I have had very good success using acupuncture and Chinese herbs for calming my patients and preventing anxiety attacks. It is useful to find the focus of the attack in the body. Many times panic attacks originate in the stomach, people often feel slightly nauseous before an attack starts. For others, there is a generalized anxious feeling that sometimes takes control of the person's emotional well-being.

Often times stress is felt through an unconscious teeth grinding at night which leads to other symptoms like insomnia, sore neck or shoulders upon waking. or digestive upset. Treating stress at the root involves subtle attitude shifts with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

When my patients say they are depressed I often see someone who is unhappy. This culture puts an inordinate number of pressures on us that heightens our sadness, anger or disappointment. I look for root causes of "depression," and attempt change at that level, often successfully.

Nearly all of my most stressed patients fall asleep or "drift away" while on the treatment table.

In Chinese Medicine, the emotions affect the body as well as the body affecting the mind. In questioning, our patients we ask about the state of the emotions no matter what the primary complaint may be.

Depression may come from several factors. In general, the organ systems affected in Chinese Medicine are the Kidney, Liver and Heart. There might be a lack of "Qi" or energy which means that the heart and brain are not being nourished. For example , Chronic Fatigue patients (EBV) are often depressed because of this.

More commonly in the West is the "stagnation" of Stomach/Spleen Qi energy - meaning there is enough energy but it is not circulating throughout the body. Many times this patient is in Chinese Medicine is called "Damp" as evidenced by a thick coat on the tongue or a body that feels overweight.

The Liver energy can have particular influences on the emotions. "Liver Qi Stagnation" makes a normally calm person angry at little things. "Liver Rising" is a constant state of anger(think Road Rage). "Liver overacting on Stomach" happens when emotional upsets brings about nausea or an upset stomach.

If the heart is not nourished there can be depression and insomnia. The heart system is connected with the state of the blood (Xue) and may be seen in women after their period. Overthinking, worry and blood loss itself can lead to a depletion of heart energy. Often this leads to "free-floating" anxiety and the person not feeling grounded.

Finally the lung system is linked with sadness. The first thing one should do when depressed is try to get some oxygen in the lungs through gentle exercise such as walking.

The emotions and Chinese Medicine are quickly being developed into an exciting field in the West where patients often talk about their feelings and internal life. Chinese Medicine balances the energies of the body and when the body is balanced the mind can also relax. This relaxation is inherently calming to the mind/body.