While not a replacement for standard depression treatments, some studies suggest that acupuncture can help people with the mood disorder feel better.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice, is one of the most widely used complementary and integrative medicine interventions worldwide. In the United States, acupuncture’s popularity has surged over the past several decades, with more than 10 million acupuncture treatments administered annually.
While pain relief is the most common use for acupuncture, researchers are studying whether it can be used to treat other health conditions, such as depression.
Why Acupuncture Might Appeal to People With Depression
Many people with depression consider complementary therapies like acupuncture. One reason is that acupuncture is associated with fewer side effects than antidepressant medications.
Other reasons? A central goal of acupuncture is to restore balance in the body by increasing the flow of qi, or vital energy, and fatigue and lack of energy are common symptoms of depression, says Jasdeep Sandhu, MD, an integrative psychiatrist in Atlanta. In addition, acupuncture is widely used to relieve pain, which by itself can cause depression or be caused by depression.
“People with depression often express these sentiments [of pain and lack of energy], and acupuncture has a unique way of working with the energy and channels, or meridians, in our body to restore balance,” Dr. Sandhu says.
During an acupuncture treatment, thin needles are inserted in the skin at specific points on the body to stimulate the central nervous system.
The practice triggers the release of chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain that activate the body’s natural healing processes, which in turn promote general physical and emotional wellbeing.
Acupuncture also aims to regulate hormonal imbalances and increase levels of feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, says Nell Smircina, a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and a former president of the California State Oriental Medical Association. Differences in brain chemicals like these are a potential cause of depression.
Although a limited number of studies suggest that acupuncture may decrease symptoms of depression, more research is needed before it can be considered a reliable CAM treatment for the mood disorder.
Depression management is complicated and requires a multipronged approach, says Sandhu.
What Potential Benefits Do Studies Show for Treating Depression With Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has shown promise for depression in numerous studies.
One of the largest, a review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, assessed 64 studies of acupuncture for depression encompassing more than 7,100 participants.
It found acupuncture to be moderately effective in reducing the severity of depression compared with standard depression treatments or no treatment at all.
Another systematic review of 29 studies, published in August 2019 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, showed that among nearly 2,300 total participants, acupuncture was a viable addition to standard depression treatments.
The problem? Studies performed so far have several limitations, one of the most important being that they don’t make clear how acupuncture stacks up against psychotherapy or medication, which are standard treatments for depression.
In addition, the studies in the Cochrane review lacked medium and long-term follow-up, so it’s impossible to know how acupuncture affects depressive symptoms in the long term. Most of the studies also didn’t account for side effects of acupuncture. This means that any risks of performing acupuncture among people with depression aren’t yet known.
What’s more, in the review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, researchers noted that 22 of the 27 included studies were performed in China, where acupuncture tends to be administered more frequently than in other countries. It isn’t certain how applicable these findings are to people living in other countries.
Is It Okay to Rely Solely on Acupuncture to Manage Depression?
In a word, no. Although acupuncture may help you feel better, it’s not a replacement for standard depression treatments, Dr. Smircina says.
“You can experience the greatest benefits of acupuncture while seeing a therapist, psychiatrist, or other medical professional,” she says.
If you want to try acupuncture, do it in tandem with talk therapy, medication, or other well-researched treatment options. “You don’t have to do an either or approach,” Smircina says.
Sandhu agrees. She also recommends telling the acupuncturist exactly what you’re looking to gain from sessions, such as relief from pain, low mood, or depression-related fatigue.
The frequency of acupuncture treatments varies from person-to-person. Some people start with two or three sessions per week, says Smircina. Others find that once a week is enough, especially for maintenance treatment or general pain or stress relief.
Before trying acupuncture, check with your doctor to be sure it’s safe for you. Acupuncture with electrical stimulation and certain acupuncture points may not be appropriate for people with pacemakers or pregnant people, respectively.
The potential side effects of acupuncture are often minor and may include soreness, mild bruising, or bleeding where needles were placed.
Is Acupuncture Worth Trying for Depression?
There’s not enough evidence to be sure acupuncture relieves depressive symptoms. In general, however, acupuncture is believed to be safe when performed properly.
“Thankfully, acupuncture is an incredibly safe modality, and has very few – and rare – potential side effects,” says Smircina.
Sandhu agrees, saying that acupuncture is generally safe as long as you choose to work with a trained professional. “You should look for a licensed and board-certified practitioner,” she says.
And again, it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying acupuncture. In fact, Smircina encourages facilitating communication between your doctor and your acupuncturist. “Your acupuncturist and therapist or psychiatrist should be communicating and keeping your goals in mind,” she says.
SOURCE: Everyday Health
