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HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET ACUPUNCTURE FOR ANXIETY?
As research-based lab and clinical evidence reveals, acupuncture is a safe and effective means of treating anxiety and stress. Acupuncture can affect the nervous system and balance sympathetic and parasympathetic activities to help lessen the body’s fight or flight stress response (Ref 1). Acupuncture can stimulate the release of endorphins, which play an important role in the body’s pain release and stress response. And, acupuncture can improve heart rate variability, which is associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety (ref 2). B
We generally recommend acupuncture visits every other day or two times a week for anxiety at the beginning, and can reduce to once a week when the condition is significantly improved. The duration of treatment depends on the patient’s constitute, how chronic the anxiety is, lifestyle factors, and whether the patient can reduce exposure to contributing stressors.
Patients usually will receive 10-20 one hour sessions of acupuncture over the course of 12 weeks.
They will experience a significant reduction in their anxiety, even weeks after treatment.
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