Acupuncture treatment for anxiety and depression is becoming an increasingly popular option for people seeking help.

With the coming of spring weather on the horizon, you may think you’re out of the clear when it comes to fighting off depression. According to Psychology Today, most major depressions do not occur during the holidays, they happen in the summer. Regardless of the season, an estimated 17.5 million Americans are affected by some form of depression, yet only one-third of those suffering seek necessary treatment.
A great alternative treatment for anxiety and depression is acupuncture. According to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America there is strong evidence in favor of using acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders. As Reuters Health details, in recent studies that divided patients into groups that received acupuncture, counseling or usual care, researchers found that one in three patients were no longer depressed after receiving acupuncture or counseling treatment, compared to one in five who received neither treatment. The essence of the study suggested that acupuncture and counseling had similar effects on treatment. Doctors noted that neither treatments were intended to be replacements for medicine. However, it did confirm that acupuncture contributed to improvements in mental health over the course of the three month study.
As one of the oldest and most commonly used medical practices used in the world, Acupuncture can also address the many symptoms that come with depression including poor sleeping habits, stomach aches, and poor memory.
According to the University of Chicago Medicine, Acupuncture  gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s after China and the US opened up their relations with each other. In the mid-1990s, the World Health Organization released a study stating that Acupuncture is effective in treating at least 28 conditions. As AcuFinder states

Since the early nineties, studies around the globe have suggested that treating depression with acupuncture has a positive and holistic effect on depressed patients, particularly when used in combination with psychotherapy and herbal treatments.

But what exactly is acupuncture? Does it hurt like shots or blood draws? Will it leave tiny bumps all over my body?

Acupuncture is the practice of puncturing the skin with needles at certain anatomical points in the body to relieve specific symptoms associated with many diseases.
In 2013, Georgetown University Medical Center researchers published a study showing how acupuncture can significantly reduce the stress hormone response in an animal model of chronic stress. With scientists backing up pro-acupuncture claims, acupuncture is now the most popular alternative treatment for anxiety and depression.
Now, acupuncture is NOT a one-time fix-all type of treatment. It involves many sessions. A study published in the Fall 2014 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine specifically looked at acupuncture & depression and found that electroacupuncture treatments 5 times a week vs. daily medication led to decreased symptoms. After a few weeks of treatment, the electroacupuncture study subjects reported a higher percentage “great improvement” compared to the medicated subject
The most important advice an acupuncturist will tell you before, during, and after an appointment is, to relax…! Part of the success of acupuncture treatments is to be open to the method, and trust not only your acupuncturist, but also your body to heal.
The whole essence of inserting needles into the body is to allow for a balanced and free flow of energy all over the body – a vital condition for good state of health. It is valuable to keep in mind that people who are depressed may be more prone to illnesses like colds than non-depressed people. In addition to adding beneficial treatment for depression, acupuncture can be used as a preventative health measure to build immunity.
At Aligned Modern Health, our team of acupuncturists are here to help you find the balance, healing and peace that you need to feel like your best self again. Schedule a complimentary consultation today to see if acupuncture is a good fit for you!

 

   
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