How does acupuncture work?

During an acupuncture treatment, fine needles (as fine as a piece of hair) are inserted into "acupuncture points," which are thought to stimulate the body’s nervous system to release certain chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain which in turn release other chemicals and hormones in the body that may help to improve pain and other medical complaints.

Although the way that acupuncture works is not yet fully understood by scientists, recent medical studies have shown that acupuncture is safe, and, when combined with other treatments, can be helpful for some patients with certain conditions.

Most people who practice East Asian Medicine believe that energy or Qi flows through channels in the body that are called meridians. They believe that certain medical conditions result from a blockage or imbalance in the natural flow of these energy channels, and that acupuncture can help in unblocking Qi and restoring balance to the body.

Depression and Acupuncture

According to a new study, acupuncture may be an effective way to treat depression in pregnant women.

Currently, nearly 20 percent of women report symptoms of despair during pregnancy, while approximately 10 percent meet the criteria for major depression. Coping with the disorder can be extremely difficult for many women who do not want to take anti-depressants during pregnancy out of concern for the developing fetus.

“Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on both the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family,” said study author Rosa Schnyer.

In the study, a total of 150 pregnant women meeting the standards for major depressive disorder were separated into three groups. One-third of the respondents were given acupuncture specific for depression, another one-third was given control or “sham” acupuncture and the others were treated only with massage.

The researchers found that the women who received depression-specific acupuncture experienced a significantly greater decrease in symptoms related to the disorder.

Acupuncture may also be used to help alleviate symptoms associated with headaches, lower back pain and menstrual cramps.


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