A Unique Application of KI 26 (Yu Zhong) Acupuncture Point for the Treatment of Anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety is a common clinical presentation that is important for practitioners to recognize and address in their patients. Modern psychological research understands anxiety to be a state of apprehensive fear in the face of uncertain or uncontrollable challenges. Traditionally, Chinese medicine has several approaches to the treatment of anxiety, including treatments focused on the Liver, Heart, and Mind. Utilizing the relationships of organs to emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and an interpretation of Chinese characters used in naming acupuncture points and describing anxiety, the author discusses a new strategy for the treatment of anxiety, utilizing the acupuncture point KI 26 (Yu Zhong). This is a promising acupuncture point to research in the treatment of clinical anxiety.