Will Acupuncture help with anxiety or depression?

Acupuncture can be effective in helping manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is believed to stimulate the body's natural healing response, releasing endorphins and other neurotransmitters that positively affect mood and stress levels. By targeting specific points, acupuncture aims to balance the body's energy, reduce tension, and promote relaxation, contributing to an overall sense of well-being. Many find it a beneficial complement to conventional therapies for anxiety and depression.

Why do Acupuncturists look at my tongue?

Acupuncturists look at your tongue as part of a traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic process. The tongue's color, coating, shape, and moisture level provide insights into your body's health and the state of your internal organs. This practice helps them understand imbalances in the body and guide the treatment plan. The tongue is considered a map to your well-being, reflecting the overall harmony or disharmony of your Qi (vital energy).

Where do Acupuncture needles go?

Acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points on the body known as acupuncture points or acupoints, which are located along meridians or pathways believed to be the channels for the flow of Qi, or vital energy. The selection of points is tailored to each individual's condition and health needs. These points can be located all over the body, including the back, limbs, head, and ears, depending on the symptoms or disorders being treated.

Is Acupuncture ok during pregnancy?

Acupuncture is generally considered safe during pregnancy when performed by a licensed and experienced practitioner. It can help manage common pregnancy-related issues such as nausea, vomiting, back pain, and stress. However, certain acupuncture points are avoided as they may stimulate labor. It's essential to consult with your healthcare provider before starting acupuncture and ensure the acupuncturist is informed about your pregnancy and has experience in treating pregnant women.

Does Acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture typically does not hurt. Most people experience minimal to no pain as the thin needles are inserted. Some may feel a slight pinch, tingling, warmth, or a dull ache at the insertion points, sensations often described as momentary and mild. The procedure is generally considered relaxing and even energizing. The skill of the acupuncturist and the individual's sensitivity level can influence the overall experience, but significant pain is uncommon.

What does Acupuncture do to your body?

Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body, prompting the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being. It can increase circulation, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and enhance the immune system. Essentially, acupuncture helps to restore balance and flow of energy in the body, leading to improved health and function.

What can Acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture can treat a wide range of conditions including chronic pain (like headaches, back pain, neck pain), arthritis, digestive disorders, mood disturbances (such as depression and anxiety), insomnia, stress, allergies, menstrual cramps, and fertility issues. It's also used for enhancing overall well-being and managing symptoms of chronic illnesses. The effectiveness can vary among individuals, but many find relief and improvement in their symptoms through acupuncture treatments.

What does Acupuncture do?

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles at specific body points to balance the flow of Qi, the body's vital energy. It aims to promote natural healing, relieve pain, and improve function. By stimulating the body's meridians, acupuncture is used for various conditions, offering benefits like pain relief, improved circulation, and enhanced well-being.

Why Anxiety Starts in the Body, Not the Mind | Dr. Merlin

You feel the racing heart, the tight chest, the knot in your stomach. Long before you even think the word “anxiety,” your body has already sounded the alarm. Most people believe anxiety begins in the mind, with thoughts, worries, or beliefs. The truth is that anxiety actually starts in the body. If you have ever tried to think your way out of an anxious moment only to feel the panic come back, you already know this.

In the traditional model of care, anxiety is often viewed as a mental health issue. The focus is on your thoughts, your behaviors, and the ways you cope. Talk therapy, journaling, affirmations, and mindset tools can all be valuable. They help you process your experience and create new ways of thinking. But if you have found yourself doing all of these things and still experiencing racing thoughts, panic, or physical symptoms, you are not alone. These methods target the mind, when the real driver of anxiety is in the body.

Your body is designed with an alarm system called the autonomic nervous system. When it senses danger, whether real or imagined, it flips into fight-or-flight mode. Your heart rate jumps, your breathing gets shallow, and your muscles tense before you are even aware of what is happening. It is like a smoke alarm that goes off before you smell the smoke. The body moves first, and the mind scrambles to catch up. That is why you cannot always reason with yourself in the middle of a panic attack. The body has already made its move.

Classical Chinese Medicine has recognized this for thousands of years. In this system, emotions are not isolated in the head. They live in the organs. The Heart is tied to panic, restlessness, and palpitations. The Liver shows up in tension, frustration, or irritability. The Spleen governs worry and overthinking, often paired with digestive upset. The Kidneys reflect fear and insecurity, especially when the system is depleted. Anxiety is not just in your mind. It is a pattern woven through the entire body, influencing how your organs function and how your energy circulates.

This is why mind-only approaches fall short. You can spend years in therapy or repeat every affirmation you can think of, but if your body is still firing off its fear signal, the cycle continues. You cannot talk your way out of a survival response. Until the body feels safe, the mind will always be pulled back into the loop.

A body-first approach changes the game. Instead of only trying to manage thoughts, we begin by calming the nervous system and shifting the organ patterns that drive anxiety. Breathwork and Qi Gong exercises help regulate the body’s energy and teach it to relax. Gentle acupressure or essential oils can calm specific points that tell the heart to settle, the liver to release tension, or the kidneys to feel supported. Nutrition and lifestyle practices give the body what it needs to restore balance, while movement practices like Tai Chi encourage flow instead of stagnation. When the body learns safety again, the mind naturally follows into peace and clarity.

I have seen this time and again. People who have struggled for years, tried medications and therapy, and still lived with daily anxiety finally began to feel lasting relief when they worked with their body. Once their nervous system was reset, the panic stopped spiraling, and their thoughts no longer had the same grip. They were able to reclaim calm, confidence, and connection with themselves in a way that felt natural instead of forced.

The important thing to remember is that anxiety does not start in your thoughts. It starts in your system. When you calm the body first, the mind can finally rest. That is the foundation of the work I do and the reason I created my process to help people move out of the anxiety cycle. If you are tired of struggling and ready for a new way forward, I invite you to explore what a body-first approach can do for you. Peace is possible when we address the root, and it all begins in the body.