Acupuncture for Depression
What is Acupuncture For Depression?
Acupuncture is a widely practiced form of Chinese medicine that is highly effective for treating depression. It helps to ease the symptoms of depression and cure hormonal imbalance.
Depression Symptom Relief
Depression is an illness that includes the constant feeling of loss of interest or pleasure and sadness. There are several symptoms of depression may include :
- Tiredness or lack of energy
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Difficulty in sleeping or sleeping too much
- Not able to concentrate or decision-making is not possible
- Feeling guilt or worthlessness.
- Frustration or irritability.
Acupuncture and depression
It is difficult to measure the benefits of acupuncture. It is hard to create a control condition, so sometimes some limitation occurs while using acupuncture as a treatment method. Apart from some restrictions, It is an effective treatment for depression and related symptoms.
Decrease in severity of depression
Once the treatment started, symptoms of depression improved significantly within the first eight months. Acupuncture treatment found similar results as the antidepressant drug fluoxetine in some patients with post-stroke depression.
Reduction in the number of migraines
Some patients have both depression and migraine. If such patients are taking treatment of acupuncture, they have less frequent migraines than others.
Reduction in depressive symptoms during pregnancy
Research shows up to 14% of pregnant women suffer from depression. It may cause risks for both mother and baby. The women who took depression-specific acupuncture treatment had a more significant reduction in depression symptoms/
How Does Acupuncture Work?
The acupuncture practitioners follow the specific treatment while treating the patient suffering from depression. They used to insert the long, thin needle into the top layer of the patient’s skin. It simulates specific points of the body, and the needles inserted in the body are connected to patients’ negative emotions. The needles fix the blocked energy or imbalance in your body and influence the patient’s mind.
Specific acupuncture points correlate with particular functions. Treatment of acupuncture for depression helps improve the patient’s mental health and pleasure.
Can Acupuncture Heal Depression?
Several extensive studies found promising results of acupuncture treatment on depression, But others found it not very useful. It is noted that the acupuncture treatment combined with the antidepressant medication improves the outcome.
What are other acupuncture techniques?
Other acupuncture techniques include
- Moxibustion (application of heat)
- Chinese massage (Tui Na)
- Exercise
- Diet
- Herbs
- Cupping (where a cup is applied to the skin, and the pressure in the cup is decreased, drawing the skin and muscles up into the cup).
What Alternative Treatments Are Available for Depression?
Alternative treatments shown to relieve Depression can be different over time. These can be diet or exercise for mental conditioning or lifestyle changes. It includes :
- Biofeedback
- Dietary supplements
- Relaxation
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Massage therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Chiropractic treatments
- Guided imagery
How to Get Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine practitioners believe that the energy that flows through the body qi. These qi disruptions can create imbalances in the body that lead to illness.
Acupuncture practitioners use needles that touch acupuncture points throughout the body. Hundreds of acupoints in the body, along with 14 major meridians. They are called the energy-carrying channels.
If you want to do acupuncture treatment, always go with an experienced licensed acupuncturist. Medical professionals also get some extra training to do acupuncture treatment.
What to expect during acupuncture treatment
- Acupuncture can help you to reduce depression. If you have decided to take an acupuncture treatment, you must book an appointment.
- Once you book an appointment with an acupuncture professional, you must fill out the quick online form that includes your details and any medical conditions you have faced before or any allergies.
- They may ask more specifically about your symptoms of depression. Along with these, you need to explain how long you're facing the problem? What are the effects it causes in your life?
- You will have to sit or lie down on the table during the actual treatment. they will insert some needles into the acupuncture point on the area of your body.
- Typically, needles remain inserted in the body for 22 to 45 minutes, depending on the patient's symptoms.
- Acupuncture professionals can include you in your care by providing some homework, such as lifestyle recommendations. These treatment sessions may vary depending on the medical condition of the patient and the time required to be treated or cured.
During the Acupuncture Treatment For Depression
Acupuncture points are situated in almost all areas of the body. Sometimes the appropriate point is to be removed from the area of your pain. An acupuncture professional will guide you regarding the treatment. Patients need to lie on a periodic table for this treatment. It generally involves :
Needle insertion
In the acupuncture treatment, needles are inserted into the various acupuncture points on your body. These needles are very thin in size so insertion may cause slight discomfort. This treatment can use 5 to 20 noodles. Patients might feel some mind-aching sensation when the needle reaches the current depth.
Needle manipulation
Sometimes acupuncture professionals can gently move or twirl the needle after placement. They might apply some hit or mild electric pulses to the needle.
Needle removal
You should lie still and relax when the needles remain in place for 10 to 15 minutes. It helps you to avoid discomfort when needles are removed.
How Does Acupuncture Help Depression?
- Acupuncture can regulate energy flow throughout the body. It stimulates the production of essential endorphins for mental health and well-being. Endorphins Are nothing but the “feel good” chemicals released in the human brain.
- Acupuncture stimulates digestion function, improves blood pressure levels, reduces pain, and normalizes heart rates. It is a beneficial treatment for depression in pregnant women.
- It is used as a cognitive behavioral therapy on its own or in combination with other forms of treatment to treat the symptoms of depression.
Risks
Most data tell us that acupuncture is safe, but we should consider the risk of this treatment. The side effects of it are mild or rare. The patient may experience :
- Bleeding
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Pain during and after acupuncture
If the patients have any history of allergies should inform the acupuncturist. Metal needles, a chemical used to clean the skin, may cause an allergic reaction.
Results of acupuncture
Every time it is difficult to measure the benefits of acupuncture. Still, it is observed that many people find it helpful as it means to control a variety of painful conditions. Acupuncture gives the best results for the people who expect it to work. Though it has some side effects, It is worth trying if you are having symptoms of depression and cannot control it with your conventional methods.
Acupuncture has few side effects, so it may be worth a try if you’re having trouble controlling pain with more-conventional methods.
FAQs Of Acupuncture For Depression
1. How does acupuncture help with depression?
As per research, acupuncture releases endorphins that help to stimulate blood flow. An increase in endorphins may boost the mind and body, relieving some depression symptoms.
2. How long does acupuncture take to work for depression?
In an approximately 8-week acupuncture study of 151 men and women, researchers learned that depressive symptoms improved significantly.
3. How does acupuncture affect emotions?
As acupuncture works by addressing the root cause of depression, the process can cause repressed emotions to surface. You may be quicker to cry or notice yourself feeling more sentimental than usual. In general, emotions—good or bad—are felt more intensely.
4. How often should you get acupuncture for pain?
A common treatment plan for a single symptom typically involves one or two weekly treatments. The number of treatments will depend on the condition and severity.
5. Can acupuncture make you happier?
Acupuncture increases your sense of well-being. When you receive acupuncture, research studies have shown that “feel-good” hormones immediately release into your system.