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Understanding Anxiety: How Acupuncture Can Help

  • Writer: Paul Rooney
    Paul Rooney
  • Aug 15
  • 4 min read

Updated: Sep 16

TL;DR

Whether I am treating patients in Bedford or Hanover, anxiety is permeating daily life. Anxiety and stress aren’t just “in your head” — they’re in your body’s wiring. Acupuncture works through three major neurological pathways that rebalance the nervous system, regulate stress hormones, and restore the brain chemistry that keeps you steady under pressure.


The Quick Take


When we think about anxiety, we often picture racing thoughts or a mind that just won’t shut off. But underneath that mental noise is a whole network of physical signals — nerves, brainstem circuits, and chemical messengers — all running the stress program. Acupuncture speaks directly to those systems. In fact, there are three main pathways it uses to turn down the volume on stress and bring the body and mind back into balance:


  1. Afferent vagal nerve stimulation – resets the body’s “brake system.”

  2. Spinal and brainstem activation – engages your built-in mood-lifting and pain-easing circuits.

  3. Monoaminergic and GABAergic modulation – restores the chemical balance between calm and alert.


The Middle Ground — For the Curious but Not Deep in the Weeds


1. Afferent Vagal Nerve Stimulation


Think of your Vagus nerve as the main highway between your body and brain. Acupuncture points that connect to vagal pathways can boost parasympathetic tone — the system that slows heart rate, deepens breathing, and signals “you’re safe.” It also lowers inflammation, which is a surprisingly big player in chronic anxiety.


2. Spinal and Brainstem Activation


Your spinal cord and brainstem aren’t just relay stations — they’re control hubs. Stimulating certain points sends input to regions like the periaqueductal gray and raphe magnus, which help regulate both mood and stress hormones. The effect is like flipping the switch on the body’s own mood-stabilizing pharmacy.


3. Monoaminergic and GABAergic Modulation


These are the brain’s chemical systems for mood, focus, and relaxation. Acupuncture can increase serotonin and GABA (both calming), balance dopamine and norepinephrine (for alert but not wired), and reduce excess glutamate (which fuels hyperarousal).


Where Science Meets the Everyday


Here’s how these pathways play out in real life:


  • Your heart rate finally slows down and stays there.

  • Sleep gets deeper — not just more hours, but better quality.

  • That “edge” you’ve been carrying softens, so you can respond instead of react.

  • You can focus without feeling tense, and relax without feeling flat.


It’s not magic — it’s your own biology being tuned back into balance.


The Deep Dive — For the Nerds Among Us


Afferent Vagal Nerve Stimulation


  • Mechanism: Stimulating points like ST36 activates afferent fibers of the vagus nerve, sending input to the nucleus tractus solitarius in the brainstem. (1)

  • Neurotransmitters: Increases acetylcholine (ACh) (1), serotonin (5-HT) (3), and norepinephrine (NE) (1).

  • Why it matters: Activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (via α7nAChR) (1), reduces systemic inflammation (1), supports autonomic regulation, and enhances parasympathetic tone (5).


Spinal and Brainstem Activation


  • Mechanism: Needle stimulation engages the dorsal horn, periaqueductal gray, raphe magnus, and locus coeruleus (4), (5).

  • Neurotransmitters: Boosts serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins (4), (6).

  • Why it matters: Modulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis (5), calms overactive stress centers (4), and engages descending pain- and mood-modulation pathways (4), (5).


Monoaminergic and GABAergic Modulation


  • Mechanism: Enhances monoaminergic signaling while increasing cortical GABA and reducing excess glutamate (7), (8).

  • Neurotransmitters: Increases serotonin (3), (6), increases GABA (7), normalizes dopamine and norepinephrine (1), (9), decreases glutamate (when excessive) (8).

  • Why it matters: Restores excitatory–inhibitory balance in limbic and prefrontal networks (7), improving mood stability (6), cognitive control, and sleep (7).


Final Thoughts


Anxiety and stress aren’t just in the mind — they’re full-body patterns woven into your nervous system. Acupuncture provides new, calming input, helping your body relearn how to regulate itself. Over time, that can mean a steadier mood, deeper rest, and a nervous system that bounces back more easily. If that’s the kind of reset you’ve been looking for, I’d be glad to talk with you about how we can get started.


References


  1. Torres-Rosas R, et al. (2014). Dopamine mediates vagal modulation of the immune system by electroacupuncture. Nature Medicine. https://www.nature.com/articles/nm.3479


  2. Vieira JS, et al. (2018). Analgesic Effects Elicited by Neuroactive Mediators Injected into the ST 36 Acupuncture Point on Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain in Mice. Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290118300013


  3. Yoshimoto K, et al. (2006). Acupuncture stimulates the release of serotonin, but not dopamine, in the rat nucleus accumbens. Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16565594/


  4. Han JS, et al. (1980). Central Neurotransmitters and Acupuncture Analgesia. Pain. http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6259205/


  5. Li P, Longhurst J. (2010). Neural mechanism of electroacupuncture's hypotensive effects. Autonomic Neuroscience. http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20727848/


  6. Karatay S, et al. (2018). Effects of Acupuncture Treatment on Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Serotonin, and Substance P Levels: A Randomized Sham and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Pain. http://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnx026


  7. Maeda Y, Kim H, Kettner N, et al. (2021). Greater Somatosensory Afference with Acupuncture Increases Primary Somatosensory Connectivity and Alleviates Fibromyalgia Pain via Insular GABA: A Randomized Neuroimaging Trial. Arthritis & Rheumatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197768/


  8. Lee GJ, Yin CS, Choi SK, et al. (2010). Acupuncture Attenuates Extracellular Glutamate Level in Global Ischemia Model of Rat. Neurological Research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20034451/


  9. Yoon S, et al. (2004). Acupuncture-mediated inhibition of ethanol-induced dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens through the GABAB receptor. Neuroscience Letters. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15464271/

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