Acupuncture is a deeply historic practice and one that has been used for centuries to manage symptoms of a variety of pains and illnesses of both body and mind.
While acupuncture’s techniques are commonly used by those looking to relieve pain and it’s often employed to provide a remedy or relief for joints, headaches and a wide range of other ailments, the practice can also be effective when it comes to less tangible problems, such as depression.
This less well-known use of acupuncture can have startling effects on the mind. If you are suffering from depression, Acupuncture That Works recommends trying a course of acupuncture to discover the benefits it can exert on your state of being.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture is an ancient practice that evolved in the Far East, which makes use of the Chinese concept of Qi, or energy. Misplaced Qi can cause pain and illnesses, and acupuncture aims to resolve this imbalance.
Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into particular points on the body, in order to realign the energy that has been disturbed and to rebalance the Qi, alongside Chinese principles of Yin and Yang.
In this sense, if depression is seen as an imbalance of energy, then the same techniques used in acupuncture to cure physical pain in the body, can be used to cure the imbalance of Qi that may have led to a depressive state of mind.
Acupuncture and Depression
Restoring the body’s energy to its perfect balance is the essential principle behind acupuncture and the essential methodology behind its ability to manage depression.
The body has multiple acupoints, which are locations that can be targeted by an acupuncture specialist in order to relieve pain. The specialist may make use of multiple acupoints on the body when providing acupuncture sessions for depression.
While also relieving any underlying bodily tensions and pains, the acupuncture course will help to promote overall positivity within your body, as Qi is restored to its rightful balance.
Depression though is a long-term illness, and to be effective it’s recommended that you take multiple courses of acupuncture over a period of several weeks. The exact length and time of acupuncture for depression will vary from individual to individual, as every body and every mind reacts differently to the practice.
How long has acupuncture been used for depression?
Acupuncture has been used to help manage the symptoms of depression, as well as other mental and physical ailments, for more than 3,000 years. It attempts to treat the key symptoms of depression, while addressing the underlying causes of the body becoming imbalanced.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, depression is caused by a blockage of Qi – also referred to as vital energy – and it is this that enables us to regulate our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual balance. Blockages can occur because of emotional or physical trauma, an imbalanced diet or physical, emotional and chemical stress within the body.
Acupuncture acts as a remedy, stimulating acupoints to keep the flow of energy moving. Practitioners will always treat patients on an individual basis, seeking to understand and identify underlying causes.
While it might be a tradition that’s thousands of years old, acupuncture is supported by modern scientific research and has been shown to be an effective means of managing depression. It’s important though, that anyone suffering from depression doesn’t solely use acupuncture as a means to cure that depression, as the body and mind can heal quicker when multiple techniques and cures are tried at the same time. Acupuncture is an excellent way to aid modern methods of handling depression, such as antidepressant pills.
Is acupuncture right for me?
Acupuncture is ideal for those individuals who are looking for a safe supportive or alternative treatment to western medicine. It can be effective working in conjunction with prescribed medication.
This can be particularly useful for those looking to reduce the unpleasant physical side effects of some medications such as nausea, headaches, loss of appetite and decreased libido.
Practitioners are sympathetic to the fact that depression can create recurrent or chronic issues which may affect everyday life and are brought about by a combination of environmental, psychological, genetic and biochemical factors.
There is no quick fix, which is why, acupuncture’s holistic view – with a focus on understanding your body, the underlying causes of symptoms and how systems are affected – can achieve the desired results.
Acupuncture is a low-risk treatment when carried out by our certified practitioners using sterile needles. The side effects are minimal and temporary, often paling in comparison to the relief and positive outcome patients enjoy when receiving treatment for conditions such as depression.
What else can acupuncture help with?
There have been hundreds of clinical studies completed that illustrate acupuncture’s multiple applications and benefits. Alongside managing symptoms of depression and complementing anti-depressant medication, the practice can also help with other mental health issues such as anxiety and schizophrenia.
Acupuncture actively seeks to re-balance Qi in the body, helping to combat symptoms of depression such as insomnia, headaches, migraines, irritability, lack of motivation, tiredness, weight changes and low mood.
There is also a physical impact that depression can have on the body that can be addressed with acupuncture. Chronic aches and pains can lead the body to become unbalanced, increasing levels of stress hormones like cortisol or adrenaline.
Depression can weaken your immune system too, making it more of a challenge to fight infection. For that reason, acupuncture seeks to bolster your body’s capacity in this area by increasing the flow of energy and prompting healing.
Contact Us Today
At Acupuncture That Works, we know the best techniques for delivering acupuncture that actually works. Contact us today to discuss depression and acupuncture by giving us a call on 0800 051 76 88 or by completing our contact form.
