Don't fear the needle: CU's new acupuncture therapy program helps with mental health

University of Colorado student Lauren Bader is terrified of needles.

This doesn't stop them from getting regular acupuncture treatments.

"I can't even give blood," said Bader, a CU junior. "But I am fine with acupuncture. It clears my mind and it gets me out of my head."

Allie Dodge, acupuncturist at CU's Psychological Health and Psychiatry, said that with the pre-sterilized, one-time use needles, students have no need to be afraid.

"Acupuncture needles are very different than blood drawing needles -- they're almost as thin as a human hair," Dodge said. "You might feel a little prick or sting -- but it's fleeting."

Acupuncture has been found to be beneficial with pain relief, stress, sleep, anxiety and mental health, Dodge said.

CU's Psychological Health and Psychiatry Center is planning a new acupuncture therapy group program on campus this semester.

"Acupuncture has been shown as a useful way to treat more of the mental and emotional part of healing," Dodge said.

The program features the auricular form of acupuncture: five needles penetrate each ear, one needle in the forehead and one on top of the head, Dodge said.

The needles are left in for 30-45 minutes.

"It really calms the body and the mind," Dodge said. "Students can just relax and let the needles do their work."

The program is held in a group setting with comfortable chairs, low lighting and relaxation music.

In the '70s, this form of acupuncture was found to be beneficial as a detoxification for substance abuse therapy and has more recently been found to help with stress, Dodge said.

"It calms the sympathetic nervous system, which is what is activated with the 'flight or fight' response," Dodge said.

Molly Ray, a CU sophomore, said the acupuncture has really helped with her anxiety and improved her sleep patterns.

"It helps me feel a lot less stressed," Ray said. "I was scared of needles at first. The first time I did acupuncture, was kind of scary, but the second time I was fine. I say just give it a try."

Although students typically will feel immediate relaxation relief, Dodge recommends treatments for a few weeks in a row.

"With any kind of healing or therapy, the benefits are cumulative," Dodge said. "The best thing would be to come a few weeks before finals, start getting stress relief, then have it carry though the finals."

Bader said the treatments have helped her concentrate more at school.

"The long-term benefits are great," Bader said. "I have noticed a difference. It calms me down. It helps me to put things into perspective. I am more focused."

Bader said even just relaxing for 30 minutes every week offers a nice break.

Dodge said the session brings out the idea of the yin and yang of Chinese medicine: The yin is the quiet, feminine, internal energy and the yang is the masculine, external energy.

"In our culture, we are more bombarded by the yang -- the constant television, cell phones, computers," Dodge said. "The session offers a very yin environment ... It reconnects the body with the internal ability to be quiet, calm, relaxed and peaceful."