Acupuncture for PTSD

Written By Liah Tsotros

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can disrupt every aspect of life, leaving individuals trapped in cycles of anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbness. While therapy and medication are cornerstones of treatment, acupuncture is gaining recognition as a gentle, effective way to support recovery.

PTSD typically develops after a traumatic event, often leaving the nervous system stuck in overdrive. Symptoms like insomnia, heightened stress, and physical tension can make daily life overwhelming.

How Acupuncture Can Support

  • Calm the Nervous System: Acupuncture encourages the body to deescalate from fight or flight and enter a "rest and digest" state, easing anxiety and tension.

  • Improve Sleep: By promoting relaxation, acupuncture can alleviate insomnia and reduce the frequency of nightmares.

  • Relieve Physical Symptoms: Acupuncture helps relieve physical manifestations of PTSD like headaches, digestive problems, and muscle tension.

  • Support Emotional Healing: Acupuncture encourages a calm state to process stored trauma, supporting emotional recovery.

Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture is a specialized system that uses the ear as a map of the body. By stimulating specific points on the ear, this method strongly calms the nervous system. Many PTSD patients find it a particularly gentle and effective way to experience acupuncture’s benefits.

Scientific Research

Research consistently highlights acupuncture’s value in PTSD treatment:

  • A 2017 study in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that veterans receiving acupuncture reported significant reductions in PTSD symptoms​

  • A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology emphasized acupuncture’s ability to alleviate anxiety and depression linked to PTSD, with animal studies supporting its regulation of neural circuits and neurotransmitters​

  • Additional studies have highlighted the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in managing stress-related conditions, showing its positive impact on PTSD symptoms​

Acupuncture works best when combined with other treatments like therapy and mindfulness practices. While it is not a standalone cure, it is a powerful tool for finding relief and restoring balance.

PTSD is challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Sources:

Jung, W. M., Ryu, Y. H., & Baek, Y. H. (2017). Effectiveness of acupuncture and cognitive behavioural therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial. The Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304-313. doi: 10.1002/jts.22194

Tang, X. et al. (2023) Efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for PTSD: Evidence from animal and clinical studies, Frontiers. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1163718/full (Accessed: 11 December 2024).

Wang, T., Li, Y., Li, S., & Li, Y. (2018). Efficacy of acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(7), 481-501. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000849

Liah Tsotros
Previous

The Nervous System