Acupuncture is a traditional therapy in which very fine needles are placed at specific points along the body's energy meridians to release blockages. We offer it as a complementary therapy at The Mind Faculty, as part of an integrated approach to mental health. The principle is simple: by bringing balance to the body, it helps bring balance to the mind.
Our acupuncturist works closely with the wider faculty to design protocols that support the specific challenges a client is facing.
Depression
Acupuncture can help with the low mood, low energy and lack of motivation that often come with depression. As you begin to feel better physically, it becomes easier to take the next steps, including noticing and shifting the negative thinking patterns that cognitive behavioural therapy works with. It may also help with postnatal depression by supporting hormonal balance.
Anxiety
When we feel anxious, the body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This is what drives the physical symptoms of anxiety: a tight chest, tense muscles, and an unsettled stomach or bladder. In a fight-or-flight state, energy is diverted away from digestion towards the systems we would need to respond to a threat, so everyday situations can start to feel daunting.
Acupuncture can help regulate these stress hormones and support a feeling of calm and safety in the body. Easing the physical symptoms creates room to work on the mental and emotional side of anxiety.
Sleep
Sleep and mental health are closely linked, each affecting the other. By encouraging relaxation and reducing anxiety, acupuncture can help improve the quality of your sleep, which in turn supports your wellbeing.
Chronic pain
Acupuncture also offers a natural way to manage chronic pain. It encourages the release of endorphins, the body's own painkillers, and can help reduce inflammation.
If you are curious whether acupuncture might complement your care, we are happy to talk it through with you.
If any of this rings true, it's worth a conversation.