By: Zhiling Trowbridge MD
Anxiety, depression, and stress can manifest in different ways for certain people. An integrative and holistic medical approach can improve symptoms, empower individuals, and lower the prescription medication burden.
Acupuncture can be an additional treatment for a person already engaged in conventional medical therapies. Acupuncture is a mind-body treatment that helps improve mood and promotes an overall sense of well-being.
Acupuncture theory focuses on the movement of qi and its relationship to the 5-element theory. There are acupuncture points and point combinations which are associated with pain relief and anesthetic effect (Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3), digestive support (Stomach 36), grounding and immune system improvement (Governing Vessel 20), and worry (Bladder 49) to name a few.
The interplay between physiological conditions and mental health manifestations is blurred in acupuncture as many ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts have recognized the psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology of the body (yes that’s a real word!) and utilized acupuncture to manipulate and treat chronic or acute conditions acting at multiple systems of the body at once.
Here are some common recommendations provided in my integrative medicine and acupuncture clinic.
Anti-inflammatory Diet:
Is a micronutrient-dense and omega-3 fatty acid-rich diet that supports lowering inflammation in the body. Following this diet involves removing processed foods, refined carbohydrates, simple sugars, and excess cooking oils. It also includes cooking with a multitude of plants and whole foods. Examples of Omega 3-rich foods include oily fish, grass-fed meats, nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables. Here’s an online reference guide.
Whole Grains/Oats:
Whole grains are a great way to access common minerals necessary for energy production and metabolic function such as magnesium, B vitamins, selenium, iron, and manganese. They are also rich in fiber. Read more about different grains and how they match different body constituations in Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford.
Nuts/Seeds:
Nuts and seeds are a rich source of healthy fats. 1-2 tablespoons of seeds or a handful of nuts per day is helpful to promote good cardiovascular and hormonal health. Consider a combination of walnuts, almonds, chia, pumpkin, hemp, and flax seed, ideally unroasted and unsalted. Steady use of nuts and seeds over 2-3 months reaps the most benefits.
Ice and Caffeine:
In TCM practice, icy drinks promote yin deficiency. Common causes of yin deficiency are exhaustion, poor sleep, hypothyroidism, being postpartum, and pregnancy. Ice is considered disruptive to the digestive system. Cold drinks make the body work harder to re-warm itself after exposure, thus stealing energy from a body that is already weak. The same occurs with caffeine, which is excessively Yang, giving a false sense of increased physical energy and focus, disturbing a system that needs more gentle nourishment versus a quick shock of empty energy.
Ginger:
In evidence-based medicine (EBM), ginger is known for its support in digestion, anti-inflammatory properties, and gastric motility. In TCM, it is considered warming and particularly helpful for genitourinary and gynecological healing. It also improves circulation to the lower extremities. Ginger is also a spicy herb that interacts with the lung and large intestine meridians to clear grief or sorrow.