DEPRESSION
Do you feel sad, hopeless, worthlessness, fatigued, irritable, loss of interest, sleep
disturbance, unable to concentrate? If you've been feeling this way for more than 2 weeks,
you may have clinical depression.
Clinical depression is not just grief or sadness. It is an illness that can challenge your
ability to perform even routine daily activities. At its worst, depression may lead you to
contemplate or commit suicide. Depression represents a burden for both you and your
family. Sometimes that burden can seem overwhelming.
Clinical depression affects about 19 million Americans annually. It is estimated to
contribute to half of all suicides. About 5-10 percent of women and 2-5 percent of men will
experience at least one major depressive episode during their adult life. Depression affects
people of all races, incomes, and ages, but it is 3-5 times more common in the elderly than
in young people.
Currently, it appears that depression occurs as a result of abnormalities in the levels of
certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. The
abnormalities are thought to be biological, and are not caused by anything you did.
These neurotransmitters can be affected by a number of factors, such as Heredity,
Personality , Situations , Medical conditions , Medications ,Substance abuse, and Diet.
Treatment may include supportive therapy, such as changes in lifestyle and behavior,
psychotherapy, drug therapy, such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil. However, About half the
people who seek treatment for depression are not helped by psychotherapy and
medication or withdraw from treatment too early. Of those who recover, more than one third
relapse within eighteen months. This suggests that alternative treatment like acupuncture
may be very helpful for people who suffer from depression.
Treating Depression with Acupuncture
A new pilot study by researchers at the University of Arizona confirmed that acupuncture
is a promising treatment for major depression.
Thirty eight patients with major depression disorder participated in this study. They were
treated with acupuncture according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, each
for her own specific pattern of symptoms. They were treated twice per week for one month
and once per week for a second month, for a total of twelve sessions. After completion of
acupuncture treatment for depression, 64% of the patients experienced full remission. The
study shown acupuncture can provide significant symptom relief in depression, at rate
comparable to those psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. (1)& (2). The study by Dr. Lu at
the Beijing medical university proved the efficacy of electrical acupuncture for depression
was 90% compared to non electrical acupuncture (3).
The Study by Dr. Mark Lee, Dr. Susana E. Mendez, and their colleagues have shown
that as high as 90% of those patients with clinical depression have excellent response to
electrical acupuncture treatment using special acupuncture points. The great advantage
for acupuncture compared to pharmacotherapy is that acupuncture has very little side
effect but the result is very encouraged.(4).
(1). Johen Allen etc.: The efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Major Depression in Women, Psychological
Science: 1998: 9:397401
(2) John Allen: Depression and Acupuncture: A Controlled Clinical Trial. Psychiatric Times: 2000 3:
(3) Luo ko ceng etc. The efficacy of Electrical Stimulation Acupuncture in the Treatment of Major Depression Disorder
after Stoke. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 1996; 8:23-24
(4).Dr. Mark Lee, Dr. Susana E. Mendez, etc..The Efficacy of Electrical Acupuncture in the Treatment of Major
Depression Disorder. On progress.
________________________________________________________________________
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Center of Fort Worth
2481 Forest Park Blvd., Fort worth, Texas 76110| (817) 253-2891
Copyright © 2005 Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Center of Fort Worth
Texas All Rights Reserved
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |