Acupuncture and Depression

When most people think about treatments for depression, acupuncture is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. Yet acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years to combat this debilitating condition. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are two of the key treatment modalities of Traditional Asian Medicine that was originally developed to not just treat the physical body, but the mind and emotions as well.

The approach to treating depression with Traditional Asian Medicine is twofold. First, use acupuncture to gently unblock stagnant areas of the body that often leave patients suffering from depression feeling “heavy,” “foggy,” or “achy.” Second, use Chinese Herbal Medicine to support any underlying deficiencies that leave people feeling weak, exhausted, and unable to cope with the stress in their lives.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are two natural, effective ways of managing short and long term depression. They are often welcome alternatives to modern medications and they can also address other symptoms such as insomnia, poor digestion, and fatigue that may be contributing to the depression. In this way, each person is treated as a whole person integrating body, mind, and spirit.