i've heard that accupuncture can be very beneficial to help with anxiety and depression and was wondering if anyone had tried it (for this or any other reason). what is the process and what does it feel like? does it really help? how do you find a legit accupuncturist?

Cole, I am glad you brought this up! I too am wondering if accupuncture would work. Hopefully someone out there will have some advice!

Hi, I've studied along side accupuncturists for 2 years. I'm a shiatsu therapist and we've learned alot of the same stuff. I actually just had my first accupuncture treatment yestaurday. They have specific points they use to reduce stress, and calm the mind.

It feels like a bunch of energy swirling through your body, it's pretty powerful. Now to find a legit person, its best to look for accupuncture associations that do testing and then look for practitioners in your area...thats my suggestion.

Mike

you could also look up on accupressure, which anybody can do to themselves. I'd suggest googling PC8, CV17, GV24, GV20 and a point called Ying Tang.

Mike

thanks mike
oh, and by the way, what exactly is a shiatsu therapist? that sounds really interesting.

A shiatsu therapist is someone trained in shiatsu. Shiatsu is a japanese form of massage that provides relaxation while treating and preventing illnesses and symptoms. Instead of kneading out knots and rubbing on bare skin, we use gravity to press into various points found on pressure point pathways (Meridians). Stretching is also involved as well.

I went through many years of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and tried acupuncture to help return some of my energy. It did make a difference and I thought that it helped me to feel calmer as well.

You'd asked what it felt like, and of course that's what most people wonder about since it involves needles!

The needles are about as thick as a strand of hair, so very very fine. There is a tiny point on them, and they go in just a wee bit, just slightly into the skin where your nerves are. They are inserted along certain points and meridians, as Mike was describing.

Most of the little pokes I hardly even felt. Once in awhile I'd kind of feel one, if a spot was sensitive. Nothing that was a big deal, I promise.

What I would do, is wearing a gown, start out on my back and the practitioner would put the needles in on the front of my body. He'd make sure I was very comfortable and then shut off the lights, leave the room, and let me just relax. I almost always dozed off. Then he'd remove the needles, I'd turn over, and he'd do the back of me. The whole treatment took an hour, about a half hour each side.

Once my body was responding and getting used to the treatments he'd do a couple other things. One is an herb called a moxa stick, which they burn over the needles to further stimulate the points. The other was some kind of electric device that emitted a pulse. He would hook it to a few of the needles in my back and it would even further stimulate the nerve pulse. It would feel like a very light "blip! blip!". I used to joke about those lights on TV and radio towers that you see at night that blip to warn aircraft.

I always found the sessions quite relaxing and I feel that it made a difference in helping my body to begin to heal from my illness.

I was a little nervous the first time, worrying about the needles and all. But I soon found that there was nothing to worry about at all.

This place was recommended to me. I'm not sure how else to find a good acupuncturist or practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Maybe someone else will have an idea.

Jeri

Acupuncture has worked really well for me in dealing with anxiety. Definately look for "L.Ac" (licensed acupuncturist) after their name.

Cole2458 - since you're in Maryland, check out Ruscombe Mansion in Baltimore. It's kind of a ground zero for alternative medicine. There's an Acupuncturist there named Diane Kane. I've been seeing her for several years so I know she has experience working with anxiety.

thanks john i will