Posted by OldSchool on February 20, 2002, at 10:41:33
In reply to Acupuncture, posted by ST on February 15, 2002, at 6:12:14
Acupuncture is one of the few "alternative" treatments for depression I have any faith in. I tried acupuncture once for my depression, way back years ago when the meds totally were not working for me. I went to this guy who is an MD but who had formally studied acupuncture...he is a very unique MD in this area. He stuck all these small needles in me, including some in my scalp in the head region. Then he attached small electrodes with wires to the needles, particularly in the head area and fired super low doses of electicity into the needles. I couldnt feel the electricity, nor the needles. Maybe a little bit tingly feeling was about it.
Anyway, after he turned on the juice he had me lay there on the table for about thirty minutes relaxing. Then he came in and took the needles out and honestly I did feel quite different. I felt more upbeat...a little bit wired. I felt activated for three days afterwards. It did work. He told me that putting these needles into my scalp and firing the electricity into them was like a acupuncture version of ECT LOL.
The bad thing was these acunpuncture sessions were like $75 a pop and you need to get them like three times a week for it to really take effect good. My insurance didnt pay for it so I stopped going after the first session. He told me most of his patients are getting acupuncture for chronic pain. I have no doubt that acupuncture has some uses in treating depression after my experience. Particularly if the doctor fires small amounts of electricity into the needles...felt good.
Id like to know how the Chinese treat major depression in People's Republic of China. I bet they have some interesting and unique treatments that involve acupuncture.
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:94177
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94777.html