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

By Dr. Merlin Williams, DAHM, L.Ac.

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You Feel It Before You Think It

The racing heart. The tight chest. The knot in your stomach.

Long before the word anxiety crosses your mind, your body has already sounded the alarm.

Most people believe anxiety begins in the mind, with thoughts, worries, or beliefs. The truth is that it starts in the body.

If you have ever tried to think your way out of panic only for it to return, you already know the truth. The body moves first, and the mind follows.

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The Mind Is Not in Charge

Modern care often treats anxiety as a mental issue. Therapy, journaling, affirmations, and mindset tools can all be helpful. They teach you how to reshape your thoughts and emotions.

But if your body keeps sending danger signals, no amount of mental work will quiet them. Anxiety is not a thought pattern. It is a physical pattern that begins deep in your system.

You cannot talk your way out of a survival response.

Your Body’s Hidden Alarm System

Inside you is a built-in safety network called the autonomic nervous system. When it senses danger, real or imagined, it activates fight or flight.

Your pulse rises.
Your breath shortens.
Your muscles tense before you even notice.

It’s like a smoke alarm that rings before you smell the smoke. That’s why logic rarely helps in the middle of panic. The body has already taken charge.

What Classical Chinese Medicine Has Always Known

In Classical Chinese Medicine, emotions are not isolated in the head. They live in the organs.

Organ	Emotion	Physical Expression
Heart	Panic, restlessness	Palpitations, insomnia
Liver	Tension, frustration	Tight muscles, irritability
Spleen	Worry, overthinking	Digestive upset
Kidneys	Fear, insecurity	Fatigue, shakiness

Why Mind-Only Approaches Fall Short

You can repeat every affirmation and still feel your heart race. You can talk through every fear and still wake up with a tight chest.

Until the body feels safe, the mind will keep circling back to fear. Real calm begins when the nervous system learns a new pattern of safety.

A Body-First Approach

Instead of controlling your thoughts, teach your body to rediscover safety.

Qi Gong and breathwork calm the nervous system and restore energy flow.
Acupressure and essential oils signal the heart to settle and the liver to release tension.
Nutrition rebuilds strength, while Tai Chi restores balance and flow.

When the body learns to relax, the mind naturally follows. Calm, clarity, and confidence return without force.

When the body remembers safety, peace follows naturally.

Real Change Begins in the Body

I have seen this transformation many times. People who tried therapy, medication, or mindset work for years finally found peace when they began working with their body.

When the nervous system resets, panic stops spiraling. Thoughts loosen their grip. Peace becomes an everyday experience.

The Truth About Healing Anxiety

Anxiety doesn’t begin in your thoughts. It begins in your system.

When you calm the body first, the mind can finally rest. That’s the foundation of my work and the reason I created a body-first process to help people move beyond the anxiety cycle.

If you’re ready to experience a new way of healing, start where true change begins: in the body.

Peace is not something you have to chase. It’s your natural state once your body remembers how to feel safe again.

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All new patients begin with a complimentary 20-minute consultation. This conversation helps us determine if the Anxiety Reset Method is the right fit and how your care plan should begin.

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About the Author

Dr. Merlin Williams, DAHM, L.Ac. — Founder of Healthee Care. Board-Certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist. Dr. Williams helps professionals reclaim calm, focus, and vitality through Classical Chinese Medicine and body-first anxiety care.