Last year a 52 year old man came to our acupuncture clinic complaining of depression. It had started in September (it was now February) and he was not getting better. He was taking Zoloft, which did not seem to be helping, plus it interfered with his sleep. This depression acupuncture case study describes how acupuncture was able to lift his spirits and resolve his depression.
The Problem
Depression is a common problem in America. The National Institutes of Health report that over 16 million Americans had major depression in 2016. Symptoms of major depression include persistent feeling of sadness, loss of motivation and interest, insomnia, poor appetite, low energy, poor concentration, low self-esteem and increased self-criticism. Depression can also include thoughts of suicide.
Most people struggling with depression do not have major depression. They have minor depression. But it is still debilitating, significantly affecting their daily life functions. This was the case with our 52 year old patient.
Depression Acupuncture Case Study
Our patient had dealt with mild to moderate depression in the past. He was more susceptible to it when the days became shorter each fall. His symptoms included low motivation, social isolation, self-judgmental thoughts, low energy, difficulty falling asleep, poor appetite and low libido.
His Chinese medicine diagnosis was derived from his history, current symptoms and examination of his tongue and pulse. We diagnosed his depression as being caused by an imbalance of Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Qi Deficiency. This is a common pattern when dealing with depression.
Acupuncture points used in this depression acupuncture case study included: LV3, Li4, SP6, Li11, ST36, GV20, Yintang, BL18, BL20, BL23. We also used auricular acupuncture ear points including: Shenmen, Point Zero, Autonomic and Liver. The patient was not comfortable taking Chinese herbs. If he was, we would have prescribed Xiao Yao Wan. Treatments were once a week. We agreed to treat him four times and then assess his progress.
Results
After the first treatment he felt mild relief for two days. Following the second treatment, his relief lasted four days. After four treatments he felt 40% better overall. Depression symptoms were significantly reduced, sleep was better, and he had more motivation.
Based on these positive results we continued treatment for another three sessions, after which our patient was 70% better. At this point he wanted to stop and see how he did. We told him he might continue to improve on his own, or he might find that he was stuck at 70%. In that case he should come in for a few more treatments.
A few weeks later he called and asked for a few more sessions. This did the trick. After the final 3 sessions he was fully recovered and feeling himself again.
What To Expect
The results obtained in this depression acupuncture case study are fairly typical for our depression patients. They respond early and typically get better within 6 to 12 treatments. Results are long lasting. Acupuncture is not a band-aid treatment. We address the root imbalances responsible for the depression. So when you are feeling better it’s because you are better.
Next Steps
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If you have questions about this depression acupuncture case study feel free to give us a call. We’ll be happy to discuss your situation and see if acupuncture is a good fit.
What our Clients are Saying
I was feeling depressed and stressed because I didn’t like my job and didn’t know what to do with my life. I started taking Lexipro but it really affected my libido so I stopped taking it. I tried acupuncture because my husband said it helped him when he was depressed years earlier (before he met me!) I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and started treatments. They were really knowledgeable about Chinese medicine and explained how the body gets stuck in depression, and how the acupuncture gets the body unstuck. They really listened to me and helped me figure stuff out. I started feeling less depressed. Then I actually started getting more clear about what I wanted to do with my life career-wise. I decided to go back to school and now I’m almost done with my degree. I haven’t felt depressed at all since I was treated and I’m really excited about my life. I’m very grateful to them for being such great healers and such a great support to me when I really needed it.
I had very severe depression after my son was born. The doctors put me on medication, which helped, but I still had no motivation and felt very sad. I tried acupuncture and it really improved my mood. I would say that within four weeks of starting treatment I was no longer depressed. My motivation returned, I was able to get out of bed in the morning ready to go, and I started enjoying my son for the first time. I think the combination of medications and acupuncture worked great for me. I appreciate the caring and skill at Raleigh Acupuncture and recommend them highly for treating depression.