Acupuncture for depression
Low mood, heaviness, and fatigue aren't just "in your head." Acupuncture supports the body and mind together, alongside your other care.
Depression usually shows up as a persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, and changes in sleep and appetite. It sits in the body as much as the mind, and Korean medicine has always treated the two together.
Acupuncture can help settle the nervous system, prompt the release of endorphins, and get sleep back on track. It works well as one part of a wider plan, and it sits alongside counselling or medication rather than replacing them.
Symptoms we treat
If a few of these sound familiar, it's worth coming in to talk. This list isn't a diagnosis. Your first visit is where that starts.
Why acupuncture works here
We work three layers at once, local, segmental, and central, and choose points based on what your body needs that day.
From first visit to plan
Every patient moves through the same four steps, at an unrushed pace. Your first visit includes a consultation.
The clinical picture
Depression is the most common mental disorder and a serious condition that causes significant problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 264 million people worldwide reported experiencing depression in 2017, a figure that represents a 50% increase compared to 1990. In the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, depression ranked 13th among the top 25 diseases, similar to the burden of diseases such as AIDS, liver cirrhosis, lung cancer, and headaches. The 2016 World Mental Health Survey indicated that depression had the highest burden among mental disorders.
Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, or irritability, accompanied by physical and cognitive changes that affect an individual's ability to function. It is marked by a depressed mood most of the day, a decrease in interest or pleasure in daily activities, and leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Major depressive disorder is diagnosed when an individual experiences a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in activities for more than two weeks, along with at least four other depressive symptoms such as:
- Significant changes in sleep
- Changes in appetite and digestion
- Excessive fatigue
- Difficulties in concentration
- Rumination
- Suicidal thoughts
In traditional Korean medicine, there is a theory that “the mind and body are an inseparable whole,” which emphasizes the spiritual relationships inherent in the five internal organs and their respective functions. It also treats depression by regulating and strengthening the functions of these organs, thereby supporting mental function and stabilizing the autonomic nervous system.
When using herbal medicine, various prescriptions are selectively employed based on the individual's constitution and the state of their depression. For instance, if there are severe symptoms of heat, strong emotions of anger, unstable mental states with palpitations, or severe insomnia or digestive disorders, the prescriptions will differ accordingly. Additionally, for emotional distress (hwa-byung), different prescriptions are provided based on individual constitutions.
Other treatment methods include electrical acupuncture, ear acupuncture, and Sa-am acupuncture, as well as moxibustion, cupping therapy, manual therapy, and qigong therapy. Generally, rather than relying on a single treatment method, it is more effective to consider the underlying causes of the condition, symptoms, and psychological and environmental factors, and to combine various treatments.
The effectiveness of traditional Korean treatment for depression has already been demonstrated in various studies. Recently, the Irish daily newspaper "The Irish Times" reported that traditional Korean treatment can assist in the treatment of postpartum depression. In this article, acupuncturist Hannah O’Connell stated, “Acupuncture plays a significant role for mothers during pregnancy.” She recommended that mothers receive acupuncture once a week for 12 to 16 weeks, as it helps alleviate various symptoms that may arise three months post-pregnancy, and is a safe treatment that aids not only in treating postpartum depression but also in promoting lactation and addressing mastitis.
鬱 pent-up
Read ul in Korean. Hanja are learned meaning first, then sound, so this one is 답답할 울.