The number of people suffering from depression is increasing worldwide. The aetiology of the disease is not well understood and may be related to psychosocial or genetic factors, neuroendocrine and central neurotransmitter dysfunction. Depression is generally divided into two categories: exogenous and endogenous depression. Exogenous depression is triggered by an event, while endogenous depression is caused by a deficiency of important neurotransmitters.
Symptoms
Decreased attention
Pessimism
Lack of self-confidence, self-esteem
Sleep disturbances
Loss of appetite
Acupuncture has excellent efficacy in treating exogenous depression and is also very effective for endogenous depression. It is particularly effective when combined with psychotherapy and Chinese herbal medicine / phytotherapy.
What are the benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of depression?
- Comprehensive improvement of clinical symptoms
- Rapid onset of immediate effect
- Stable long-term effect
- Low relapse rate
- Effective in refractory depression
- High safety and low/no side effects
- Good acceptance by patients
According to Chinese medicine, depression and anxiety are the result of an imbalance of yin and yang in the liver and heart, leading to a blockage of the associated meridians and thus to stagnation of qi and blood.
TCM treats the symptoms of the condition in a dialectical way using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Tuina massage, nutritional therapy and lifestyle counselling to restore internal balance to the body. TCM is evidence-based and fully individualised.
Studies have shown that acupuncture increases the concentration of brain chemicals that are otherwise absent in depressed patients. Many studies have also shown that serotonin in the brain, which is antidepressant and analgesic, can be released in the brain when certain acupuncture points are stimulated.