Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression affect about 40 million American adults each year. Shockingly, that makes up nearly 20% of our population. While modern life has helped make many aspects of daily living easier, peoples’ stress levels has continued to rise and the result has taken its toll on our mental health. Subsequently, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental-emotional conditions affecting society today. The good news is that acupuncture can provide a natural cure, helping you return to a happier, more rewarding life.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have always considered the relationship between the mind, body, and emotions to be inseparable. We view mental and emotional conditions not as a brain dysfunction, but more as an energetic disorder of an inner organ. Chinese theory states that each of the Yin Organs (Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys) correlate to an emotion. Imbalances within these organs are caused by dietary, environmental, lifestyle, and hereditary factors. Over time, the organ’s imbalance manifests as emotional disturbances and physical ailments. Acupuncturists are able to diagnose and treat these disorders by understanding the intimate connection between emotions and an organ’s health.

How are organs related to emotions?

The organs connected to emotions are the Heart, Spleen, Liver, Lungs and Kidneys. Lack of enthusiasm and vitality, mental restlessness, depression, insomnia, and despair are symptoms of a Heart disorder. Worry, dwelling, or obsessing on a particular topic and excessive mental work are symptoms of a Spleen disorder. Liver emotional symptoms are anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, bitterness, and a short temper. With Lung disorders, we see more grief, sadness, and detachment. And finally, with an imbalance of the Kidneys, a person may be fearful, insecure, aloof, isolated, and have weak willpower.

Life Changes

Regardless of whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or some other emotional or mental difficulty, making changes in your lifestyle can help bring greater balance. In addition to acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, exercises to help circulate your body’s energy and quiet the mind also prove to be worthwhile. Activities such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, and meditation are excellent forms of mind-body exercises that can improve your ability to control both anxiety and depression. Practicing these arts in combination with regular acupuncture treatments will provide the foundation for a positive change in your life.

At Buckhead Acupuncture, we will help you discover the tools to bring you back to a healthy and happy life. We utilize a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutritional advice, and mind-body exercises to treat the root cause of your anxiety and depression.