Does Acupuncture Actually Relieve with Depression?

One condition that I am asked about quite often is how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help in treating depression.

What is Depression Specifically?

Now, what are the indicators of depression? Let’s quickly discuss this, before we get into Chinese medicine’s view of this condition. Depression is a mood disorder that results in state of “low” mood and is sometimes identified by an aversion to daily activity. The psychological and physical signs of depression can affect not just the thoughts and emotions of a person but also their physical state of wellbeing.

It is common for those afflicted with depression to show a wide range of symptoms, including: insomnia, anxiousness, difficulty concentrating, aches and pains in the body, rapid weight gain or loss, poor memory, fatigue, digestion-related problems and in some cases a complete lack of interest in doing the things they used to enjoy doing. In extreme cases of depression, suicide may be considered or attempted.

How is Depression Usually Treated?

Today, the common treatments for depression are psychotherapy and anti-depressant drugs. Sadly, it is common for drugs to be prescribed with no regard for the precise symptoms of the depressed individual.

Okay, What about Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to Treat Depression?

On the other hand, Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches the issue of depression from quite a different view point. TCM does not throw all these symptoms together and classify it as “depression” or as one individual condition for that matter. We strive to treat the exact symptoms possessed by an individual patient and do not believe that there is a one-size-fits-all treatment to this complicated disorder. Using a wide array of TCM treatments, including: Chinese herbs, acupuncture and energetic exercises, we work to fix imbalances throughout the body and treat the actual symptoms that a patient is experiencing.

The purpose of acupuncture is to excite the body’s energy flow, or Qi, and restore functionality. Though many consider acupuncture a preventative alternative health practice, studies have confirmed its ability in treating pain and discomfort and other chronic well-being related conditions.

Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, there have been many studies that suggest the treatment of depression with acupuncture is a viable option. Including acupuncture has been shown to have a positive and holistic effect, particularly when mixed with herbal treatments and psychotherapy.

Rob Green is an acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine writer who writes regular content on behalf of BodaHealth a Vancouver acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic.

categories: acupuncture,depression,alternative health,traditional chinese medicine