Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Chippendale
Josephine is a registered acupuncturist & Chinese herbal medicine practitioner based in Lane Cove and Frenchs Forest. If you're willing and able to travel from Chippendale to either of these locations for TCM consultation, acupuncture and herbal medicine services, Josephine looks forward to meeting with you.
Panic attacks involve sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms — racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, and a feeling of impending doom. A randomised controlled trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology (2016) found that acupuncture significantly reduced panic attack frequency and severity, with effects comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy over a 12-week treatment period.
TCM views panic attacks as a sudden uprising of internal Wind and Fire disturbing the Heart Shen (spirit). The Heart governs the mind and emotional stability; when it is agitated by excess Heat or insufficient nourishment, the Shen scatters — producing the characteristic feeling of losing control. The Kidney, which governs fear, is often depleted, failing to anchor the Heart energy and allowing it to flare upward. This Heart-Kidney disconnection is a central pattern in panic disorder.
Immediate treatment focuses on calming the Shen and descending rebellious Qi. PC6 (Neiguan) eases chest tightness and palpitations, HT7 (Shenmen) calms the Heart, and KI1 (Yongquan) on the sole of the foot strongly grounds ascending energy. Yintang between the eyebrows produces an immediate sedative effect. Between episodes, treatment strengthens the Heart-Kidney connection and resolves the underlying deficiency that predisposes to panic. Many patients learn to apply acupressure to PC6 and HT7 during early warning signs of an attack.
Research supports acupuncture for reducing both the frequency and severity of panic attacks. A 2016 study found it comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy over 12 weeks. It works by calming the nervous system, reducing the physiological arousal that triggers panic, and addressing the underlying anxiety pattern.
TCM attributes panic attacks to a disconnection between the Heart (which houses the spirit and governs emotional stability) and the Kidney (which anchors fear). When the Heart is agitated and the Kidney cannot ground it, Qi surges upward causing the racing heart, breathlessness, and terror of a panic attack.
Yes. Pressing PC6 (Neiguan) on the inner wrist and HT7 (Shenmen) at the wrist crease can help calm symptoms during a panic attack. Pressing firmly for one to two minutes while breathing slowly may reduce the intensity. Your acupuncturist can teach you the exact point locations for self-help between sessions.
Josephine Zhuo (TCM) is an AHPRA registered health practitioner — acupuncturist and herbalist.
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