HOW IS DEPRESSION TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE? 

DEPRESSION

Depression is a mental health disorder that persistently alters an individual mood. It affects their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Depression interferes with their daily activities such as eating, sleeping, or working. Depression can lead to various emotional and physical problems. It causes them to feel sadness, has a loss of interest, and hopelessness that life is not worth living. Depression often begins in adulthood but can occur in children and adolescents.

DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS

Not everyone that is depressed will experience all the symptoms of depression. Symptoms for depression occur most of the day to nearly every day. They are persistently sad, have a feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, and emptiness. They feel anxious, fatigued, and restless. They have aches and pains, headaches, or cramps. Depression may cause a decrease in energy, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making a decision, and suicidal. 

Risk Factors are: 

Have a personal or family history of depression.

Have experienced either stressful, traumatic, or life-changing events.

Have a history of mental disorders, recreational drugs, or alcohol abuse.

TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION

Depression can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or electroconvulsive therapy (ETC). Antidepressant medicines may help improve an individual mood, but it takes about two to four weeks for the medication to be effective. However, not all antidepressant medication work for every individual. Therefore, they would need to try different types of antidepressants to find out which works best for them. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and problem-solving therapy can help an individual with depression. If neither medication or psychotherapy helps improves depression, electroconvulsive therapy, and other brain stimulation therapy is an alternative option. 

ACUPUNCTURE TO BENEFIT DEPRESSION 

Acupuncture helps depression by inducing the homeostatic response on the cellular level. They influence the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in the nervous system to improve the circulation of energy through the meridians. When an individual is under emotional and psychological state, acupuncture helps unblock the flow and release neurotransmitters that control mood and stress. They stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will change the experience of sensory, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system. Acupuncture is safe and painless. There are no drugs or hazardous equipment used, and no surgical operation performed. 

CASE STUDIES: 

A case study was conducted on a 22-year-old male at Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing. The patient was diagnosed with neurotic depression. He complained about insomnia for five months and low spirits for one month due to a mental upset that occurred in his life. He was restless, had difficulty sleeping, and headaches. He couldn't concentrate, memory was deteriorating, and his speech was slow and incoherent. The patient developed fear and nervousness to the point where he had suicidal thoughts. After undergoing two acupuncture treatments, he was able to sleep for three to four hours, and his sensation of fear disappeared. He was still unable to concentrate more than an hour and still had headaches. On his tenth acupuncture treatment, he was able to sleep for six hours every night, his headache, irritation, and restlessness disappeared, and his behavior was back to normal. After the fourteenth treatment, all symptoms of depression was completely gone, his sleep schedule was back to normal, and he regained his memory. It is believed that acupuncture can regulate neurotransmitters and their moderators to restore the patient's body to a normal state.

Testimonials on Agape Natural Health has proven acupuncture and herbal medicine has successfully treated patients with depression. Their patients suffered from depression and Agape was able to restore their balance and improve their quality of life. Here's what their patients have to say after receiving acupuncture:

"I suffered from depression for years caused by a hypothyroid problem. I was on a lot of medications and tried everything including the drug Prozac from my doctor. I was sluggish and was in a negative state of mind. I couldn't function at work with a good attitude... I came back in October 2015 and received acupuncture, herbs and ate correct foods and diet. I immediately felt better and had a better sense of well-being. One acupuncture treatment helped out with the depression. After coming to get acupuncture, I feel excited and positive about life. I have increased energy and acupuncture gave me a reason to smile! My friends and family are very happy to see me again." - T.W. 

"Since May, 2017, I suffered from emotional problems  - anxiety and depression. I was depressed most of the time and I had a lot of anxiety. I was not sleeping well and suffered from insomnia. I had dizziness, low energy, headaches and nausea. I also had digestive problems, with poor appetite and I could not eat. The more I thought about my condition, the more upset I would get. I was not able to go to work and all I did was just lay in bed... Within a month after coming for treatments, I felt better. I have more energy and I am able to work again. I am able to be around my family and I am back to myself. My body feels cleaner and healthier. Everyone notices that I have more energy and that I am willing to be around them. The combination of both the acupuncture and herbs works better. I feel good about the results." - A.C., Whittier, California

WORK CITED:

"ACUPUNCTURE FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: INSOMNIA HERBS: DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS: LOW ENERGY" AGAPE NATURAL HEALTH, May 21, 2016, http://www.agapeacupuncture.com/blog/digestive-insomnia-low-energy-anxiety-acupuncture-depression?rq=depression

"DEPRESSION ACUPUNCTURIST: NATURAL HEALING FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM: FEELING DOWN: HERBS AND ACUPUNCTURE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH" AGAPE NATURAL HEALTH, February 21, 2016, 
http://www.agapeacupuncture.com/blog/depression-acupuncturist-natural-healing-for-hypothyroidism-feeling-down-herbs-and-acupuncture-for-emotional-health

"Depression" National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

"Depression (major depressive disorder)" Mayo Clinic, February 03, 2018, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007

Professor Chen Keji, M.D.. "7.2 NEUROSIS (DEPRESSION SYNDROME)." pp. 193-195. Traditional Chinese Medicine CLINICAL CASE STUDIES. Foreign Languages Press and New World Press, Beijing, 1994

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MOOD DISORDERS | DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, PANIC, FEAR, STRESS | ACUPUNCTURE, NUTRITION AND HERBS "I suffered from depression for years caused by a hypothyroid problem. I was on a lot of medications and tried everything including the drug Prozac from my doctor. I was sluggish and was in a negative state of mind. I couldn't function at work with a good attitude... I came back in October 2015 and received acupuncture, herbs and ate correct foods and diet. I immediately felt better and had a better sense of well-being. One acupuncture treatment helped out with the depression. After coming to get acupuncture, I feel excited and positive about life. I have increased energy and acupuncture gave me a reason to smile! My friends and family are very happy to see me again." - T.W.