If you suffer from depression, you have probably not considered acupuncture as a potential treatment - however, there is evidence to suggest that it may in fact be an effective treatment for depression.
In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health in 1998, they compared two groups of people suffering from depression - a control group who received no treatment, and an experimental group who were treated with acupuncture.
They found that those who received acupuncture experienced a 43% reduction in their symptoms, twice as much as those who received no treatment. So how can that be? How is it possible that having tiny needles inserted in your body can make you feel happier and better about life?
The answer lies in the very basics of acupuncture. It is based on the idea that we have a flow of energy, called Qi, throughout our body. This Qi flows along channels called meridians. If these meridians become blocked it can affect our health and our mood.
The role of acupuncture is to unblock the flow of energy by inserting needles at key points along these meridians. Expert therapists are aware of hundreds of these key points throughout the body, each relating to different internal organs.
By inserting the needles in the appropriate place they can unblock the flow of Qi and allow the body to heal itself. With the body's natural powers of healing unleashed, we will see positive changes both physically and mentally.
