Home » Mind & Soul » Depression » Acupuncture for Depression - Page 3

Acupuncture for Depression - Page 3

© John McManamy

Karen thinks the first few visits were critical, but her follow-up visits were important, too.

In July, Karen switched to St John's wort before slowly reducing her Paxil in August (she is now down to 10 mg). According to Karen: "I believe both acupuncture and St John's wort have helped me. I think the acupuncture enabled the Saint John's wort to work more effectively. I like the idea of making the body work its best with acupuncture."

She goes on to say: "I have always had to take higher doses of any antidepressant in order to get the best results. Why not get my immune system working better so that I might not need such a high dose or, even better, take St John's wort instead with minimal side effects?"

Dr Chen, says Karen, works on the principle that it's all about helping the body's immune system function in an optimal way so that it keeps the disease in check, resulting in fewer bad symptoms. In Karen's words:

"The body takes time to heal and the acupuncture guides the body to heal itself. Heal from what? I don't think our bodies are working optimally. The body does its best under any circumstances but after years of medications, ravages of depression and stress, excesses in food and drink - sugar, chemicals, smog - acupuncture helps the body recover from these assaults. I have more respect for the working of the body now and the strength of it."

Now, after four and a half months, Karen feels ready to discontinue treatment. As well as easing her depression, she also credits acupuncture for helping her go off sugar. And there is the spiritual side: "I really believe in meditating on God. It spiritualizes the mind which in turn uplifts the mood. Regular meditation is important to me."

If you are thinking of acupuncture for yourself:

Your doctor is a good resource for referrals to licensed acupuncturists. You can also do a search for practitioners in your area at the websites of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture and the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance.

Some 70 to 80 percent of insurers in the US cover acupuncture treatments. Cost per treatment tends to range between $30 and $100. Physician acupuncturists may charge more than non-physician practitioners.

Finally, if you are on medication, don't expect to flush your pills down the toilet after your first visit. This is a matter you will have to work out between you and your doctor or psychiatrist. Fortunately, Karen had an acupuncturist who recognized this. In her words: "I appreciated Dr. Chen's discretion in advising me about the medication. He told me that since he's not a medical doctor he couldn't tell me how much to take or when to quit. He just made me feel comfortable that the acupuncture would still do its job whether I went off the medication or not."

The copyright of the article Acupuncture for Depression - Page 3 in Depression is owned by John McManamy. Permission to republish Acupuncture for Depression - Page 3 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.