Can Acupuncture Help with OCD?

In this blog post, we will answer the question, “Can acupuncture help with OCD?” We will touch upon the rationale behind acupuncture. Then, we will understand the association between acupuncture and OCD and how it helps treat OCD. Finally, we will outline several considerations to be made before opting for acupuncture. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) entails obsessive, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts that evoke anxiety. To neutralize this anxiety, individuals sometimes engage in repetitive and ritualistic behaviors (aka compulsions).  

Can acupuncture help with OCD?

Yes, acupuncture can help with OCD when used as an adjunct to evidence-based treatment options. It is also useful for other mental health conditions. People benefit from acupuncture for OCD when combined with conventional psychotherapy, medications, and other treatment options.

One study in 2013 conducted by Jason Bussell reported that individuals experienced reduced anxiety, apart from improved memory, after exposure to acupuncture.

Researchers have also reported that acupuncture helps in the decrease of stress hormones in your body. Such reduction can help ease several symptoms of OCD that stem from stress. Additionally, acupuncture entails almost 0 side-effects as opposed to medications and other conventional treatment options typically used for OCD.

Rationale Behind Acupuncture

Acupuncture aims to bring equilibrium to any disparity found in your body. Acupuncture entails the careful placement of needles on specific body parts. Doing so helps activate these places, which then relieves any obstructions, bringing the body back to homeostasis.   

According to this Eastern therapy, human physiology is made of twelve fundamental systems, each of which comprises physical and emotional aspects. Therefore, acupuncture can have a potent influence on your mental and physical compositions.  

The Chinese acupuncture method postulates that energy channels exist in your body. Every track is linked to the primary organs. By activating specific points on these channels, you can experience physical and mental benefits. 

Acupuncture and OCD

At the base of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) lies anxiety. It is reported that people feel a sense of calm and relaxation after acupuncture. Such reports indicate effectiveness for people with OCD and other anxiety-provoking disorders. We will see how various organs are implicated in the treatment of OCD using acupuncture.

• Kidney
• Bladder
• Other organs

Kidney

Most acupuncturists believe that OCD is associated with an imbalance in the energy of the kidneys. Chinese medicine associates kidneys with willpower. Damage to the kidneys could make us mismanage our will and exert beyond our limitations, which worsens our kidney condition.  

Bladder

The associated organ of kidneys is the bladder. It is believed to regulate our muscles and skin, allowing us to register outside stimuli. The bladder plays an integral role in the unconscious awareness of our external surroundings. A weakened bladder makes us overwhelmed by outside stimuli.  

Damage to the bladder can elicit frequent panic attacks and drive our nervous system into a hypervigilant mode. There is trouble relaxing, exhaustion, burnout, and a tendency to engage in overexerting activities. 

Other organs

Some acupuncture specialists recognize the heart as the place from which to release or reduce anxiety. They also believe in improving liver functioning to help with anxiety. Some believe that the large intestine causes dissociation, while the small intestine makes people sensitive to criticism. 

Moreover, they claim that some people with OCD have low spleen functioning and associated digestive problems. Others believe that the lung is involved leading to a continuous requirement for touch and use of our senses. 

How Does Acupuncture Help with OCD?

Through acupuncture, the professionals toughen the parts mentioned above to bring back bodily equilibrium.

To treat OCD, they stimulate the inner ankle and the shin, both of which are associated with your kidneys and bladder, respectively. It evokes a calming sense and stimulates the circulatory system to release varicosity, if any, and discard toxic build-ups. Typically, the pressure is removed, and the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors is reduced.   

Acupuncture associated with the bladder and kidneys helps relieve the pressure that could turn into obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, thereby treating only symptoms of OCD. 

To get to the root of the disorder, thorough case history to understand the original trauma must be conducted. There could be a hereditary component, indicated by a family history of OCD, which mandates treatment at a deeper level in the body. 

There may be some medical condition that leads to hormonal imbalance or inflammatory problems. In this case, long-term treatment is required. 

It depends on each individual and the way the disorder manifests in them. 

Conventional Treatment Options for OCD

Acupuncture is commonly recommended only as an adjunct to traditional interventions for OCD. Such conventional treatment options for OCD include:

• Psychotherapy
• Medications

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy for OCD typically involved Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Specifically, Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), wherein you are gradually exposed to the obsession that induces anxiety, such as germs or contamination. You are then taught ways to resist performing ritualistic behaviors. Although not easy, with practice, it gets better. 

Medications

Antidepressants are usually prescribed for OCD, such as clomipramine, fluvoxamine, and fluoxetine, among others. 

Ensure that you take the recommended dose as the doctor prescribes medications in a way that effectively regulates your symptoms. Tampering with this dose could be harmful. In the case of side-effects, talk to your physician. They will alter the dosage or change the medication to suit you better. 

Moreover, be wary of the black box warnings as they outline any adverse effects that could entail consuming the drug. If you experience any suicidal ideations, contact your doctor or the national suicide hotline. Visit www.suicide.org to know the hotline for your region.

Additionally, if you are taking any other medications or supplements, let your doctor know as there may be harmful drug interactions. 

Do not stop taking your medication without discussing it with your doctor first. Abruptly ceasing to take a prescribed drug could lead to adverse consequences. Even though antidepressants are non-addictive, you may experience symptoms that resemble withdrawal (commonly called discontinuation syndrome). Further, you may experience a relapse of your OCD symptoms.  

Brain Stimulation

Brain stimulation therapies like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Transmagnetic Stimulation (TMS) are sometimes used for treating treatment-resistant OCD.

Considerations to Be Made

There are several considerations to be made before opting for acupuncture for treating OCD, such as:

• Choosing the right practitioner;
• Finding accurate tools

The right practitioner 

Every individual’s disorder manifests differently; their symptoms, clinical patterns, prognosis, and the like, differ. You must understand that acupuncture works differently for everybody and in the treatment of their OCD. Consult your practitioner on how they see your disorder as oriental and conventional medicine have differences in their labeling disorders.

Moreover, there is a lack of governance and uniformity in training in many places. This limitation indicates that there may be a reduced level of protection for patients as compared to conventional treatment options. Understand the existing regulations in your region and look for practitioners with the required qualifications and training before checking out reviews.

Talk to the practitioner and ensure you feel safe and comfortable with them and their clinical setup. You have a stressful disorder to deal with; you do not need any triggering stimuli during your treatment. 

Accurate tools

Disorders like OCD are typically a cumulation of various factors. Although acupuncture may relieve symptoms and help you feel calm and relaxed, it is not a permanent fix. It can best be used as an adjunct to other forms of treatment like psychotherapy and medications. 

Moreover, it is a subjective and individualized treatment. Talk to your practitioner about your disorder in detail and ensure your case history is taken to optimize the therapeutic effects while minimizing potential risks. 

Conclusion

In this blog post, we answered the question, “Can acupuncture help with OCD?” We touched upon the rationale behind acupuncture. We also understood the association between acupuncture and OCD and how it helps in the treatment of OCD. Lastly, we outlined several considerations to be made before opting for acupuncture. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Can Acupuncture Help with OCD?

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290112002154

https://www.destinationsforteens.com/destinations-blog/acupuncture-for-ocd/#:~:text=Acupuncture%20provides%20excellent%20results%20for,talk%20therapies%20and%20other%20methods.

https://www.quora.com/Has-anyone-had-experience-with-acupuncture-for-treating-OCD-and-or-anxiety-and-depression-Was-it-helpful