Acupuncture, an ancient healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has grown popular for its numerous health benefits. While often associated with pain relief, acupuncture can also play a significant role in helping with many other issues, including enhancing mental clarity, concentration and focus. As the busyness, stresses and worries of life become more prevelant, mental clarity, focus, and concentration become more challenging.
This blog post delves into how acupuncture can serve as a powerful ally for individuals seeking to improve their cognitive function.
How Acupuncture & Massage Improves Mental Clarity, Concentration and Focus
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are known to cloud the mind, making it difficult to focus. Acupuncture and massage help alleviate these feelings by stimulating the release of endorphins—the body’s natural painkillers that promote relaxation.
Studies have shown that acupuncture and massage can lower cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. By minimising stress, individuals may find it easier to concentrate on tasks and maintain clarity in their thinking.
Enhancing Blood Flow to the Brain
Improved circulation is vital for cognitive health. Both Acupuncture and Massage help to enhance blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. Better circulation means more oxygen and nutrients reach brain cells, increasing function.
When acupuncture needles are inserted, they stimulate localised blood flow and promote the release of various neurotransmitters. This can improve mental faculties and focus, allowing individuals to work through complex tasks more efficiently.
Balancing Hormones
Acupuncture is known for its ability to balance hormonal levels in the body, which is crucial for mental health. Hormones like dopamine and serotonin are essential for mood and cognitive functions. Additionally, Acupuncture is a helpful tool in regulating the four phases of the menstrual cycle, minimising the brain fog in the days running up to a period.
By harmonising these levels, acupuncture can reduce symptoms of depression and fatigue, leading to a clearer, more focused mind. Individuals often report heightened clarity and reduced brain fog after undergoing acupuncture treatments.
Release of Muscle Tension
Tension in the neck, shoulders, and scalp can restrict blood flow to the brain. By relieving tightness, especially in areas like the suboccipitals and trapezius. Both massage and Acupuncture are great ways to alleviate muscle tension in these areas.
Improves Sleep Quality
Poor sleep is a major cause of brain fog. Massage promotes deeper sleep by encouraging parasympathetic nervous system activity (rest and digest mode). While acupuncture can be used specifically to encourage better sleep. Individuals often find they sleep well after acupuncture regardless of what they are being treated for.
Stimulates the Nervous System
Techniques like myofascial release can directly influence the nervous system, helping to balance overactive mental states and enhance clarity. Acupuncture can also be used to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which promote 'rest and digestion mode', and bring us away from our sympathetic nervous system which encourages fight or flight. You can read more about this in a recently blog post about the Vagus Nerve - https://www.benelliot.co.uk/post/vagus-nerve-hacks-how-useful-are-they
Lymphatic System Drainage
Massage helps remove metabolic waste and toxins, which can contribute to mental sluggishness and fatigue.
How To Treat Patients For Lack of Concentration & Focus With Acupuncture & Massage
Using massage to deal with generalised tension is a great starting point for treatment. Lighter techniques are helpful to relax the nervous system and release broad tension, whereas deeper techniques can be used to release knots and more specific areas of tension and increase blood flow. There are also a number of acupuncture points that can be used to enhance mental clarity in a generalised way:
Head & Face Points
Yintang (EX-HN3) – Located between the eyebrows, this point calms the mind, reduces stress, and clears the head.
DU20 (Baihui) – Found at the top of the head, Baihui lifts clear Yang, dispels heaviness, and enhances mental clarity.
DU24 (Shenting) – Located at the hairline, this point calms the Shen (spirit) and improves focus.
ST8 (Touwei) - Located at the upper corner of the forehead at the hairline. This point is used to clear a fuzzy or foggy head.
Hand & Arm Points
LI4 (Hegu) – A powerful point for clearing heat and relieving headaches that contribute to mental fog.
PC6 (Neiguan) – Helps with emotional regulation and relieves anxiety-related mental cloudiness.
Leg & Foot Points
ST36 (Zusanli) – Tonifies Qi and improves mental and physical energy.
LV3 (Taichong) – Helps regulate Liver Qi, reducing stress and irritability that can cloud the mind.
KD1 (Yongquan) – Grounds excess energy and promotes mental clarity.
While these points are broadly useful, we also need to determine the underlying cause of the issues. Below are the main considerations we would explore (using TCM language), helping us to create a tailored treatment to the patient's specific needs.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), lack of mental clarity is often described as "Misting of the Mind" or "Shen Disturbance." It can result from various imbalances such as the following:
Common TCM Patterns Causing Mental Fog
Dampness or Phlegm Obstructing the Mind
Symptoms: Heavy-headedness, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, sluggishness.
Root Causes: Excessive damp-producing foods (dairy, greasy foods, sugar), weak TCM Spleen function.
Key Points: ST40 (Fenglong), SP9 (Yinlingquan), CV12 (Zhongwan), DU20 (Baihui).
Liver Qi Stagnation Leading to Emotional Blockage
Symptoms: Mental fog associated with stress, frustration, mood swings, or irritability.
Root Causes: Emotional stress, lack of movement, excessive frustration.
Key Points: LV3 (Taichong), GB34 (Yanglingquan), PC6 (Neiguan).
Spleen Qi Deficiency (Failure to Generate Clear Qi for the Mind)
Symptoms: Poor concentration, fatigue, bloating, weak digestion.
Root Causes: Overthinking, excessive studying, poor diet, irregular eating habits.
Key Points: ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), DU20 (Baihui).
Kidney Essence Deficiency (Brain Not Nourished)
Symptoms: Forgetfulness, mental dullness, dizziness, lower back weakness, tinnitus.
Root Causes: Aging, excessive sexual activity, chronic stress.
Key Points: KD3 (Taixi), KD6 (Zhaohai), DU4 (Mingmen).
Heart and Spleen Deficiency (Blood Not Nourishing the Shen)
Symptoms: Poor memory, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, dizziness.
Root Causes: Overthinking, excessive worry, lack of nourishment.
Key Points: HT7 (Shenmen), PC6 (Neiguan), SP6 (Sanyinjiao).
The Holistic Approach to Mental Clarity
While acupuncture can significantly help improve mental clarity and focus, it works best as part of a holistic health approach. This includes adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and mindfulness practices.
By addressing both physical and mental well-being, acupuncture can provide a deeper level of clarity and enhance cognitive ability, allowing individuals to navigate their daily challenges with greater ease.
Tips for Maximising Acupuncture & Massage Benefits
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports overall body function, including mental clarity.
Sleep: Being well rested with good quality sleep helps mental clarity through the waking hours of the day. Creating a comfrtable and relaxing sleeping environment and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the hours before bedtime will promote better sleep.
Diet: What you eat has a significant impact on our hormonal balance and energy levels, which impacts mental clarity. We are all different in our nutritional needs so visiting a nutritional therapist or dietitian could help with mental clarity.
Be Consistent: Regular visits to your acupuncturist or massage therapist can lead to cumulative benefits.
Combine with Mindfulness Practices: Activities such as meditation or yoga can improve the effects of acupuncture by fostering mental focus.