The prevalence of mental health issues has surged over the past decade, yet only one in three people struggling with their mental well-being get help. Common challenges among mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. Some academic studies showed that contributing factors to these mental health issues include stressful events, relationship difficulties, financial stress, bereavement, or health problems such as chronic pain. These challenges can affect all people regardless of their background or circumstances. While talking therapy and medication are the most common treatments, it’s important to remember that there are other complementary and/or alternative paths to healing. Chinese Medicine is one of the longest-established forms of healthcare in the world and is well-equipped to treat mental health. In England alone, over 4 million treatments are given annually, and some medical professionals now refer patients to acupuncture clinics for mental health difficulties.
About Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine offers a safe and effective method for improving your mental health. It recognizes that many illnesses, whether physical or mental, originate in the mind. The practitioners have used acupuncture as a therapeutic method for more than 2000 years to help people restore the body’s internal balance and address many root causes of symptoms. In Chinese philosophy, emotions are seen as natural expressions of being human that, when in balance, help us to fulfil our purpose. For instance, anger helps propel us forward in challenging situations. It is when emotions are suppressed or become excessive that our physical and mental health suffers. Acupuncture treatment often is used to help people’s body, mind and spirit to restore the natural flow of energy and emotion.
Some researchers found that brain scans of patients receiving acupuncture reveal desensitisation of brain areas associated with pain and emotions. It is suggested that acupuncture has a balancing effect on brain chemistry, regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, neuropeptide Y and ACTH. Neuroscientific studies showed that acupuncture can stimulate the production of opioids, influencing the autonomic nervous system. This promotes the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which might be responsible for feeling relaxed and at ease.
Benefits and Expectations from Acupuncture Treatment at Walnut Grove Clinic
The importance of good quality support for mental wellbeing has never been more vital, with anxiety and depression spiking by 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some people seeking help can be scary. Acupuncture treatments provide a safe and confidential space where individuals can be heard, whether their struggles feel big or small. At Walnut Grove, we take an in-depth initial case history alongside pulse taking and tongue diagnosis to tailor treatments to each unique individual. Many people who received treatment noticed that choosing acupuncture often allows individuals to address multiple complaints at once without the side effects associated with medication. It can benefit both mental and physical health and often has a profound impact on the mind in day-to-day life.
