Alleviating Anxiety with Chinese Medicine

July 2022

Chinese medicine lessens anxiety by calming the mind through “pacifying the heart and spirit”. It works to dispel excessive worry through balancing the energetics of the spleen, as this organ system is associated with overthinking according to the Law of the Five Elements. Positive results are further achieved through building kidney energy thereby reducing excessive fear and simultaneously enhancing the core energy of the entire body.

This ancient holistic paradigm provides a viable option for transforming the lives of more than 40 million adults in the United States suffering from generalized anxiety, not to mention the countless children, teens and young adults struggling with this uncomfortable state of being. Positive results are gained by balancing the whole body through reestablishing proper and abundant flow of qi (vital energy) and blood.

A modality such as acupuncture removes energetic blockages, restores proper flow of qi (vital energy) and brings one into a more balanced state of health via the insertion of small, thin needles into specific acupuncture points on the body. It is traditionally known to activate the parasympathetic nervous system thereby bringing forth quietude and allowing one to “rest and digest” in stressful situations. This helps to explain the basis for recent research suggesting that acupuncture works for anxiety by impacting how the body triggers the fight or flight response. Health seekers have found that Chinese herbal medicine used in combination with acupuncture or as a stand-alone method serves to allay uncontrollable anxiousness, especially in terms of herbals reputed for calming the energetics of the heart.

Seeking help from a Western medical doctor is essential for obtaining a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations for securing lasting change. Many people have found psychotherapy to be quite effective for helping them establish a more balanced emotional state. Instituting new patterns of behavior further empowers one to be less reactive in stressful situations that trigger high levels of anxiety.

Behavior changes may include engaging in regular exercise in addition to going to bed and rising early. Eating a healthy balanced diet and avoiding foods and drinks containing caffeine is another smart choice, as is refraining from drinking alcohol, smoking and partaking in recreational drugs. Choosing and maintaining relationships that support a positive mental state is key to keeping anxiety from rising within one’s energetic system.