Are you living with brain fog? Are all the feelings of confusion and forgetfulness that come with brain fog something that you are looking to manage with a natural and holistic option? Would you like to try acupuncture?

In this article, we will explore how acupuncture works for brain fog if acupuncture can cure brain fog, how many sessions are required, how much it will cost.

Acupuncture for Brain Fog

Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for managing the symptoms of brain fog. There have been studies that aim to understand how acupuncture helps with brain fog and its symptoms including:

  1. Confusion

  2. Forgetfulness

  3. Lack of focus

  4. Minimized mental clarity

For example, this one review of all studies found that acupuncture can be effective in reducing the symptoms of brain fog but it also concluded that more high-quality human studies could lead to statistics on how effective the treatment is for brain fog.

Acupuncture Points for Brain

According to this one study, the following acupuncture points have been documented as being beneficial for cognitive function and brain fog:

  1. LI4

  2. LI11

  3. GV20

  4. ST36

  5. ST40

  6. GB34

  7. EX36:1

  8. EX28:2

  9. PC6

  10. HT7

  11. GB20

  12. EX-HN5

  13. LR3

  14. EX-HN1

  15. EX-HN3

  16. CV17

  17. CV12

  18. CV6

  19. SP10

Individualized Acupuncture Treatment

Yes, science studies like the one above, choose acupuncture points that are the most frequently used points for brain fog.

So when you go to an acupuncturist, the 19 points often used for brain fog may be used. However, remember that acupuncture is a personalized treatment therapy. Each person is different - and so are the acupuncture points that are selected for treating brain fog.

An acupuncturist may use your pulse, tongue, and other health symptoms and their knowledge not only of acupuncture but also of their knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

For more information on what to expect during acupuncture, read: What is Acupuncture Treatment Like?

How Many Acupuncture Sessions are Required for Brain Fog?

When it comes to brain fog and acupuncture, this one study found that there were two ranges of the suggested number of sessions:

Average range: 2-6 weekly sessions. This is the average range of the number of sessions that resulted in progress in symptoms of brain fog.

Full range of the number of sessions: 4-36 weekly sessions. This is the full range of the number of sessions that may be required for brain fog.

Why such a large range of required and suggested a number of sessions for treating brain fog? Because brain fog is often the result of the body attempting to communicate that something else is off healthwise - like depression, chemotherapy/cancer, or a food sensitivity. So if you are experiencing brain fog from chemotherapy and a battle with cancer, the number of sessions you end up needed may be more than another person.

What Does Acupuncture Cost for Brain Fog?

The cost of acupuncture will depend on:

  1. Location

  2. Discounts

  3. Packages

  4. Cost per session

  5. The use of co-op community acupuncture clinics

  6. The number of sessions

The average cost per an acupuncture session can range from $75-$160. The total cost you spend on the therapy will vary based on how often you choose to go in for a session: $280 to $1200 for weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture treatment for brain fog, may be what you end up spending. For more information, read: How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?

What Other Natural Treatments can I Try for Brain Fog?

Not sure if acupuncture is the best choice for you? But still, want a natural treatment option for brain fog? Here are six other holistic treatments to choose from:

  1. Hypnotherapy

  2. Yoga

  3. Meditation

  4. Emotional freedom techniques (EFT)

  5. Float therapy

  6. Craniosacral therapy

References:

Leung, M. C., Yip, K. K., Lam, C. T., Lam, K. S., Lau, W., Yu, W. L., ... So, K. F. (2013). Acupuncture improves cognitive function: A systematic review. Neural regeneration research, 8(18), 1673-1684. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.18.005. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145916/

Ocon A. J. (2013). Caught in the thickness of brain fog: exploring the cognitive symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Frontiers in physiology, 4, 63. doi:10.3389/fphys.2013.00063. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3617392/

Rowe, P. C., Underhill, R. A., Friedman, K. J., Gurwitt, A., Medow, M. S., Schwartz, M. S., ... Rowe, K. S. (2017). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer. Frontiers in pediatrics, 5, 121. doi:10.3389/fped.2017.00121. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5474682/