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Why Can Acupuncture Help Depression?

Author: Annie Beal Author Ranking Blue | Posted: 10-05-2006 | Comments: 0 | Views: 127 | Rating:  (53) Article Popularity - Blue (?) Got a Question? Ask.
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Depression can affect up to about 16% of the population of the United States. While it some cases it is rather mild, others are not so fortunate.

Treatment of some kind, in the more extreme cases, is usually necessary in order to help the individual cope with ordinary life. This article explains how acupuncture may help you or someone you know get relief from depression.

What Are The Primary Causes of Depression

Depression can often stem from basic biologic insufficiencies. It can stem from such things as simple as a lack of a balanced diet, insufficient vitamins and minerals, or, a lack of physical exercise.

Most remedies for depression will include an examination of the life to see if these are properly maintained, because they are necessary to our mental well being. Apart from these more ordinary things, hormonal imbalances, and mental instabilities can also cause it.

In order to detect if this is the case, it will be necessary to see your doctor for further consultation and testing.

Acupuncture May Be Helpful

While acupuncture is still new and unusual to many Americans, it has been used in China for well over 2,000 years. They have enjoyed its benefits as a recognized source of help for many physical problems. Among other things, it has been used to help those with depression.

Acupuncture In The United States

The Food and Drug Administration gave acupuncture official status of being a viable means for medical treatment in 1996. As early as 2002, there were about 8.2 million Americans that had received acupuncture treatments. There are now more than 20,000 certified acupuncturists in this country, and more than a third of these also medical doctors.

The Principles of Acupuncture

The Chinese believe that the human body has 12 main points of intersection through which the natural energy of the body flows. This energy is referred as qi (or chi).

When energy flows freely throughout the body you experience health. Illness, or depression, would indicate a blocked or insufficient flow of energy.

The purpose of acupuncture treatment for depresession is to help restore the proper flow of qi so the body can function properly.

An interpretation of all this, in the language of Western science, is that it helps to stimulate the central nervous system. Acupuncture treatment releases endorphins, the body's pain-relieving chemicals.

Acupuncture's ability to release endorphins may be one of the main ways it can help relieve depression. These chemical messengers may stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to help restore normal mood.

Acupuncture Has Been Shown To Help Depression

When the alternatives to depression are considered - strong drugs, acupuncture may be something that you might want to try. The drugs have many side effects including drowsiness, headaches, lower levels of interest in sex, and anxiety.

Clinical studies (though more need to be done) have shown that acupuncture does provide measurable benefits. And one of the best things is that there acupuncture does not have any side effects.

The only "side effect" of acupuncture is some mild discomfort from the needles. Other forms of acupuncture now use low power lasers - which have the same effect without using needles.

Acupuncture May Even Be Covered By Your Insurance

About 80% of health insurance companies will now accept acupuncture as a means for medical treatment of many disorders. You may want to look at your policy and see if it covers you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When a depressed person refuses to go for help
By: rumor | 19-09-2008
What do you do when someone you love is depressed and refuses to get help?  My daughter, 22, is seriously depressed and has suffered from this disease off and on for years.  She insists that neither drugs nor therapy will help and just continues to suffer. I have tried everything to change her mind, but to no avail.  It's breaking my heart.

What do you do when you feel like your a failure and your future seems hopeless????
By: Hope | 18-09-2008
So im 19 yrs old, and I feel as if so far im not getting anything accomplished in life! School is so stressing and it feels like im not gonna be done with school in forever!!!! Im so confused, At first i wanted to major in psychology, but now im thinking in majoring in either religion or business. Its scary not to know what you want to be in life or how your going to end up  in the long run. Apart from all my other family and financial problems, why does life have to be so complicated!? =[

How do you no?
By: WHO? | 14-09-2008
I read in a psychology magazine that its normal to have "taboo" thoughts, like suicide or hurting someone else and that it does not nessecerally mean your suicidal or depressed. So how do you no if your depressed or not?

Very unusual depression
By: Marianne | 07-09-2008
Sometimes I have an overwhelming sense of depression.  Doesn't happen very often.  Last time I did not enjoy it at all.  I am thinking maybe I have some kind of hormone imbalance.  This last time was really bad.  I thought that I was over depression.  Now I feel that it is coming back. 

How does acupuncture work?
By: ~Sarah~ | 06-09-2008
How does acupuncture work?

Help for depression,work,home,friends
By: CJ | 03-09-2008
seventh day advantist church I have reached the end of my hope and dreams. I am physically disabled, mentally fully functional, physically unable to walk. Everything I have tried has ended up going nowhere, I am in such a downward spiral of depression that I can't move. I need a reason to continue living, I'm 27 and except for my mom, am alone. There are no real time friends, on computer people, no job opportunities, housing is a problem, my mother is not doing well and if she dies, I will be all alone. I need help in finding a purpose to live, a means of supporting myself - given all the health issues - and friends who will actually include me in their lives. Can your church help me?

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