Acupuncture for depression

Abstract

Background: In many parts of the world, acupuncture is increasingly being used to treat mental disorders. It has a harmonizing, sedating, and tonifying effect and acupuncture's use can often reduce or even replace drug therapy. The goals are to develop a system of acupuncture that covers all aspects of depression and to explain the Chinese Traditional Medicine bases of the points used. Methods: The importance of Heart as the House of Mind as opposed to the brain in Western medicine is emphasized. The concept of the ethereal soul and corporeal soul, the significance of Outer Bladder channel points for treating mental symptoms, and the various other points that have a special bearing on psychologic and related syndromes are discussed. Four cases are presented, illustrating the success and limitations of acupuncture as a mode of therapy for depression. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the illustrative cases presented. Conclusions: Based on the knowledge of mental/emotional effects of various acupuncture points, and selecting a group of points that are unique for a particular patient based on his or her signs and symptoms, and correcting the total disharmony pattern of that patient, depression can be treated successfully with acupuncture in the majority of cases. © Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.