Acupuncture for Anxiety & Stress

Several studies have reported encouraging findings for acupuncture in managing anxiety symptoms.

1. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis examined clinical studies involving people with anxiety disorders. The researchers found that acupuncture was associated with greater reductions in anxiety symptoms than the control treatments. These findings suggest that acupuncture may offer meaningful support for people experiencing anxiety.
2. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis analysed 27 randomised controlled trials involving 1,782 people with generalised anxiety disorder. Participants receiving acupuncture showed improvements across recognised anxiety assessment scales. The researchers concluded that acupuncture may help relieve symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder, while recommending larger and better-designed studies to strengthen the evidence.
3. A 2018 systematic review also reported encouraging findings for acupuncture and electroacupuncture in people with anxiety disorders. Researchers observed positive outcomes and fewer reported side effects, although the size and quality of the included studies varied.

Taken together, the available findings suggest that acupuncture may be a worthwhile complementary option for people seeking additional support with anxiety and stress. Research is continuing to determine which treatment approaches may offer the greatest benefit and how long their effects may last.