Acupuncture has proven to be an effective treatment to reduce depression…
…and its related symptoms, including fatigue and loss of energy, guilt, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, insomnia or excessive sleeping, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, restlessness, sluggishness, thoughts of death or suicide, sadness, weight loss or gain, irritability, slowed thinking, movements, and speech, agitation, reduced sex drive, crying for no reason, unexplained physical symptoms, and more.
A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that pregnant women who received acupuncture for depression had a more favorable response to treatment than the control groups. In fact, the severity of the symptoms of those who received depression acupuncture fell by at least half and they no longer ft the criteria for diagnosing major depression.
“The acupuncture protocol we tested yielded a response rate comparable to the rates observed in standard treatments for depression and was associated with relatively few and mild side effects.”
What you should know about acupuncture and depression
If you suffer from depression there is an alternative to medication.
Were you aware that:
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million adults, ages 18 and older, experience a depressive disorder in a given year.
- Women are 70-percent more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime.
- Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. and are even prescribed to young children.
- Depression is known to weaken the immune system, leaving the body susceptible to other illnesses.
- Nearly 80-percent of individuals experiencing depression are not currently receiving any treatment.
- Acupuncture has nearly 2,000 years of clinical history.
- Acupuncture is one of the most holistic systems of medicine available today.
- Acupuncture has no inherently dangerous or troublesome side effects.
- Americans make nearly 15 million visits to acupuncture practitioners per year.
How to choose an acupuncturist:
Not all acupuncturists are created equal!
Acupuncture is one of the fastest growing modalities in the United States and more and more health and medical practitioners are jumping on the bandwagon.
A qualified acupuncturist has accrued over 3,000 hours of acupuncture and Chinese medicine education, which is between three and four years of schooling.
Unfortunately, more than 50% of acupuncturists in the US have a mere 300 hours of acupuncture training or less.
Only licensed and fully qualified acupuncturists are included on our site. To find a practitioner and get started on the path to optimal health and wellness, search our directory of acupuncturists.