Fighting Depression with Acupuncture
When low mood is persistent and you are under a lot of stress, you need to stop ignoring the signs of depression and take the necessary measures to solve the problem.
Chinese medicine, in conjunction with counselling, lifestyle modification, and other appropriate intervention, can be of significant benefit, helping a person to move through the process, while supporting healthy organ system function and maintaining qi and blood flow. It is all about achieving an inner balance and getting your life back.
Depression describes a group of disorders characterised by sadness, despondency, rumination, inability to experience pleasure, and feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy that are severe or persistent enough to interfere with normal function, interest in life and family and social interaction. Depression is a disorder that interferes with the basic aspects of life: the energy for activity, appetite, sex drive and sleep.
Typical symptoms of depression include reduced sex drive, decreased appetite and weight loss (although increased appetite and weight gain can occur), constant fatigue, poor concentration, withdrawal from social situations and activities, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Sleep disturbance, insomnia, waking in the early hours of the morning or somnolence are common. Patients may report headaches, vague aches and pains and digestive problems. Symptoms can vary during the day but are usually worse upon waking in the morning.
Acupuncture – How It Works
Mental and physical health is a product of the quality, volume and uninhibited movement of qi and blood. Chinese medicine beliefs that mental disorders are due to disruption of one or more of the internal organ systems and their mental components, the shen, hun, po, yin and zhi, by insufficient or constrained qi and blood.
The purpose of treatment is to provide relaxation and stimulation at the same time. It counters anxiety and stress. It makes both your mind and body more relaxed.
This ancient treatment stimulates the production and release of the hormone of happiness, serotonin, in the brain. You will literally feel the flow of internal energy in your body getting back into balance again.
Acupuncture can be combined with conventional treatments, if needed. As function improves the need for antidepressant medications may decrease, and they can be carefully withdrawn with the instruction of a doctor.