Symptoms We Treat
Anxiety & stress
conditions we treat
Generalized Anxiety
Persistent worry, racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing
Chronic Stress & Burnout
Wired but tired, depleted, running on empty
Insomnia
Can't fall asleep, waking at 2–3am, unrestful sleep
Panic Attacks
Heart racing, shortness of breath, sudden overwhelm
Depression
Low mood, fatigue, lack of motivation or pleasure
Work-Related Stress
High-pressure careers, deadline anxiety, performance stress
Physical Stress Symptoms
Tight shoulders, headaches, jaw clenching, digestive upset
Hormonal Mood Changes
PMS, perimenopause, postpartum mood instability
Why Acupuncture Works for Anxiety
West LA is a high-achieving, high-pressure environment. Chronic stress quietly damages nearly every system in the body — disrupting sleep, hormones, digestion, and immunity. Acupuncture addresses stress not just as a symptom, but at its root, through mechanisms that are well-documented in modern research.
It directly lowers cortisol
Multiple studies have demonstrated that acupuncture measurably reduces serum cortisol levels — your primary stress hormone — sometimes within a single session. Lower cortisol means better sleep, more stable moods, and less inflammation throughout the body.
It activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Most anxious patients spend far too much time in "fight or flight." Acupuncture reliably activates the "rest and digest" state — slowing heart rate, deepening breathing, relaxing muscles. Many patients fall asleep on the table within minutes of needles being placed.
It regulates serotonin and GABA
Acupuncture has been shown to influence serotonin, dopamine, and GABA — the neurotransmitters most directly involved in mood and anxiety regulation. This is likely why patients often describe feeling an unusual sense of calm for several days after treatment.
It treats where stress lives in the body
Stress doesn't stay in your head — it lives in your shoulders, your jaw, your gut, your skin. Acupuncture addresses these physical manifestations directly while simultaneously treating their underlying cause, which is why results tend to be both immediate and lasting.
"The one hour a week where I completely let go. I didn't know my nervous system could feel like this."
— Patient, West LA
The Chinese Medicine View of Anxiety
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, anxiety is most commonly understood as a pattern of Heart and Kidney disharmony — the fire of the Heart (activity, emotion, thought) and the water of the Kidney (calm, depth, stillness) have lost their balance, producing restlessness, racing thoughts, and difficulty sleeping.
Another common pattern is Liver Qi stagnation — when stress and frustration cause energy to stagnate, producing irritability, tight shoulders, headaches, digestive upset, and the feeling of being "stuck." Treatment moves this stagnation, restoring flow and ease throughout the system.
Every patient's pattern is different. Janice identifies your specific pattern at your first visit and designs treatment accordingly — which is why acupuncture's results for anxiety tend to be individualized and lasting, rather than symptomatic and temporary.