If researchers are to be believed, over 15% of all Americans suffer with depression at some point in their lives. Annually about 20 million Americans are treated for depressive illnesses in a variety of ways and at a wide range of levels.
Some people suffer from depression seasonally while others have it chronically; some people have mild depressive illnesses that may be short term while others are severely depressed and are nearly incapable of performing basic functions. The range of treatments seems to be as vast as the range of depressive illnesses. You can choose from drug treatments, talk therapies, naturopathic help and even eastern forms of medicine like acupuncture. Whichever treatment you choose should be one that you are comfortable with and you should be open to using other forms of treatment in case the one you prefer does not work well.
Acupuncture Depression
Even after the turn of the millennium, Americans are still new to the idea that acupuncture works to treat and even cure diseases. Acupuncture has been used in China for over three millennia for a number of diseases, including depression. You should know that in 1996 the US FDA gave the green light to the acupuncture depression treatment and by 2002 there were well over eight million people using acupuncture to treat depression. By 2005 there were already over 20,000 certified acupuncture therapists operating in the US, a third of them medical doctors.
An Effective Treatment
Acupuncture depression treatment is one of the best and most effective depression treatments and should not be considered only as an alternative when other treatments have failed. Drug treatments have tons of truly horrible side effects that make patient not want to be bothered with taking the medications. These side effects include nausea, bowel upset, sexual side effects, fatigue and sometimes require specialized diets so that the food you eat does not have negative effects on absorption or effectiveness. Acupuncture depression treatment has the main side effect of possible pain for a moment when the tiny needle is inserted.
It usually disappears in a moment and is a result of the patient’s apprehension about the treatment. There are no other side effects other than the relief of depression symptoms. There are even acupuncture depression treatments that no longer use the needles at all; they make use of low power lasers to produce the same effects.
Covered by Insurance
Depression is now considered an illness like any other that you would receive treatment for from a health practitioner and is covered by medical insurance. Most insurance companies accept acupuncture depression therapy as a normal type of treatment for depression and will cover the expense. Even if your insurance company does not cover acupuncture depression therapy, the cost of treatment is usually quite low and affordable.
How it Works
Acupuncture is used to restore the correct flow of the body’s natural energy (qi or chi) which may be out of balance for any number of reasons. The treatment helps the body return to normal function by eliminating the improper flow and restoring natural balance which corrects for hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain and body. The process stimulates the central nervous system and releases endorphins into the body which relieve pain. It is believed that the release of the endorphins is what actually treats the depression and restores a normal mood to the patient.
