deficient heat,” is a common pattern where yin- or bodily fluids- are compromised.
Lexi and I often discuss my diet (sorry girl, sometimes I’m not totally honest with you...I like my pizza). She’s told me that in the summer months to make sure to eat a lot of “cooling” foods and drinks to keep the excess heat at a minimum. Aka no pizza (boo) but salads, ice cold drinks, smoothies, etc.
How can acupuncture help anxiety?
Acupuncture, especially auricular, can directly affect the nervous system by stimulating points where nerves innervate or begin. This ends up having a calming effect. Any acupuncture treatment, auricular or not, moves the blood, which can also promote feel-good endorphins. it’s like a pleasant side effect of any treatment.
When my anxiety gets really bad, I tend to tremble. If I try and hold my hand steady, it will shake and I get kind of tingly all over. A true party—and not the good kind. This is what sold me on acupuncture. After a session with Lexi, those two physical symptoms are usually relieved. It’s the only natural remedy that has such an immediate effect on my anxiety. It truly leaves me feeling calm and relaxed.
What are some common points used to treat anxiety?
Points known as shenmen, heart 7, ren17 and yintang. The patient’s entire body is assessed so additional case-specific points are also added.
Lexi’s answers above, my Googled answers here. Shenmen = point on the ear. Heart 7 = point on the wrist. Ren 17 = point on chest center. Yintang = point in between the two eyebrows. All points I’m very familiar with.
I want to try acupuncture, what are some important things to tell my therapist?
Any trained acupuncturist will ask all the right questions so you don’t have to worry. Topics will include digestion, sleep and menstruation. Expect a peek at your tongue as well for further clues to what’s going on in your body.
Acupuncture is so much more complex than I ever imagined. I never in a million years thought that tiny needles would be relaxing. Turns out I was wrong, and I guess I don’t need to be right about everything...