Last year I came across a study that found electro-acupuncture as an effective method for treating depression. After reading the study, I blogged about the topic and decided I would try this method out on our patients to see if we had the same results. Since that blog, I have been treating depression patients in our office with electrical stimulation and can confirm the results to be remarkable.
About 1 week after I posted the blog, I got a call from a new patient who wanted to try the electro-acupuncture for her depression. She had been on depression meds for about 10 years and wanted to gradually taper off the drugs (under the care of her physician). I was reluctant to jump right into electrical stimulation (being it was her first acupuncture treatment) and decided we should try 2 treatments without electrical stimulation first. After the first 2 treatments she noticed very little change. So, the third treatment we tried a total of 20 minutes of electrical stimulation and low and behold when she returned the following week she finally noticed a change! Her mood was better, she felt less anxious and more calm. We continued her electrical stimulation treatments weekly for about 5 weeks and then gradually spaced out the treatments. She has now been off all depression medications for over 8 months and feels great. She comes in for monthly tune up treatments only. This is not the only positive success story- we have many others just like this. While some patients were able to get off all medications, others found that acupuncture helped to make the drugs more effective.
If you or someone you know is suffering with depression, you should consider acupuncture as a treatment option.
I’ve been using acupuncture on patients with depression to help them cope and balance their mind, body and spirit. Some patients are able to cut down on the amount of antidepressants they are taking and some are able to come off of drugs altogether (always consult with your doctor before changing any of your medications). A recent study now shows that electro-acupuncture has an antidepressant effect and prevents atrophy of brain cells. Electro-acupuncture is similar to traditional acupuncture, except that after the needles are inserted, they are attached to a device that generates a gentle electric pulse. Researchers have found that major depressive disorder is linked to glia cell atrophy. Glial cells are necessary for proper function of the central nervous system. Glial cells supply nourishment and oxygen to the brain neurons. Electro-acupuncture provides an antidepressant effect by its ability to prevent “glial atrophy in the hippocampus.” When glial cells are protected, depression can be mitigated. I will let you know what results I have on treating depression with electroacupuncture!