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Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body. Inserting needles into meridian points (or pathways in the human body) with appropriate combinations are believed to bring one’s energy flow back into proper balance. This is a process associated with the ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ of the life force known as ‘qi’ (pronounced ‘chi’).
Acupuncture is typically used to help relieve pain and there is research to suggest that it works for:
There is also research supporting the use of acupuncture for the treatment of depression. A meta-analysis combines the results from several studies. This has the effect of increasing the strength of conclusions as they are based on the results from several studies, not just one.
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders analysed the results from thirteen randomised controlled studies involving 1046 patients. The overall results from these studies confirmed that acupuncture combined with antidepressant medications reduced depressive symptoms greater than antidepressants on their own[1]. While further research is required these results are promising and suggest that adding acupuncture to standard pharmaceutical interventions may increase overall treatment outcomes for depression.
These results provide further support for using an integrative approach to improve treatments for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
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