Mental Health & Acupuncture

Written by Elijah Miley, R. Ac

The ancient masters of Eastern Medicine took mental health seriously. Practitioners over the millenia compiled texts describing the various ailments of the mind and how best to treat them. I often marvel at the attitudes towards their patients' wellbeing, a sense that mental health was just another part of the body's health and should be treated with the same care.

An essential part of a Traditional Chines Medicine (TCM) diagnosis is checking in with a client's emotional state and stress levels. Is there long term frustration? Has the client experienced grief that they are struggling to process? The feelings a client is more prone to feeling may dictate treatment, even with issues they may assume are not related to their emotional state.

With this in mind, the treatment room becomes a place to address what we often feel we need to push down to be productive and keep up with the daily to-do list.

Within the lexicon of acupuncture, we have a concept called the Shen. The Shen refers to the "spirit" and is considered one of the 3 treasures of life, along with "Jing" the essence and "Qi" energy. When Shen is disturbed we may feel stressed, anxious and out of control. Acupuncture can be used to bring the Shen back into balance, as well as address dysfunction along the channels that can leave us feeling burnt out, timid, foggy and fatigued. 

Based on your tongue presentation and pulse, your practitioner will choose the best applicable points for your condition. Depending on your overall health, your practitioner may include additional modalities such as moxabustion, cupping, or ear seeds. You may also receive dietary or activity recommendations to help ease stored tension.

If you have questions regarding your mental health and how acupuncture may be a part of your wellness plan, use our booking link to schedule a free consultation.