Natural Anxiety Herbs | Acupressure for Panic Attacks, Stress

Natural Herbs for Anxiety Disorder

Acupressure Points for Anxiety

By: Catherine Browne, L.Ac., MH, Dipl.Ac.

Anxiety disorder can be treated effectively with

Chinese medicine and herbal formulas that

naturally resolve the underlying emotional disorders

that lead to anxiety. There are a number of different

patterns that lead to anxiety disorder, thus the

treatments that alleviate anxiety can vary.

To a modern Westerner, the Chinese medical concept of Organs might seem unusual as the Chinese Medical concept of Organs lack emphasis on a physical structure. Although many terms used when speaking of Organs are similar to Western concepts, they do not refer to the specific tissue, but rather to semi-abstract concepts of interrelated functions. Emotions cannot be separated from physical maladies in Chinese medicine, and anxiety points to specific imbalances.

Each Organ system has an affect on the other Organ systems when it becomes imbalanced, and anxiety would be considered an imbalance. These functions are not based on surgical discoveries, but on clinical observation of patients over many thousands of years. While specific emotions can relate to certain organ systems, the Heart ‘houses the mind’ in Chinese medicine, and is the origin of all emotions. The Spleen is related to obsessing and over thinking; the Kidney is related to fear and phobias; the lung is related to grief, self esteem, and the inability to let go; the Liver is related to anger, frustration and feeling stuck.

Herbal nervines, such as our Enlightened Emperor Formula, that address the Heart (Shen) disorder are a first line of attack in reversing anxiety and can offer immediate relief. However, for an actual reversal of anxiety disorder, the underlying organ systems should be treated with natural Chinese tonic herbs that restore the organ system’s proper function; this can take 3-6 months. These are the most common imbalances responsible for anxiety:

Kidney Deficiency is most common with Panic Disorder and Phobias

Fear is related to the Kidney function in Chinese Medicine. Panic disorder is often had repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, digestive distress, and fear of dying. Phobias are typically based on irrational fears of specific situations. Chinese herbal Kidney Tonics are invaluable in treating this type of anxiety.

Tonify Acupressure point KI 3 (Taixi or Great Stream) to strengthen the Kidney energy:

Kidney 3 is located in the depression

between the medial malleolus and the

tendo calcaneus, level with the tip of

the medial malleolus.

Acupressure Directions

Spleen Qi Deficiency Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The Spleen system is associated with obsessive thoughts and worry. OCD involves repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors and can benefit from a Spleen Qi Tonic. Any anxiety that is associated with excessive worry would relate to Spleen Qi Deficiency, even if OCD is not the diagnosis. OCD Ageless Herbs article...

Tonify Acupressure Point Sp 6 (Sanyinjiao or Three Yin Meetings) to strengthen the Spleen and Kidney Energy:

Spleen 6 is located 3 cun above

the tip of the medial malleolus

on the posterior border of the

medial aspect of the tibia.

Acupressure Directions

Lung Qi Deficiency and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Lung system is related to self esteem in the ability to maintain positive personal boundaries. In cases of PSD, those personal boundaries have often been assaulted and broken in the most traumatic way, especially in cases of rape, criminal assault, and child abuse. After experiencing natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or war, people are often struck with a persisting feeling of loss and grief that they cannot break through. Restoring the Lung system with Chinese Tonic herbs are important in reversing this type of anxiety disorder.

Tonify Acupressure Point LU 9 (Taiyuan or Great Abyss) to Reinforce the Lung Energy:

Lung 9 is located at the

radial end of the transverse

crease of the wrist on the

lateral side of the radial artery.

Acupressure Directions

Liver Qi Stagnation – Anxiety Related to Stress and Depression

Anxiety that is a result of chronic stress is addressed with herbs that soothe the Liver. The Liver system is related to anger, frustration, and feelings of being constrained. In Chinese medicine, depression is often seen as anger turned inward.

It is normal to feel anxious before a significant event such as an exam, public speaking, or first date. However, anxiety disorders that dominate people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear are a clear sign of imbalance and disease. Chinese tonic herbs can initiate a reversal of these conditions. It is always better to start herbal therapy earlier, and not wait until the condition has become chronic in nature, with unremitting episodes, growing progressively worse. However, even if the condition has been developing over a number of years, Chinese tonic herbal therapy will still be effective, it will just take a longer course of treatment for an effective reversal of anxiety disorder.

Release Acupressure Point LV 3 (Taichong or Great Surge) to Resolve Liver Qi Stagnation:

Liver 3 is located on the

dorsum of the foot, in

the depression just distal

to the junction of the first

and second metatarsal bones.

Acupressure Directions

For information on Chinese Medicine, visit the National Library of Medicine, the The Chinese Medical Journal, or Chinese Medicine News. This is not an endorsement of these organization, just a resource guide.

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Yin Tang (Yintang) Acupressure Point Used for Anxiety

Acupressure Directions

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