Everything you need to know about Anxiety Disorder – from Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Western Medicine

Regular sessions of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat Anxiety Disorder.

Anxiety like any other emotions is a normal experience of being human. However when this emotion is

regularly felt and in disproportionate levels, it can constitute as a medical mental health disorder. Mild

anxiety can cause feelings of insecurity and unsettling tension, but severe anxiety can seriously affect day-

to-day living.

Frequent experiences of anxiety can lead to excessive feelings of worry, fear, nervousness. Individuals who

experience anxiety disorder can ultimately develop both physical and mental symptoms which may be

chronic. This is because the disorder changes how a person processes emotions and their behaviours and

reactions to the extremities of the emotions. This can then result in decreased functional ability, poor

quality of life and also heavy economic burden in the management and treatment of the disorder.

In the United States alone, anxiety disorders affect almost 40 million people. And it is the most common

group of mental disorder seen in the country. Yet less than one third of the people with anxiety disorders

step out to receive treatments. There are also statistics that show that anxiety disorders are becoming a

global problem and that developing countries are also seeing a rising trend in its prevalence.

Difference between Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is defined as “an emotion

characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like blood pressure.”

In other words, anxiety arises due to a negative expectation in the mental and physical level. Mentally it is

characterized by stress and fear which lead to worry and distress. Physically it creates unpleasant

sensations and reactions as a result of the multiple body system being activated due to stress response

towards a perceived danger most of the time. Read more about Acupuncture for Time Abundance here.

Anxiety is meant to get the attention and signal one to make the necessary changes to the lifestyles or

other aspects of one’s life. In fact occasional bouts of anxiety can even motivate and bring about an

increase level of productiveness. It is said that anxiety can even be seen as the price we have to pay to

have the ability to create and imagine.

When Anxiety crosses the line to become a Disorder

There is nothing wrong with having emotions, it is part of being human. For anxiety, it is also part and

parcel of the human experience.

But when the emotion becomes persistent, chronic or blown up to the extreme, and without any

provocation, it can disrupt and even debilitate the normal daily life of a person, be it at school, with friends

or at work, this is the crossing mark when anxiety is considered as anxiety disorder.

People with anxiety disorder often catastrophize and anticipate disaster. Their excessive worries can be of

work, money, health, family. Sometimes just getting through the day can bring about anxiety. Anxiety can

also be about worries for perfectionism, conformity and punctuality.

The thing about people with anxiety disorder is that they know that much of their anxiety and worries are

unfounded, yet they are unable to stop the extreme thought processes.

With anxiety disorder, people can still function normally in society and hold down a job and be at social

gatherings and functions. But when the anxiety strikes severely, simple daily activities such as waking up

and getting out of bed is almost impossible.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

· Easily Irritated

· Unable to control excessive worrying

· Insomnia, either hard to fall asleep or stay asleep

· Easily startled or scared

· Mind goes blank or unable to concentrate


Other common physical symptoms include:


· Headaches and fatigue

· Muscle tension and aches

· Light-headedness and tingling in the extremities

· Difficulty swallowing

· Trembling or twitching

· Sweating and shaking

· Heart palpitation

· Nausea

· Feeling out of breath

· Increase frequency of urination or bowel movement


Causes of Anxiety Disorder from a Western Medicine Perspective


From a Western Medicine and Scientific point of view, anxiety disorders are usually characterized by a

variety of neurotransmitter, neuroendocrine and neuroanatomical disruptions. The brain circuitry involved

in fear, worry and anxiety is known to contribute to anxiety disorders. However such alterations in brain

structure or functions or in the signaling pathways of neurotransmitter can be resulting from a combination

of genetics, developmental, behavioral, environmental and other factors. 

Medical causes of anxiety can be from thyroid disorders and treatment should be focused on treating the

root cause of the issue rather than on the anxiety disorder itself.

Anxiety is often accompanied by depression in which the two disorders share the same symptoms and

similar brain pathways disruptions. A person may have depression first then result in anxiety or vice versa.

Further reading: Everything you need to know about Depression

Treatment of Anxiety Disorder using Western Medicine and their Accompanying Side Effects

Medications and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are mostly used for treatment of anxiety disorders in

Western Medicine.  

Anti Depressants

As mentioned, depression shares the same disruption in neuro pathways as anxiety disorder. Hence drugs

used to treat depression are also prescribed for anxiety. Common antidepressants such as SSRIs

(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used for anxiety treatments.

Side effects: Agitation, anxiousness, indigestion, loss of appetite, dizziness, headaches 

Anti Anxiety Medications

High-potency benzodiazepines relieve symptoms of anxiety and often can be prescribed for anxiety

disorder.

Side effects: Drowsiness, tolerance and withdrawals symptoms

It is worthy to note that sometimes the drugs that are prescribed for anxiety disorder can result in

symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Causes of Anxiety Disorder from a Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine sees anxiety as an emotion highly related to the Heart. Therefore when

anxiety is taken to the extreme for prolonged period of time, the energetic imbalance will in turn hurt the

organ it is most related to which is the Heart. The Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine is related to the

Mind. In scientific terms, mental illnesses and disorders always cause imbalance to the Heart which is also

the Mind. But the root cause that result in the Heart being hurt can either be direct imbalance in the Heart

or stemming from other organ imbalances which disrupt the Heart energy. Therefore we need to spend

time to find out which is the main organ that is causing the imbalance at the Heart, should the imbalance

not be directly coming from the Heart itself. This is done through the unique Traditional Chinese Medicine

diagnostic method called the differential diagnosis, which involves the recognition of the pattern of

disharmonies within the body and the elements, exogenous factors and endogenous factors involved in

the causation of the disorder. Only when we know where the root issue is can we then draw up an effective

and targeted treatment plan for the disorder.

Heart Yin or Blood Deficiency Pattern

This is the pattern when the Heart is directly imbalanced. It can present itself as heart palpitations,

irritability, frustration, insomnia, hot flushes, dizziness, dryness in tongue. For people with this pattern it can

come from long periods of intensive anxiety or stress which wears out the Heart Yin and Blood.

Heart Fire Excessive Pattern

This pattern is also when the Heart is directly imbalanced. It can present itself as heart palpitations,

irritability, frustrations, sleep is disrupted and light, bitterness in taste, thirst and dryness in mouth, yellow

urination, constipation, ulcers in mouth overthinking and worries. This pattern can be a result of short but

extreme anxiety episodes which was internalized and transformed to excessive fire within the Heart.

Spleen Qi Deficiency Pattern

The Spleen Qi deficiency pattern is common among people who do not follow regular eating patterns,

excessive worrying, often have cold foods and drinks in their diet or those who have just been through

operations or birth which can result in major loss of qi or energy and blood and hurt the Spleen Qi. When

Spleen Qi is hurt, it cannot nourish the Heart and hence result in Heart Yin Deficiency Pattern anxiety

disorder. Also when Spleen Qi is hurt, it increases the production of dampness in the body which can

result in fatigue, tiredness, heaviness, weight gain.

Other accompanying symptoms can be fatigue, indigestion, bloatedness, loss of appetite, paleness in

face, breathlessness, fatigue.

Liver Qi Stagnation Pattern

Liver is related to the entire circulation of the body and when its Qi or energy is stagnated, it will cause

nourishment to the Heart to be blocked resulting in Heart Yin or Blood deficient. Liver is also another

organ that is highly related to emotions and when it is stuck the person can feel more pent up and

frustrated.

Liver Qi stagnation can also present itself as bloatedness in the stomach and discomfort at the two sides

of the ribs. Sighing often is also another classic presentation of Liver Qi stagnation.

Lung Qi Deficient Pattern

Lung is related to the emotion of sadness and grief and when Lung qi is deficient, it is unable to nourish the

Heart Qi and Yin, causing anxiety disorder.

Other accompanying symptoms of Lung Qi Deficient are breathlessness or panting, easily have flu or cold,

frequent urination, dry and sensitive skin.

Lung Qi can become deficient from prolonged grief or lack of exercise.

Kidney Yin Deficient Pattern

Kidney and Heart have a close relationship in which the Kidney Yin is the one that holds the Heart fire down

and nourishes the Heart Yin, hence keeping the Heart stable and balance. However when Kidney Yin

becomes weak, it is unable to hold the Heart Fire and can cause anxiety disorder to display.

Kidney Yin can become weak and deficient from over indulgence in sexual activities, frequent

masturbation, prolonged illnesses that weaken the body, overworking of brain.

Other accompanying symptoms of Kidney Yin Deficient are insomnia or disrupted sleep, low back pain,

knee weakness and soreness, hot flushes and night sweating.

Treatment of Anxiety Disorder using Traditional Chinese Medicine

For Traditional Chinese Medicine, treatments available are acupuncture, herbs and other modalities and

are usually planned with differentiation of the anxiety disorder based on cause of disease, on the basis of

clinical characteristics, and pattern identification.


Acupuncture

There are multiple scientific papers that have shown that acupuncture helps to calm the nerves and aids in

the recovery of anxiety. You can read more about the scientific papers that have supported this in my blog

post.

The effects of how Acupuncture can help with Anxiety can be described from a Western Medicine point of

view and Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view.


How Acupuncture works for anxiety from a Western Medicine perspective:

 

During anxiety, usually the level of stress hormones or cortisol will increase. Also another scientific theory

states that the hormones in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are elevated during anxiety

episode as a result of the hyperresponsiveness of the HPA axis. Another school of thought shows that the

neuropeptide Y pathway in amygdala is activated when there is anxiety experienced.

Therefore with acupuncture it can help to reduce the stress hormones or cortisol, bring down the

hormones in the HPA axis and block the neuropeptide Y pathway, all of which lead to a reduction in anxiety

and calming effects on the person experiencing anxiety disorder.

How Acupuncture works for anxiety from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective:

Acupuncture works by stimulating the acupoints as a formula suitable to the differential diagnoses made

for the anxiety disorder.

Nonetheless, as mentioned above, the main organ out of balance with anxiety disorder is the Heart. And in

a simplified explanation, Acupuncture helps to nourish Heart Yin and stabilize the Heart energy so that no

matter what stressful situation the person is put in, he or she can still have the stability in the Heart to face

the difficulties they are presented with.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine can help to nourish the Heart energy and Heart Yin. Some of the common herbs that can

do that are Salvia miltiorrhiz, Panax notoginseng, Radix astragali.

For Heart Fire Excessive Pattern, some common herbs used to bring down the Heart Fire are Lotus

Plumule, Coptis chinensis.

For Spleen Qi Deficiency Pattern, some common herbs used in formulas to nourish Spleen and Stomach

and clearance of dampness are Hemp Agrimony, Codonopsis.

For Liver Qi Stagnation Pattern, the common herb used in formulas to help unblock and move Liver Qi is

Bupleurum.


For Lung Qi Deficient Pattern, the herb used to increase Lung Qi is Pseudostellaria heterophylla.


For Kidney Yin Deficient Pattern, the common herb to nourish Kidney Yin is Radix Rehmanniae Preparata,

Ligustrum Lucidum.

Yoga Poses to help with Anxiety Disorder

Child’s Pose

This pose is extremely calming for the mind and

restorative for the energy. As this pose also

extend the lower back, hips, thighs, and lower

legs while assisting with further developing flow.

As it is also a forward bend, it can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system within seconds and cool

off any excessive heatiness.

Self Help Tips from Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Ancient Medicine for Anxiety Disorder

Acupressure Point for Anxiety Disorder

Shen Men


Shen Men (HT 7) is one of the main points on the

Heart Meridian. The translated name for Shen Men

is Spirit Gate which means a door that can access

the mind and spirit. Frequent acupressure and

massage can help unblock the energy at the

Heart meridian.


Directions: Press on this point for 3 to 5 minutes

everyday or whenever one feels anxious.


Further Reading: How do acupuncture and acupressure work and which is the better one


Breathing exercise for Anxiety Disorder


Equal breathing


When anxiety strikes, most people will be holding their breath and locking their jaws in a fight mode. It is

hence necessary that one practices simple breathing just to get the body system’s energy circulating and

the mind calmed down.


In equal breathing, there is no need to hold any breath which will not put pressure in people who already

tend to not breath properly.


The way to do it is you are breathing in for the same amount of time that you are breathing out. This can be

done seated or lying down and for beginners, usually 3 to 5 rounds of equal breathing should be enough

to bring the body and mind to a calm and peaceful state.


Conclusion


Anxiety is an emotion that is part of the human experience. It is therefore not possible to eliminate anxiety

totally. In fact a certain level of anxiety is required to keep us alert and alive. Hence the objective of

treatment for anxiety is focused on bringing the anxiety level down to a manageable level for the person

having the disorder.


With Western Medicine, the chemical drugs used are aimed at suppressing the anxiety by changing the

neurochemicals in the brain within a short period of time. However this method has its own reverberations

in terms of the various side effects. Furthermore, it does not treat the root cause of the anxiety disorder

such as lifestyle which plays a big part in developing the anxiety to an uncontrollable and unmanageable

level.  


Ancient medicines like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yoga, Ayurveda have treatment methods that

balances the body system as a whole and they take into consideration other factors such as lifestyle,

personality and others that can bring about anxiety of an extreme and chronic state. Patience, self-

compassion, mindfulness are encouraged in these ancient medicines to not suppress or repress anxiety,

but to make peace with the emotion and be aware when it arises. When the entire system is strong and

healthy, anxiety will come as a simple emotional change in the person rather than retain in the system and

become uncontrollable in its expression.

Basics of TCM, TCM and Science, TCM Wellness, TCM(Traditional Chin Med)Xiang Jun LimDr (TCM) Xiang Junanxiety, traditional chinese medicine, tcm, anxiety disorder, western medicine, acupuncture, ayurveda