Does acupuncture for depression really work?
Acupuncture is an ancient form of therapy. In the Western world, it is considered an alternative treatment method, but in China, where it originated, it is considered mainstream.
Acupuncture has a number of benefits over normal Western medicine, primarily the fact that there are minimal side effects, if it is done correctly.
Moreover, when it comes to mental illnesses like depression, acupuncture is considered very safe because of this very reason, unlike other psychotropic medication. In this article, we will explore whether the use of acupuncture for depression really does work.
How does it work?
Acupuncture is the method by which thin, hair-like needles are inserted into the body at different points to enable the proper flow of the life energy in every person. Acupuncture states that there is a life force that flows through every living person along medians in the body. Whenever this life force gets blocked, sicknesses arise, and the acupuncturist, by unblocking the blockage, cures the person.
Does acupuncture for depression work?
The traditional Chinese belief is that depression is not a mental illness but an emotional one, resulting from a stagnation of Qi in the body. By stimulating certain centers of the body, this stagnation is removed so that the energy is restored to its normal flow in the body. This can be done through a number of ways, including herbal therapy and massage.While herbal therapy for depression is still being studied, acupuncture has already been tested in a number of studies and has been found to be effective at treating depression.
A number of clinical trials have been conducted, including double blind studies, and in many of them, acupuncture has been found to be as effective, if not better, than normal medication.
In many cases, the difference between medication and acupuncture is not much and is in the region of 5%. Yet, when you consider that acupuncture rarely has any side effects and that its benefits are long-term, acupuncture is considered to be an effective method to treat depression.
Why is acupuncture better than normal medication?
Normal psychotropic medication relies on regulating the levels of serotonin in the brain, and very often, people become dependent on the medication to do this after some time. Acupuncture, on the other hand, does not do anything other than restore the normal flow of energy in the body. Once the proper flow of energy is restored, the body is better able to manage the stresses that caused it to fall into depression earlier.
As things stand right now, acupuncture seems to be a very effective way to treat depression. Although it may not be more effective at treating depression than medication, it offers safe and permanent results.
