Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Can Acupuncture Treat Depression?

Can Acupuncture Treat Depression?

Getting poked could perk you up. Acupuncture may be a viable treatment for depression, suggests a new British study.

Researchers found depression patients who received acupuncture saw similar mental health improvements as those who had counseling—and felt better after 3 months than patients who stuck to their regular antidepressant regimen. (Though you should talk to your doc before making any changes to your treatment.)

So what’s going on? The researchers aren’t quite sure, but in the past, acupuncture has been shown to decrease pain and boost the production of endorphins, or chemical compounds that make us feel good, says Florida-based patient educator Steven Masley, M.D. And it’s possible there’s a placebo effect, but this study didn’t find a link between patients’ expectations and added benefits to treatment.

Exactly how the procedure works may be unclear, but the benefits stick out. Discover 4 more ways acupuncture can fix your health problems.

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