Acupuncture helps depression
Many research projects have studied the effectiveness of acupuncture for depression, anxiety, and symptoms commonly related to them such as fatigue, insomnia, and panic attacks. The conclusion? Acupuncture is extremely effective. Acupuncture was studied as a stand-alone treatment and in combination with medication. It was found that acupuncture/electro-acupuncture worked as well as Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) in stand-alone studies, and found that it actually enhanced the effectiveness of these drugs. Enhancing them meant that the dosages could be reduced, and therefore the associated side-effects.
Affecting more than 20 million people in the United States, neuroendocrinological studies show there is a connection between human biology and depression. Depression is associated with other symptoms such as fatigue, lack of pleasure, excess sadness, anxiety, suicidal ideations, low self esteem, and insomnia. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for these.
How does it work? Acupuncture seems to work by various mechanisms. One mechanism is by normalizing gene expression on a whole genome level. There are a total of 21 genes that are said to be imbalanced in depression. Acupuncture seemed to downregulate some and upregulate others, normalizing their expression. These genes are involved in transcription/translation, immune-related inflammation, metabolism, neurotransmission and signal transduction, enzymatic reactions and protein biosynthesis. The genes in these studies were examined in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory and learning, and emotions as well.
Four prestigious Israeli institutions: Emek Medical Center, Israel Institute of Technology, Yezreel Academic College, and Mazra Mental Health Center, began an investigation of acupuncture, stating that it "is one of the oldest healing practices in the world" and "is considered to be safe and effective..." They also cited prior research showing acupuncture's positive influence in the treatment of depression, chronic pain and sleep disorders. Their study revealed acupuncture as having an ability to increase the release of pituitary beta-endorphins, ACTH, serotonin and noradrenaline in humans, helping patients fall asleep faster, in addition to having an anti-depressant effect.
Acupuncture helps to augment the antidepressant effects of SSRI's and SNRI's and helps to reduce the adverse side effects of these antidepressants, especially sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Investigators at Henry Ford Hospital, University of Nevada and Montana State University all concluded that not only did acupuncture benefit patients suffering from depression, but also helped improve libido, energy, and mental clarity; and that acupuncture "appears to be equivalent to drug therapy" and is "a safe, effective, and durable treatment."
A meta-analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of emotional disorders found that acupuncture helped mild depression as well as moderate and severe major depressive disorders. They have also discovered that, when adding acupuncture with medications, that it reduced the delay before the onset of the therapeutic action of the SSRI's, and depression sufferers (with or without medications) began noticing a reduction in depression beginning the very first week of acupuncture treatments, without adverse side effects. Further, they found acupuncture efficacious in depression that was non-responsive to conventional drug therapies. The conclusion: acupuncture treatments are safe, well-tolerated and effective in the treatment of depression.
Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over 35 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic.
Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. She can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.