Can Acupuncture Effectively Help with Depression?
11th August 2011 by Depressed No CommentsOne condition that I’m asked about regularly is how acupuncture and TCM can help in the treatment of depression.
What is Depression Specifically?
Now, what are the common symptoms of depression? Let’s quickly go over this, before we go into Chinese medicine’s view of this condition. Depression is a mood disorder that results in state of “low” mood and is sometimes characterized by an aversion to daily activity. The psychological and physical symptoms of depression can affect not just the thoughts and emotions of an individual person but also their physical state of well-being.
It isn’t uncommon for those going through depression to show a large number of symptoms, including: insomnia, anxiousness, difficulty concentrating, aches and pains in the body, quick weight loss or gain, poor memory, fatigue, digestion-related problems and in some cases a complete absence of interest in doing the things they used to enjoy doing. In extreme cases of depression, suicide may even be considered or attempted.
How is Depression Customarily Treated?
Today, the most common treatments for depression are psychotherapy and anti-depressant drugs. Sadly, it is common for anti-depressants to be prescribed regardless of the precise symptoms of the depressed individual.
So, What about Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to Treat Depression?
Alternatively, Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches the issue of depression from a distinctly different view point. TCM does not pile all these symptoms together and classify it as “depression” or as only one condition for that matter. We work to treat the exact symptoms possessed by each individual patient and don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all solution to this complex disorder. Using a selection of TCM techniques, including: Chinese herbs, acupuncture and energetic exercises, we attempt to correct imbalances throughout the body and treat the individual symptoms that a patient is experiencing.
The purpose of acupuncture is to stimulate the body’s energy flow, or Qi, and revive functionality. Though many consider acupuncture a preventative health related practice, studies have confirmed its effectiveness in treating discomfort and pain and other persistent well-being related conditions.
Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, there’s been many studies that suggest the treatment of depression with acupuncture is a practical choice. Including acupuncture has been shown to have a positive and holistic effect, especially 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.
