(703)897-7777

Depression

What is Acupuncture For

Depression?

Acupuncture is a widely practiced form of Chinese medicine that is highly effective for the treatment of 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 limitations, 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 8 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

As per research, up to 14% of pregnant women are suffering from depression. It may cause risks for both mother and baby. The women who took depression-specific acupuncture treatment had a greater reduction in depression symptoms.

How Does

Acupuncture Work?

The acupuncture practitioners follow the specific treatment while treating the patient who is suffering from depression. They used to insert the long, thin needle into the top layer of the patient’s skin. It simulates certain 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 mind of the patient.

Specific acupuncture points correlated with specific functions. Treatment of acupuncture for depression helps to improve the mental health, and pleasure of the patient.

Can Acupuncture Heal

Depression?

Several large studies found promising results of acupuncture treatment on depression, But some 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 that have been 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 An Acupuncture Session

  • . Acupuncture can help you to reduce depression. If you have decided to take an acupuncture treatment, you need to book an appointment.
  • . Once you book an appointment with an acupuncture professional, you need to fill out the quick online form that includes your details and any medical conditions you face before or any allergies.
  • . They may ask more specifically about your symptoms of depression. Along with these, you need to give the information about How long you're facing the problem? What are the effects it causes in your life?
  • . During the actual treatment, you will have to sit or lie down on the table. they will insert some needles into the acupuncture point on the area of your body.
  • . Typically needles remain inserted in the body for between 22 to 45 minutes, depending on the symptoms of the patient.
  • . 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

Acupuncture points are situated in almost all areas of the body. Sometimes it happens that 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.

Acupuncture needles are inserted into various depths at strategic points on your body. The needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort. People often don't feel them inserted at all. The typical treatment uses 5 to 20 needles. You may feel a mild aching sensation when a needle reaches the correct depth.

Needle manipulation.

Your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles after placement or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to the needles.

Needle removal.

In most cases, the needles remain in place for 10 to 15 minutes while you lie still and relax. There is usually no discomfort when the needles are removed.

Uses of

Acupuncture

  • . Acupuncture can regulate energy flow throughout the body. It stimulates the production of endorphins that are essential for mental health and well-being. Endorphins Are nothing but the “feel good” chemicals released in the human brain.
  • . Acupuncture stimulates digestion function, improves the blood pressure levels, reduces pain, and normalizes the heart rates. It is an especially useful 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 that is used to clean the skin may cause an allergic reaction.

Results

Every time it is difficult to measure the benefits of acupuncture, but 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 you are not able to 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.

FAQ's

How does acupuncture help with depression?
As per research, acupuncture releases endorphins that help to stimulate blood flow. An increase in endorphins may provide a boost for the mind and body, which could offer relief from some depression symptoms.
How long does acupuncture take to work for depression?
In an approximately 8-week acupuncture study of 151 men and women, researchers came to know that depressive symptoms improved significantly.
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
How often should you get acupuncture for pain?
A common treatment plan for a single symptom would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity.
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.

Begin The Process Of
Staying Well

Healing Pain and Balancing the Body Through Acupuncture
Book An Appointment
Scroll to Top