Chinese Medicine as an Effective Treatment for Depression

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Chinese Medicine as an Effective Treatment for Depression
By Michael Pingicer, L.Ac., Dipl. NCCAOM

I recently asked a highly respected and experienced acupuncturist from China which diseases she treated the most using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) when she was practicing in China. "Depression and pain," she replied. Acupuncture is becoming well known in the United States as an effective treatment of body pain, but exploring TCM deeper reveals wider applications, including for the treatment of depression.

The many types of depression are defined as mood disorders by the American Psychiatric Association. The Mayo Clinic lists the following mental and physical signs and symptoms indicative of depression¹:

Irritability
Feelings of anxiety
Loss of interest or pleasure in life
Neglect of personal responsibility or personal care
Changes in eating habits
Changes in sleeping patterns
Fatigue and loss of energy
Extreme mood changes
Feeling helpless, hopeless, or worthless
Physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, chronic pain)
Increased alcohol or drug use
Thoughts of death or suicide

Do you feel any of the symptoms listed above?
If so, acupuncture may be right for you.
Call 212-894-0767 and ask for a free 15 minute consultation.

In the United States, the rate of people seeking medical treatment for depression markedly increased between the late 1980s and early 1990s and continued to increase through the 1990s.² There are many side effects of antidepressant medication and many mimic the signs and symptoms of depression itself. Some of the various side effects of antidepressants are as follows³:

Dry mouth
Urinary retention
Blurred vision
Constipation
Sleep disruption
Weight gain
Headache
Nausea
Gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Inability to achieve an erection
Loss of libido
Agitation
Anxiety

Depression is a very complicated disease that affects mental health and the various physical systems of the body resulting in decreased quality of life. Health is the balance among all of the emotional and physical occurrences in the body. If these fall out of balance, disease will occur. For example, one may become depressed because of a battle with insomnia or one may become an insomniac resulting from a struggle with depression.

TCM approaches health and disease with the understanding that the mind and body function as one operable unit not to be treated as two separate, unrelated parts. The National Institute of Health states that in TCM, qi (pronounced "chee") is believed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance, and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang. This description highlights TCM�s view of the mind-body connection of health.⁴

According to TCM theory, depression is a disease that occurs from stagnant or depressed qi in the body creating emotional and physical imbalance. Acupuncture and herbs can regulate stagnant qi resolving the depressive state in the body and help achieve health. In a recent clinical trial analyzing acupuncture as treatment for depression, patients who experienced acupuncture improved slightly more than patients treated with an antidepressant drug alone.⁵

Acupuncture and herbs are effective, safe treatments for depression and can be used alone or in conjunction with antidepressants. Call us today, and we will work with you to help you attain overall health and a better quality of life!
(212) 894.0767

Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs
41 Union Square West, Suite 519
New York, NY 10003
(212) 894.0767

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¹ http://www.mayoclinic.org/depression/diagnosis.html
² Mojtabai, R. M.D., Ph.D., and Mark Olfson, M. M.D., M.P.H. (2006). Treatment Seeking for Depression in Canada and the United States. Psychiatric Services. 57:631-639.
³ http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/Treating_Depression/side_effects.htm
⁴ http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture
⁵ Röschke J, Wolf C, M�ller MJ, Wagner P, Mann K, Grözinger M, and Bech S. (2000). The benefit from whole body acupuncture in major depression. Journal of affective disorders. 57(1-3):73-81

Read What People are Saying About Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs:

"Juliette was wonderful. I had always understood that acupuncture can help support a variety of issues so I thought I would give it a try. She was very helpful, encouraging, supportive and caring. And - I got the results I wanted!! I am grateful to her for her attentiveness and for making me feel like she genuinely cared about my health and well-being - as well as the outcome of the treatment. I did not try any herbal remedies so cannot comment on that. I would go back to her in a heartbeat for any issue. She knows her stuff. She was also great with processing the insurance payments so it was also affordable - something important to most these days. I wholeheartedly recommend meeting with her."
- Wendy