Depression can affect up to about 16% of the population of the United States. While it some cases it is rather mild, others are not so fortunate.

Treatment of some kind, in the more extreme cases, is usually necessary in order to help the individual cope with ordinary life. This article explains how acupuncture may help you or someone you know get relief from depression.

What Are The Primary Causes of Depression

Depression can often stem from basic biologic insufficiencies. It can stem from such things as simple as a lack of a balanced diet, insufficient vitamins and minerals, or, a lack of physical exercise.

Most remedies for depression will include an examination of the life to see if these are properly maintained, because they are necessary to our mental well being. Apart from these more ordinary things, hormonal imbalances, and mental instabilities can also cause it.

In order to detect if this is the case, it will be necessary to see your doctor for further consultation and testing.

Acupuncture May Be Helpful

While acupuncture is still new and unusual to many Americans, it has been used in China for well over 2,000 years. They have enjoyed its benefits as a recognized source of help for many physical problems. Among other things, it has been used to help those with depression.

Acupuncture In The United States

The Food and Drug Administration gave acupuncture official status of being a viable means for medical treatment in 1996. As early as 2002, there were about 8.2 million Americans that had received acupuncture treatments. There are now more than 20,000 certified acupuncturists in this country, and more than a third of these also medical doctors.

The Principles of Acupuncture

The Chinese believe that the human body has 12 main points of intersection through which the natural energy of the body flows. This energy is referred as qi (or chi).

When energy flows freely throughout the body you experience health. Illness, or depression, would indicate a blocked or insufficient flow of energy.

The purpose of acupuncture treatment for depresession is to help restore the proper flow of qi so the body can function properly.

An interpretation of all this, in the language of Western science, is that it helps to stimulate the central nervous system. Acupuncture treatment releases endorphins, the body's pain-relieving chemicals.

Acupuncture's ability to release endorphins may be one of the main ways it can help relieve depression. These chemical messengers may stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to help restore normal mood.

Acupuncture Has Been Shown To Help Depression

When the alternatives to depression are considered - strong drugs, acupuncture may be something that you might want to try. The drugs have many side effects including drowsiness, headaches, lower levels of interest in sex, and anxiety.

Clinical studies (though more need to be done) have shown that acupuncture does provide measurable benefits. And one of the best things is that there acupuncture does not have any side effects.

The only "side effect" of acupuncture is some mild discomfort from the needles. Other forms of acupuncture now use low power lasers - which have the same effect without using needles.

Acupuncture May Even Be Covered By Your Insurance

About 80% of health insurance companies will now accept acupuncture as a means for medical treatment of many disorders. You may want to look at your policy and see if it covers you.