Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It Effective?How It WorksAcupressure Points for AnxietyCan It Worsen Anxiety?RisksWhat to ExpectChoosing a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is It Effective?
How It Works
Acupressure Points for Anxiety
Can It Worsen Anxiety?
Risks
What to Expect
Choosing a Provider
Anxiety is a reaction to stress and anticipated threat or danger. Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear and anxiety that can interfere with everyday living.Acupuncture, a practice that involves inserting needles into pressure points, is becoming an increasingly popular alternative treatment option for for anxiety disorders.
In a meta-analysis it was found that acupuncture is a safe and potentially effective treatment forgeneralized anxiety disorder. There are not enough studies to support acupuncture as an effective treatment for other types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.
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Does Acupuncture Help With Anxiety?
Acupuncture has been shown to help ease situational or temporary anxiety before medical appointments, dental treatments, examinations, and surgeries. A 2021 review of 20 studies found people with general anxiety disorder may also experience anxiety symptom improvements from acupuncture.
Understanding the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders
How Quickly Does Acupuncture for Anxiety Work?
Many studies show acupuncture for anxiety works within six weeks of treatment.There is no standard for how often to have an acupuncture session for treating anxiety. A qualified acupuncturist will create a treatment schedule and plan for your overall health needs.
A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupressure is a form of massage also used in traditional Chinese medicine. There are many single acupressure points for anxiety, described below.
Yintang (EXHN3)
Yintang (EX-HN 3) is located between the eyebrows and is associated with anxiety relief. One review of randomized controlled studies focusing on preoperative participants (i.e., before surgery) found Yingtang acupuncture beneficial for reducing anxiety.
Shenmen (HT7)
TKnown as the “gate of the spirit,” the Shenmen or Heart 7 (HT7) acupressure point sits where your palm meets the wrist.
Animal studies have shown benefits HT7 for psychological and neurological disorders—and in treating symptoms associated with anxiety such as irritability, heart palpitations, and chest pain. Researchers say more studies are needed to explore HT7’s clinical efficacy or effects in humans with anxiety.
Baihui (GV 20)
Baihui (GV 20) is located at the top of the head. In TCM, this is where all energy meridians meet. Among its many perceived effects, acupuncture on Baihui (GV 20) is associated with clearing the mind. It’s specifically used in treating anxiety.
Hegu (LI4)
Hegu (LI4) is located at the webbed part between your thumb and your pointer finger. This particular acupressure point is associated with pain relief.Pain is a common symptom of anxiety. It’s also often a telltale sign of general anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders.
Acupuncture Benefits and Risks
Can Anxiety Become Worse After Acupuncture?
There’s no clinical research suggesting anxiety can become worse after acupuncture. If you’re feeling anxious after treatment, consider discussing this with your provider or healthcare team to come up with a solution.
Acupressure Massage vs. AcupunctureAcupressure is a massage technique that applies pressure to specific points. Acupressure doesn’t require needles and can be self-administered for immediate stress relief, for example. However, one 2017 study on people with sports injuries suggests acupressure may be helpful for pain but not necessarily anxiety relief (unlike acupuncture).
Acupressure Massage vs. Acupuncture
Acupressure is a massage technique that applies pressure to specific points. Acupressure doesn’t require needles and can be self-administered for immediate stress relief, for example. However, one 2017 study on people with sports injuries suggests acupressure may be helpful for pain but not necessarily anxiety relief (unlike acupuncture).
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Are There Any Risks?
Like any treatment, some risks are involved. In the 2021 meta-analysis, side effects were reported in seven of the 20 studies. Importantly, the acupuncture group had fewer side effects than the drug treatment control group.
Side effects may include:
Acupuncture is a complementary treatment. Bear in mind that some people are not suitable candidates for acupuncture or for certain acupuncture points. For example, some acupuncture points, including Hegu LI4, cannot be used safely during pregnancy as it can induce labor.Consult with your healthcare providers regarding whether you would be suitable for acupuncture.
Natural Remedies for Anxiety: 12 Prescription Alternatives to Know
Before your appointment, you’ll go over health history, including medical conditions, symptoms, prior and current treatments, and treatment plans and/or goals.
During your appointment, you’ll sit down or lie down on a padded table while thin, sterile needles are inserted into your skin. The needles will prompt your nerves to send pain-relieving and mood-regulating messages to the brain and spinal cord. Some people experience electrical zap sensations in some pressure spots from energy release; others may fall asleep.
After your appointment, you may feel energized or relaxed.
Appointment DetailsMost appointments last about 45–60 minutes. The exact number of needles or time will vary depending on several factors, including symptoms and health conditions.
Appointment Details
Most appointments last about 45–60 minutes. The exact number of needles or time will vary depending on several factors, including symptoms and health conditions.
Choosing an Acupuncturist for Anxiety Relief
Choosing an acupuncturist for anxiety relief comes down to finding a licensed or certified provider with experience in treating anxiety disorders.
Bear in mind not all states require acupuncture providers to be medical doctors or be licensed or certified. You can find acupuncturists who are medical doctors listed on the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA).
You should also talk with friends, family, and others for recommendations if possible.
If you or a loved one are finding it challenging to cope with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
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Summary
Acupuncture is worth trying for anxiety relief. Specific acupressure points on the body are associated with anxiety relief, with few side effects or risks. Choosing an acupuncturist for anxiety comes down to finding a qualified and trained professional.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Yang Xy, Yang Nb , Huang Ff, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20:9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.Acupressure.Kwon CY, Lee B.Acupuncture or acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for anxiety: A preliminary review.Med Acupunct. 2018;30(2):73-79. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1268Son CG.Clinical application of single acupoint (HT7).Integr Med Res. 2019;8(4):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2019.08.005Wang WW, Xie CL, Lu L, Zheng GQ.A systematic review and meta-analysis of Baihui (GV20)-based scalp acupuncture in experimental ischemic stroke.Sci Rep. 2014;4:3981. doi:10.1038/srep03981Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Chronic pain.Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ.Does acupressure hit the mark? A three-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial of acupressure for pain and anxiety relief in athletes with acute musculoskeletal sports injuries.Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: Effectiveness and safety.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0Christensen KA, Gosse BJ, Hildebrand C, Gershan LA.Acupuncture-associated vasovagal response: Revised terminology and hospital experience.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(6):366-376. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1245National Health Service.Acupuncture.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Southern California University Health Sciences.What is acupuncture and what conditions does it help manage?John Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Yang Xy, Yang Nb , Huang Ff, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20:9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.Acupressure.Kwon CY, Lee B.Acupuncture or acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for anxiety: A preliminary review.Med Acupunct. 2018;30(2):73-79. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1268Son CG.Clinical application of single acupoint (HT7).Integr Med Res. 2019;8(4):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2019.08.005Wang WW, Xie CL, Lu L, Zheng GQ.A systematic review and meta-analysis of Baihui (GV20)-based scalp acupuncture in experimental ischemic stroke.Sci Rep. 2014;4:3981. doi:10.1038/srep03981Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Chronic pain.Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ.Does acupressure hit the mark? A three-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial of acupressure for pain and anxiety relief in athletes with acute musculoskeletal sports injuries.Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: Effectiveness and safety.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0Christensen KA, Gosse BJ, Hildebrand C, Gershan LA.Acupuncture-associated vasovagal response: Revised terminology and hospital experience.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(6):366-376. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1245National Health Service.Acupuncture.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Southern California University Health Sciences.What is acupuncture and what conditions does it help manage?John Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?Yang Xy, Yang Nb , Huang Ff, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20:9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.Acupressure.Kwon CY, Lee B.Acupuncture or acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for anxiety: A preliminary review.Med Acupunct. 2018;30(2):73-79. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1268Son CG.Clinical application of single acupoint (HT7).Integr Med Res. 2019;8(4):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2019.08.005Wang WW, Xie CL, Lu L, Zheng GQ.A systematic review and meta-analysis of Baihui (GV20)-based scalp acupuncture in experimental ischemic stroke.Sci Rep. 2014;4:3981. doi:10.1038/srep03981Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Chronic pain.Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ.Does acupressure hit the mark? A three-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial of acupressure for pain and anxiety relief in athletes with acute musculoskeletal sports injuries.Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: Effectiveness and safety.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0Christensen KA, Gosse BJ, Hildebrand C, Gershan LA.Acupuncture-associated vasovagal response: Revised terminology and hospital experience.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(6):366-376. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1245National Health Service.Acupuncture.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.Southern California University Health Sciences.What is acupuncture and what conditions does it help manage?John Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.
American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?
Yang Xy, Yang Nb , Huang Ff, Ren S, Li ZJ.Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20:9. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.
University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.Acupressure.
Kwon CY, Lee B.Acupuncture or acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for anxiety: A preliminary review.Med Acupunct. 2018;30(2):73-79. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1268
Son CG.Clinical application of single acupoint (HT7).Integr Med Res. 2019;8(4):227-228. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2019.08.005
Wang WW, Xie CL, Lu L, Zheng GQ.A systematic review and meta-analysis of Baihui (GV20)-based scalp acupuncture in experimental ischemic stroke.Sci Rep. 2014;4:3981. doi:10.1038/srep03981
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Chronic pain.
Mącznik AK, Schneiders AG, Athens J, Sullivan SJ.Does acupressure hit the mark? A three-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial of acupressure for pain and anxiety relief in athletes with acute musculoskeletal sports injuries.Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(4):338-343. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000378
National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture: Effectiveness and safety.
Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0
Christensen KA, Gosse BJ, Hildebrand C, Gershan LA.Acupuncture-associated vasovagal response: Revised terminology and hospital experience.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(6):366-376. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1245
National Health Service.Acupuncture.
Southern California University Health Sciences.What is acupuncture and what conditions does it help manage?
John Hopkins Medicine.Acupuncture.
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