Acupuncture for anxiety, stress and emotional wellbeing

When you’re anxious, low or running on empty, everything takes more effort. Sleep, work and relationships all suffer, and the physical symptoms (tension, headaches, a churning stomach, exhaustion) can be as hard to live with as the feelings themselves.

At The London Acupuncture Clinic we see many people who want extra support for their mental and emotional health, alongside or instead of medication. We treat you as a whole person. That means looking at your mood, sleep, energy, digestion and hormones together, rather than one symptom in isolation.

What we commonly help with

How acupuncture may help

In Chinese medicine, emotional health and physical health are closely linked. Long-term stress, overwork or grief are seen as disturbing the smooth flow of qi. That disturbance can show up as tension, restlessness, poor sleep and low energy. Treatment aims to restore that balance.

Western research describes the same process differently. Acupuncture appears to influence the nervous system, calming the body’s stress response and affecting brain chemicals involved in mood. Many patients notice they feel more relaxed and sleep better, often within the first few sessions.

The research is still developing. A large UK trial in primary care (MacPherson et al., PLOS Medicine, 2013) found that people with depression who received acupuncture or counselling alongside usual care did better at three months than those receiving usual care alone. Other studies are smaller and their results vary. We’ll always give you an honest view of what to expect.

What treatment involves

Your first appointment lasts an hour. We’ll talk about how you’re feeling, what’s been happening in your life, and your sleep, appetite, energy and any medication you take. We then agree a plan with you. That plan may include:

  • Acupuncture: very fine needles at points chosen for you, in a calm, private room.
  • Chinese herbal medicine: a formula tailored to you. We always check it against any medication you’re taking, including antidepressants.
  • Tui Na massage: helpful where stress shows up as physical tension.
  • Practical advice: on sleep, routine, diet and simple breathing techniques you can use between sessions.

Most people come weekly at first, then less often as things settle.

Working alongside your GP or therapist

Acupuncture works well as part of wider care. We’re happy to work alongside your GP, psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist. Please don’t stop or change any prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor first.