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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : September 25, 2013 4:31 PM IST
People suffering from depression, now have a reason to feel upbeat. They now have an alternative to just consuming drugs. According to a new study in Britain, people who tried acupuncture along with taking their anti-depressants improved more after three months.
The study was conducted after recruiting 755 people with moderate or severe depression, and dividing them into three groups. The first group had acupuncture along with their usual drugs, the second group had counselling along with usual drugs, while the third group underwent normal treatment. It was observed that the first two groups showed better results and improved symptoms.
'For people who have depression, who have tried various medical options, who are still not getting the benefit they want, they should try acupuncture or counseling as options that are now known to be clinically effective,' said Dr Hugh Macpherson, who led the study. The study was published in the journal PLoS Medicine.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese Medicine, which has more than 3,000 years of history. The method of acupuncture is to encourage one's body to promote natural healing and to improve its functioning. Acupuncture starts the therapeutic ball rolling by stimulating the appropriate organs and systems to create more chi and blood in the body as well as addressing specific problems. (Read: Alternative therapies from around the world)
History of acupuncture
According to legend, acupuncture was accidentally discovered when Chinese warriors found that arrows striking them at certain points in the body healed them of chronic conditions. Since then, it has acquired such a level of sophistication that there are now over 1,000-2,000 known acupoints in the body, performing different functions, some to stimulate, others to sedate.
How does it work?
Two theories have been forwarded by science. One is that the needle sends up impulses that travel faster than the pain impulses, thereby blocking them. The other is that it releases endorphins (the feel-good hormone) into the bloodstream.
Is it painful?
The insertion of needles, which are very fine, is not painful. So, there should be no fear on that part. (Read: Acupuncture: All you need to know)
