Acupuncture for Anxiety

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols
for anxiety disorders. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our
presentation is only one of many possible options.

Differentiation:
o
Excess Conditions:
HT Qi & Blood Stagnation
Phlegm effecting the Heart
Deficient Conditions:
Yin Deficiency - empty heat may rise and effect the shen
HT Qi & Blood Deficiency - may arise after a prolonged illness
HT Yang Deficiency

o HT Qi & Blood Stagnation - Excess

Signs & Symptoms:
Panic attacks (sudden feeling of doom, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest
oppression), insomnia, profuse dreams.
Tongue: Pale w/dark spots
Pulse: Weak, fine possibly irregular
Treatment Points:
LV 3 - harmonize LV
LI 4 - four gates w/LV 3 above
SP 10 - move the Blood
HT 7 - calm the spirit, possibly HT 8 if in distress
PC 6 - calm the spirit, relax the chest, possibly PC 7 for a stronger effect
UB 15 - HT Shu
UB 17 - Hui meeting of the Blood

o Phlegm Effecting the Heart - Excess

Signs & Symptoms:
Anxiety coupled with emotional depression and other signs of LV stagnation (easily angered, tension,
sighing), insomnia, nightmares, dizziness, profuse thick phlegm.
Tongue: Greasy yellow coat
Pulse: Slippery, wiry
Treatment Points:
LV 3 - harmonize LV
PC 5 - expel phlegm
ST 40 - resolve phlegm
CV 12 - ST Mu
CV 17 - PC Mu
HT 7 - calm spirit

o Yin Deficiency
Signs & Symptoms:
Anxiety originating with fear a/or dread, restlessness, palpitations, nightsweats, afternoon fevers, mallor
flush, heat in the 5 palms, dry mouth a/or throat, dizziness, tinnitus.
Tongue: Red possibly w/yellow coat
Pulse: Thin, rapid, wiry
Treatment Points:
HT 8 - clear heat effecting the HT
 PC 7 - clear heat efffecting the HT
KD 3 - tonify KD & HT yin
SP 6 - tonify yin
GB 20 - clear the head, dizziness, tinnitus
UB 15 - HT Shu
UB 23 - KD Shu

o HT Qi & Blood Deficiency

Signs & Symptoms:
Palpitations with exertion, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, poor memory, insomnia, pale
lustreless complexion.
Tongue: Pale w/thin white coat
Pulse: Thin, weak
Treatment Points:
HT 7 - tonify HT Blood & Yin, harmonize spirit
PC 6 - calm the heart & spirit, regulate HT Qi
SP 6 - tonify ST/SP
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
UB 15 - HT Shu
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
UB 20 - SP Shu

o HT Yang Deficiency
May arise as a further development of HT Qi and Blood Deficiency, palpitations worse after exertion,
shortness of breath, chest tightness, aversion to cold, cold limbs, dizziness.
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Deep, thin, empty or Deep, slow

o Treatment Points:
HT 7 - calm the spirit
UB 15 - HT Shu
UB 23 - KD Shu
GV 4 - tonify Yang
CV 4 - tonify Yang
ST 36 - tonify Qi