Acupuncture for anxiety & stress

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is among the most common psychiatric conditions encountered in medical institutions, alongside depression. In modern society, which requires adaptation to diverse values and rapid changes, and where individuals are often exposed to acute and chronic stress, both directly and indirectly, the prevalence of anxiety disorders is understandably high due to these environmental factors. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, the global prevalence of anxiety disorders was 3.6%, with an estimated total of 264 million individuals suffering from these disorders.

Research to date indicates that anxiety disorders are associated with increased comorbidity of other mental and physical illnesses, higher healthcare costs, and psychosocial impairments. This underscores the necessity for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of anxiety disorders. The primary challenge in dealing with anxiety is the variety of symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. According to DSM-5 criteria, anxiety disorders include separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. This variety in presentation can lead to diagnostic errors. Moreover, the psychological symptoms are often not confined to specific episodes but are shaped by a complex interplay of various factors, including personality traits and the surrounding social environment, making diagnosis and management challenging in clinical settings.

As a result, there has been a continuous demand for the development of alternative means of dealing with GAD in supplementary and alternative medical institutions. The characteristic of dialectical diagnosis in traditional medicine may actually serve as a strength in diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders, which exhibit such symptom diversity. In traditional Korean medicine, diseases are understood from the perspective of the unity of body and mind. The emotions of anxiety and fear are closely related to the organs such as the heart (심), liver (간), kidneys (신), and gallbladder (담), which respectively govern certain mental and psychological function.

Individuals born with a constitution that has weak organ functions tend to be more fearful or timid, experiencing greater anxiety and worry than others. Therefore, Traditional Korean Medicine seeks to treat anxiety disorders by assessing the deficiency and excess of the organs, providing support to the weaker organ energies, or correcting imbalances. This may take place through herbal medicine which regulates the function of the affected organs, acupuncture, or moxibustion.

Acupuncture, according to traditional Korean medicine, stimulates acupuncture points to regulate the flow of meridians and balance the organs, thereby stabilizing the body and mind. Recent research indicates the following physiological effects which may be helpful for an anxiety patient.

• increases the secretion of endorphins in the blood.
• decreases the secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone, alleviating feelings of anxiety.
• reduce the brain's stress response and stabilize the overactive sympathetic nervous system, improving anxiety symptoms.

The effects of acupuncture in stabilizing the body and mind are already detailed in texts such as Donguibogam and acupuncture experience manuals. Studies conducted on various ethnic groups around the world have also verified the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating anxiety disorders. The effectiveness is especially demonstrated in modern day Korea, where people have long work hours and stressful lives. Traditional Korean Medicine is an important reason why Korean people are able to work hard and play hard.