Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) helps alleviate anxiety-related symptoms
Many clients at Calandra Center for Health & Wellness (CCHW) come in with physical and emotional complaints related to stress and anxiety. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a powerful integrative health option when stress, anxiety, or an anxiety disorder need to be addressed. TCM offers a variety of methods to calm the symptoms that accompany such conditions.
Western Medicine and Anxiety
In a Nutshell – Stress vs. Anxiety
In a nutshell, the stress response is a normal part of our physiology, designed to preserve our healthy functioning and survival as an organism. Too much stress can be unhealthy.
Anxiety is a kind of stress response that includes emotional, physiological, and cognitive components which alert us to pay attention and prepare. Chronic anxiety can turn into an anxiety disorder.
See our blog, “Stressed Out? We can Help!” for a more detailed exploration of the differences between stress and anxiety, and the treatment options known to be effective when too much stress becomes problematic for health and well-being.
Chronic Anxiety can Become an Anxiety Disorder
Modern psychiatry identifies several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was once classified as an anxiety disorder, but has since been reclassified under Trauma and Stress Related Disorders in the DSM-5.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be triggered by chronic environmental stress. Sometimes the symptoms of GAD can result as a side effect of a medicine, or of substance misuse or withdrawal. It can also be linked to health conditions that affect hormonal balances in the body, such as hyperthyroidism. Long-term (chronic) illness and disease can also trigger GAD.
If you are experiencing chronic anxiety, your symptoms may worsen over time if you don’t get help. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pathology / disease can result when emotions are not properly resolved. See your doctor or a mental health provider before your anxiety gets worse. It can be easier to address the sooner you get help.
When to seek medical attention
See your doctor if:
- You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
- You feel like you’re worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
- Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
- You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
Seek emergency help immediately if you or a loved one are having suicidal thoughts or in crisis.
- Go to an emergency room, or
- Call 911, or
- Call/text 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Chat – Official Website – English, Spanish – 24 hours
Treatments for Anxiety
It is important to work with your doctor to identify any underlying health conditions and/or medications that could be contributing to your anxiety so that you and your care team can target the most beneficial treatments.
Integrative therapies like acupuncture, Reiki, meditation, Neuro-emotional Technique (NET) and yoga can help alleviate anxiety symptoms. Research supports the effectiveness of exercise for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Many mental health professionals recognize the benefits of integrative treatment plans, and some may be trained in integrative modalities such as Somatic Therapy or Reiki.
Note: A mental health professional is someone who has been specifically trained and licensed to provide mental health services. Examples include psychiatrist (MD), clinical or counseling psychologist (PsyD), licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and clinical social worker (LCSW). We refer to and collaborate with mental healthcare providers to develop coordinated treatment and care programs for our patients as needed.
The following list highlights standard and integrative treatments that are known to be effective in treating anxiety.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medications
- Somatic therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Anxiety
TCM has been found to be helpful in treating many of the medical conditions that can cause or contribute to anxiety. TCM can also help reduce the impact of the symptoms caused by stress and anxiety.
Research on the effectiveness of TCM in treating anxiety
Current studies on the effectiveness of TCM treatments for anxiety are promising, and point to a role for TCM in treating state anxiety (“normal anxiety” – for example before a surgery), and possibly for treating some anxiety disorders. Research on Anxiety and TCM is ever expanding.
Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder (2021) offers a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in English and Chinese, and concludes, “the findings suggest that acupuncture therapy aimed at reducing anxiety in patients with GAD [generalized anxiety disorder] has certain beneficial effects compared to controls.”
A 2019 clinical study compared treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) using TCM (combining acupuncture and herbs), with treatment using a medicine often prescribed for GAD sufferers (paroxetine). 40 patients were in each group. Both groups experienced relief of GAD symptoms, with the TCM treatment showing more effectiveness (more patients experiencing relief, fewer experiencing no relief) than the paroxetine. Certainly a promising area for more research. The findings of this study are specific to patients with GAD that also fulfil the TCM diagnostic pattern of liver depression transforming into fire (see “Liver Qi Stagnation with Phlegm Fire Pattern” below).
TCM Diagnostic Patterns for Anxiety
The practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses TCM Diagnostic Patterns to guide treatment decisions. In TCM, there are seven primary diagnostic patterns where anxiety and related symptoms can be present. Frequently, there may be a combination of patterns present.
According to TCM, anxiety can be caused by energetic damage or disruptions to energy flow in the Heart, Liver, and/or Spleen Organ Systems/Meridians (energetic pathways).
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart Qi Vacuity (deficiency) and Blood Stasis Pattern
Note: This is a combination of Heart-Spleen deficiency and Qi and Blood stasis
Symptoms:
Sudden onset of tension, fear, dread; Feeling of doom or approaching death; Incessant moaning; Restless sitting; Crying and sighing; Distressed breathing; Rapid heart rate (jumping); Chest tightness; Tightness in the chest; Palpitations; Shortness of breath; Insomnia; Excessive dreaming; Tongue: dark pale, with white fur; Pulse: fine, weak, possibly bound, or regularly intermittent
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Liver 3
- Spleen 10
- Large Intestine 4
- Heart 7
- Pericardium 6
- Stomach 36
- Bladder 15
- Bladder 17
Diagnostic Pattern:
Liver Qi Stagnation with Phlegm Fire Pattern
Symptoms:
Emotional depression; Anxiety; Worry; Sorrow; Tension; Agitation; Easily angered; Frequent sighing; Insomnia; Frequent dreams; Chest and diaphragmatic fullness and tightness; Flank pain (side of rib cage); Thick phlegm; Tongue: red with slimy, yellow fur coat; Pulse: bowstring, slippery, rapid pulse
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Liver 2
- Pericardium 5
- Large intestine 4
- Stomach 40
- Conception vessel (CV) 17
- CV 12
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Pattern
Symptoms:
Episodes of anxiety and worry that last for a long time; Tension; Sallowness; Fearful; Impaired memory; Fear and dread; Shaking; Trembling; Painful chest tightness; Belching and hiccup; A dark stagnant facial complexion with dark greenish circles under the eyes; Tongue: dark red tongue with red/purple spots and macules; Pulse: Deep, bowstring, fine, or choppy
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Liver 3
- Large intestine 4
- Spleen 10
- Heart 7
- Pericardium 6
- Yintang
- CV 17
- BL 15
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart Qi Vacuity (deficiency) Pattern
Symptoms:
Anxiety, apprehension, constant worry; Palpitations; Poor concentration; Restless sleep, insomnia; Shortness of breath; Dizziness; Physical and mental fatigue; Pale complexion; Spontaneous sweating; Tongue: pale with thin white coat; Pulse: thready and weak
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Bladder 15
- Pericardium 5
- Heart 7
- Pericardium 6
- Conception Vessel 14
- Stomach 36
- Yintang
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart Blood and Spleen Vacuity (deficiency) Pattern
Symptoms:
Fear, dread, phobias; Worry, anxiety, panic attacks; Fright related palpitations; Insomnia, with difficulty falling asleep or dream disturbed sleep; Impaired memory; Fatigue and weakness; Postural dizziness; Loose stools; Cold hands and feet; Pale/white complexion; Pale lips and nails; Tongue: Pale, fat, swollen tongue with teeth marks on its edge, and thin white fur coat; Pulse: Weak, fine
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Stomach 36
- Heart 7
- Pericardium 6
- Spleen 6
- Bladder 15
- Bladder 17
- Bladder 20
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart and Kidney Yin Vacuity (deficiency) with Fire Engulfing (heat) Pattern
Symptoms:
Fear and dread; Susceptible to fright, vexation, and agitation; Dizziness; Tinnitus (ear ringing); Insomnia; Palpitations; Afternoon hot flashes (tidal fever); Possible night sweats; Redness of nose and cheeks (malar flushing); Dislike of heat (vexatious heat); Insomnia; Dry mouth and throat; Night time urination – small amounts that are yellow in color; Tongue: Red tongue, with scanty fur; Pulse: fine, rapid or surging, rapid, rootless pulse
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Kidney 3
- Kidney 7
- Spleen 6
- Heart 6
- Pericardium 5
- Governing Vessel (GV) 20
- Yintang
Diagnostic Pattern:
Heart and Gall Bladder Qi Vacuity (Deficiency)
Symptoms:
Acute and frequent panic attacks, apprehension, fearfulness, inappropriate worry, easily frightened, timidity and phobias; Palpitations; Insomnia, with nightmares; Restless; Forgetful; Tongue: normal or with a pale body and thin white coat; deep narrow crack on the tip of the tongue in congenital or long-standing cases; Pulse: weak, thready and rapid or thready and wiry
Acupuncture points commonly used to treat:
- Gallbladder 39
- Triple Warmer 5
- Bladder 15
- Pericardium 6
- Heart 7
- Conception Vessel 14
- Governing Vessel 19
- Governing Vessel 24
Three acupressure points to help you manage Anxiety symptoms and Panic Attacks
Quick and Easy!
These points can be utilized alone or in combination with each other.
Pericardium 6 – “Inner Gate”
(P6 – Blue)
Beneficial for nausea, anxiety, racing heartbeat and wrist pain.
Located on the palm side of the wrist, three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the tendons.
Apply pressure or gently massage while breathing slowly and deeply.
Conception Vessel 17 – “Sea of Tranquility”
(CV 17 – Purple)
Beneficial for opening the chest for deep breathing, activates the thymus gland, and calms the mind; relieves nervousness, anxiety, depression, anguish, hysteria, and other emotional imbalances.
Located on the center of the breast bone, between the breasts. Find the indentation in the breastbone, four finger widths up from the base.
As you hold CV 17, concentrate on taking slow, deep breaths into your heart for three minutes.
Conception Vessel 4 – “First Gate”
(CV 4 – Orange)
Good for developing emotional stability and deepening spiritual awareness; strengthens sense of self; used for energetic grounding, and to help alleviate addiction and codependency.
Located two finger-widths below the navel on the midline of the body, right above the lower abdomen region, also known as the Dantian (Chinese) or Hara (Japanese).
While holding on to this point, slowly breathe into the lower abdomen, finding the rhythm of the breath and allowing for the tension in your muscles to start to release.
Location of Points
Note: You may find it helpful to combine the second and third points by placing your palms over CV 17 and CV 4 at the same time while taking deep, slow breaths into your diaphragm. Research has shown that breathing into the Hara (deep diaphragmatic breathing) stimulates the vagus nerve and calms the sympathetic nervous system.
References
- Stressed Out? We can Help!
- Do I have anxiety or worry: What’s the difference?
- Trauma and Stress Related Disorders in the DSM 5
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Diagnosis and Treatment
- Somatic Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
- What Is EFT Tapping? Your Guide to Emotional Freedom Technique
- Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET)
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- Acupuncture And Herbs Anxiety Relief Beats Drug
- Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises and Your Vagus Nerve
