Posted by sid on February 20, 2002, at 19:14:52
In reply to Re: Acupuncture can work for depression too, posted by Squiggles on February 20, 2002, at 11:37:59
I had acupunture treatments against major depression and it helped greatly. Nobody knows how acupuncture works yet, it is just observed that it works. Some scientific studies have been done and acupuncture could produce a remission rate that was similar to the ones obtained from using ADs. It's been proven to be effective otherwise as well.
It doesn't have to be on the head, and it doesn't have to include electricity to heal depression. Electric treatments, as described by OldSchool, are often used against pain; it dumbs the pain somehow. I had acu-electric treatments for back pain in the past.
My acupunture treatment for depression did not involve electricity however. It involved leaving the needles in the first week only, then, once a week, different poking series (poking the needle in with presure and taking it out immediatly) and moxa heating my skin. Moxa is a dried herb - it's rendered humid with some water and rolled into a little ball. Then it's stuck to the skin and it's lit. When it feels hot on the skin, you say so and it is removed. It's thermal treatment, basically, on different "meridians" (spots on the body that can be used for acupuncture treatments).
Acupunture treatments differ between individuals for the same illness. An acupuncturist asks you about everything: diet, digestion, vision, any symptoms at all, blood pressire, sleep patterns, life habits, allergies, etc... Then given ALL that, they decide on the treatment.
Plus, acupuncturists have different backgrounds and inclinations - some never use moxa, some never use electricity, some use heating lamps on areas where there are needles, some never poke with the needles, etc...
My treatment was once a week for 7 weeks, then every other week, for a month, then every month, then every change of season (4 times a year). It is important for the treatment not to be too long or too often because you can get somewhat addicted. It worked very well for me and helped me so much - it was the first thing that gave me hope I'd be well again some day.
Unfortunately, some acupuncturists are good and others not so much! I moved since then and never found another acupuncturist that was as good as the one I consulted for my major depression. Since I recently realized still had dysthymia, I decided to try meds (Effexor XR for now). Had I had the same acupuncturist still, I'm not sure I would have needed the med. Oh well.
poster:sid
thread:94177
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94850.html