Can Acupuncture Help With Stress and Anxiety? What the Research Shows

Q: Can acupuncture help with stress and anxiety?

Research is showing encouraging results. Reviews of clinical trials have found that people with anxiety who had acupuncture reported feeling less anxious, and stress is one of the most common reasons people come to see me. Many leave their appointment feeling calmer and more relaxed.

What the research shows

Annals of General Psychiatry, 2021 · Beijing Anding Hospital and Capital Medical University

Acupuncture for generalised anxiety disorder

This review brought together 20 trials involving 1,823 people with generalised anxiety disorder. The researchers found that anxiety symptoms fell more in the acupuncture groups than in the comparison groups, and fewer side effects were reported with acupuncture. All the trials took place in China, and the authors are calling for more high-quality trials.

Frontiers in Neurology, 2025 · Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Real acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture

This review of 14 trials, involving 968 adults with generalised anxiety disorder, compared real acupuncture with a sham (placebo) version. People who had real acupuncture had lower anxiety scores, and also slept better and reported better mood. In the four trials that measured it, levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, were lower after real acupuncture.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014 · Kyung Hee University, Seoul

Feeling anxious before an operation

14 trials involving 1,034 people waiting for surgery were brought together. Those who had acupuncture felt less anxious beforehand than those who had sham acupuncture or no extra treatment.

Why people come to me for stress

Stress rarely stays in the mind. It often shows up as tight shoulders, poor sleep, an unsettled stomach, changes in your cycle or feeling wired but tired. Traditional acupuncture looks at you as a whole person, so we look at how your sleep, energy, digestion and routine fit together, not just the worry itself.

Many people find the treatment itself a welcome pause. You rest for 20 to 30 minutes with a few very fine needles in place, and it is common to feel calmer and lighter afterwards.

I really enjoy working with people who are feeling stressed or anxious. Being part of someone's support, and seeing them leave feeling calmer and more like themselves, is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

What happens at your appointment

Your first appointment lasts up to 90 minutes. Afterwards I send you a written summary in Chinese medicine terms, with a treatment plan. Each follow-up starts with a catch-up on how your week has been. If you would like to talk first, book a free 15-minute chat.

Looking after yourself

Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling.
Keep regular sleep, meals and exercise, and try slow breathing exercises.
Cut back on caffeine and alcohol.

If anxiety is affecting your daily life, speak to your GP. If you are 18 or over, you can also refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies. Acupuncture can sit alongside the care you get from them, and please don't stop any medication without talking to your doctor.

Can acupuncture help with stress and anxiety?