Depression is an insidious illness that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. We all suffer from black moods from time to time. A bad day at the office or a feeling of being taken for granted by our other half can make us feel bad tempered and grumpy. But these moods usually lift after a few days and we are back to our normal happy self once again.
Depression is much more than a bad mood. The symptoms of depression can last for months, even years, and can come on for no apparent reason. The illness can be extremely debilitating and it costs the economy billions every year. So can a holistic treatment such as acupuncture really be useful in treating depression, or are traditional treatments more effective?
Traditional Treatments for Depression
Mild depression can sometimes be treated very successfully with self-help treatments such as exercise and offloading problems on to a friend, but if this fails to work, further intervention will be necessary. Once mild to moderate clinical depression has been diagnosed, doctors usually administer anti-depression medications and/or talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or counselling.
Holistic Treatments for Depression
Although traditional treatments such as antidepressants can be an effective treatment for depression, they don’t work for a lot of patients, which means it may be worth trying alternative forms of therapy. The use of St. John’s Wort is well known, although a lot of doctors don’t recommend it. There are also many other homeopathic remedies used to treat depression. You can buy homeopathic remedies over the counter, but it is usually better to consult a qualified homeopath. Other holistic remedies used to treat depression include reflexology, aromatherapy and acupuncture.
How Effective Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is commonly used to reduce a person’s sensitivity to pain, but a recent research study has indicated that acupuncture can be very effective when used to treat the symptoms of depression. Participants in the study were given a course of acupuncture alongside their normal treatments, which included drugs and counselling sessions. The results showed that patients given acupuncture plus counselling and/or anti depressants for six months showed the greatest improvement overall, when compared to those who were only given traditional treatments.
How Can Acupuncture Help Patients with Depression?
The important thing to remember is that acupuncture works best when used in conjunction with other treatments such as drugs and counselling. The reasons why acupuncture is successful at treating depression are not fully understood, but it is believed that acupuncture can help reduce stress levels in the brain by deactivating the part of the brain responsible for making us feel anxious. Acupuncture also helps to release ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain, which can lift a patient’s mood and make them feel better.
Depression is a very complex illness and a ‘one method treats all’ approach is never going to be effective. Each person is different and it is therefore important to create a treatment plan to suit the individual. Acupuncture is definitely worth trying if you have depression, but it is crucial that you continue to stick to the treatment plan recommended by your doctor at all times.
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Annie Russel, the author of this article, works at CT Acupuncture Center, renowned acupuncture specialists in Darien, CT. In her spare time, Annie loves to play the guitar.
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