Acupuncture for Anxiety and Stress Relief in Maryland
In Western Medicine, medication and various therapeutic approaches often treat anxiety. However, more and more- people are moving away from or supplementing traditional treatment with holistic and alternative therapies, and acupuncture is often the answer.
Alternative Medicine for Stress and Anxiety
For many people, stress and anxiety are a part of everyday life. Earning enough money to pay bills, landing a highly desirable job, or caring for loved ones-young and old are just a few causes of stress and anxiety for many Americans.
Unfortunately, while many people have acclimated to their stress levels, sustained stress can still wreak havoc on your health. And when anxiety becomes something more, and you develop an anxiety disorder- the effects can be even more detrimental.
While many people with mental health concerns benefit from medication and therapy, this approach is not one-size-fits-all. Fortunately, more and more people are turning to acupuncture for mental health concerns, and the good news is that acupuncture is a successful, low-risk treatment for many mental health issues, including stress and anxiety.
Acupuncture Services with Dr. Jyothi Rao
As integrative speciality care providers, Dr. Jyothi Rao and Dr. Sudhir Rao uniquely offer their services to their patients. Patients can choose an a-la-carte healthcare experience, where they can select the health services they need and pay accordingly, or through an annual subscription, which includes yearly physicals and up to 10 sick visits per year. In addition, the annual subscription includes three acupuncture sessions per year, with additional visits only costing $55 per session.
So, if you live in the Mt. Airy and Eldridge area of Maryland and would like to learn more about how acupuncture can help you with anxiety and stress relief, call us at 301.703.5067.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and digestive issues. It can also be helpful in managing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a licensed practitioner. The needles used are very thin, and the risk of infection or injury is low.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people experience little to no pain during an acupuncture treatment. Some people may feel a slight pinching or tingling sensation when the needle is inserted, but this is typically very brief.
How long does an acupuncture treatment take?
Acupuncture treatments usually last between 30 and 60 minutes. The length of the treatment will depend on the condition being treated and the practitioner's approach./p>
Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and alternative therapies to enhance a patient’s vitality, focusing on whole body wellness. An Integrative Medicine physician will address the root cause of your illness and not just treat the symptoms. By determining what the root is, you and your practitioner can devise a health plan to successfully treat the disease. At Shakthi, we take into account other factors in your life that may be preventing the root cause of your illness or disease from fully healing. We work closely with our patients to address their immediate health needs while developing a personalized wellness plan that encourages whole body wellness. You can learn more here.
Integrative medicine’s biggest benefit is the fact it looks at the patient as a whole individual and addresses the root causes of illnesses by doing so. I went along with this though integrative medicine promotes a symbiotic and collaborative relationship between the doctor and the patient. This means that there is better communication. Another great benefit is that it utilizes every therapy possible to ensure that the patient gets the treatment that is perfect for them.
Over the past decade or so, integrative medicine has been becoming more and more popular. Because of this popularity, there has been an increase in doctors that practice it. But even with all this popularity unfortunately insurance does not cover integrative health care. The lack of coverage from insurance companies is solely because integrative medicine often encompasses treatments that these health insurance companies degenerative treatments. Because these treatments like acupuncture, massage therapy, infrared sauna, and many others are all deemed alternative they are not covered.
We offer two options:
• Yearly Membership
• A La Carte
There are many different types of alternative medicines but many of them can fall under one of the five main alternative categories. These categories are homeopathy, eastern medicine, naturopathy, and Ayurveda. Within these five types so there are many variations and so choosing one that works for you all relies on what exactly you're looking to gain from choosing alternative medicines.
Shakthi Digital Guide
At Shakthi Health and Wellness we offer a la carte and yearly plans that are more comprehensive and often cheaper than traditional insurance plans.
What To Expect
Hormone Imbalance Specialists
Meet Our Doctors
Our team is composed of board certified medical doctors who are highly knowledgeable in the practice of holistic integrative therapies. Our Specialized Health Care modelprovides patients with in depth consults with each appointment without the restrictions of time limits and jumping through insurance hoops.
Jyothi Rao
MD, ABAAHP, FAARFM
Dr. Jyothi Rao has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. She received her Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed her internship and residency at the prestigious New England Medical Center (Tufts) in Boston. Before opening Shakthi Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Rao practiced medicine in New York and Maryland.
Sudhir Rao
MD, ABAAHP
Dr. Sudhir Rao obtained his Medical Doctorate from St. George's University School of Medicine, and is the founder of Pain and Spine Specialists. Despite Dr. Rao's years of training focusing on traditional medicine, he developed a strong interest in Functional and Integrative Medicine to treat chronic illness with alternative methods after a personal experience with limitations in traditional medicine.
What is stress?
While sometimes inconvenient, stress is our body’s natural response to situations or stimuli that seem too much to handle or take on. Whether real or perceived (think public speaking or first dates), stress leads to physical symptoms that prepare us to respond appropriately to danger- but when the threat of danger is not real, these symptoms are inconvenient. (1)
Some physical symptoms of stress can include: (1)
- Fast breathing
- Fast heart rate and higher blood pressure
- Muscle tension/tightness
- Nausea* In the fight or flight response, the body prepares to flee or fight, which means blood is moved away from the stomach to be available for the lungs and the heart.
- Increased alertness and awareness, which allows you to sense potential danger
There are two types of stress- acute and chronic. Acute stress, associated with more immediate situations, such as public speaking or tests, often ends shortly after the event. Chronic stress, however, develops over time, such as when dealing with dysfunctional family dynamics or difficult marital situations. This prolonged stress can cause the person to lose the desire or energy to continue seeking solutions, which can further prompt a cascade of other mental health concerns. (1)
What is anxiety?
While many people think of stress and anxiety as the same thing, they are not. Anxiety occurs in response to stress and leads to constant worrying, which- like stress can cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat, faster breathing, and trembling. While anxiety can come and go, some people have anxiety that disrupts regular activities and everyday life- which is known as an anxiety disorder. (2)
And, like stress- there are different types of anxiety disorders. Some people deal with generalized anxiety, which manifests as anxiety over non-threatening things. While others have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a form of anxiety in which the person can get some relief through ritualistic activities, such as repetitive handwashing or checking things. And then, there is also panic disorder and agoraphobia (a fear of leaving one’s home). (2)
Acupuncture for anxiety and stress relief
Acupuncture, an ancient tradition in Chinese medicine, involves inserting thin needles into various parts of the body to unblock any Qi (energy) that may have become stagnant due to stress, environmental factors, stress, and poor nutrition. (3)
While the exact reasons acupuncture works are primarily unknown, scientific evidence has shown that acupuncture effectively alleviates some anxiety symptoms. (4)
Relevant Resources:
- Stress: Why does it happen, and how can we manage it? (medicalnewstoday.com)
- Anxiety: Symptoms, Types, Causes & More (healthline.com)
- Why Acupuncture Works for Anxiety Relief - Everyday Health
- Acupuncture for Anxiety: Benefits, Side Effects, and What to Expect (healthline.com)
- Acupuncture for Anxiety — Morningside Acupuncture NYC
About Us
We believe in practicing medicine that focuses on whole body health. As integrative medicine doctors we focus our on root cause of your condition with comprehensive treatments that actually heal the body rather than just masking the symptoms of your illness.
Helpful Resources
Digital Guide
A comprehensive guide to our services, providers, and locations.
Contact us