Acupuncture for Mental Health Benefits: Does it Work?

Maybe you’ve seen movies where people use acupuncture for various reasons. Or, you know someone who has told you about what acupuncture has done for them. Whether you’re simply curious about acupuncture or you want to consider it for yourself, there are certainly a number of benefits to acupuncture therapy. Specifically, the benefits of acupuncture for mental health that aid in the overall treatment planning and process. Find out about the mental health benefits of acupuncture for yourself to see if it’s something you would consider adding to your treatment approach.

An Addition to Traditional Mental Health Treatments

Treatments for mental health issues aren’t one-size-fits-all. Both traditional approaches and supportive therapies can help with relieving various mental health symptoms. Here at Delray Center for Healing, we believe that offering a comprehensive approach to mental health treatment is most successful. When traditional therapies like medication and counseling are available in combination with supportive therapies like acupuncture and massage, individuals can benefit more than a singular type of approach.

Acupuncture, in combination with other mental health treatments, can be a valuable tool in helping individuals manage and relieve mental health symptoms. So, it’s something individuals living with certain mental health conditions can consider as an extra asset to their treatment plan.

What is Acupuncture?

Before diving into all that acupuncture can do to benefit mental health and the people who most benefit from it, it’s best to know what acupuncture actually is. Acupuncture is a therapy that has been used since the Middle Ages for its benefits. But, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that it was formally accepted and practiced by governmental health authorities as a medicinal treatment in the US.

Essentially, acupuncture is a therapy that uses needles that are inserted into the skin at various places on the body. Each tiny needle works to stimulate a specific area of the body. Thus, working to revitalize energy flow, which is believed to be the reason behind the benefits acupuncture provides.

Acupuncture Benefits for Stress and Anxiety

Acupuncture can benefit individuals living with high levels of stress and anxiety disorders. The stress-relieving elements of acupuncture help to also improve emotional regulation, overall mood, and boost overall feelings of wellbeing. Essentially, acupuncture helps by relieving built-up stress that has accumulated over time. Acupuncture works by restoring energy flow that, when not able to flow freely, can cause symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety or stress disorders of various kinds can benefit from acupuncture. Some of these conditions include:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
  • PTSD
  • Acute Stress Disorder
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • and more

Acupuncture Benefits for Depression

Along with helping individuals living with conditions relating to stress and anxiety, acupuncture also aids those living with depressive disorders. Thus, offering an alternative approach to most traditional depression treatments; specifically helping individuals who may be experiencing treatment-resistant depression.

Specifically, acupuncture works to relieve symptoms of depression by stimulating areas of the body responsible for the production of vital emotion-managing hormones. Therefore, assisting in the releasing of mood-boosting endorphins which result in feelings of positive feelings and helping with emotional regulation.

Acupuncture Services at Delray Center for Healing Locations in South Florida

Acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy that can help to assist in the combination of other mental health therapies. At Delray Center for Healing locations, outpatient clients can benefit not only from the supplementary support acupuncture brings to treatment, but a number of other supportive therapies as well.

Learn more about our acupuncture therapy services as well as the other programs and services available at our South Florida locations. For a free, confidential conversation with one of our specialists, please call 888-699-5679 or write us a message here.