Acupuncture has been used for emotional health issues for many years, and there is a growing body of research supporting its use for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Acupuncture and Mental/Emotional Health
Here are some examples of studies that have investigated the use of acupuncture for emotional health issues:
Anxiety:
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies in 2020 found that acupuncture was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety in patients with various anxiety disorders.
Huang W, et al. Acupuncture for anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2020; 13(6):319-329.
Depression:
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2021 found that acupuncture was effective in reducing symptoms of depression in patients with major depressive disorder.
Cheng C, et al. Acupuncture for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2021; 280:750-765.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease in 2019 found that acupuncture was effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD in military veterans.
Hollifield M, et al. Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2019; 207(8): 632-642.
Insomnia:
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Sleep Research in 2020 found that acupuncture was effective in improving sleep quality in patients with insomnia.
Zhang Y, et al. The effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sleep Research. 2020; 29(1):e12968.
Substance abuse:
A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment in 2019 found that acupuncture was effective in reducing cravings and improving abstinence rates in patients with substance use disorders.
Bullock M, et al. Acupuncture for substance abuse treatment in the United States: A systematic review. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 2019; 96:16-30.