Depression

Case studies have indicated that acupuncture can help in the treatment of depression. Electroacupuncture, where electrical stimulant is applied to the needles, appears to have greater efficacy than traditional acupuncture. Two studies compared the effects of electroacupuncture and amitriptyline in depressed patients. In the first study, patients suffering from depression received 5 weeks of therapy with either electroacupuncture or the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline hydrochloride. A comparison of Hamilton Depression Scale scores before and after treatment showed a significant reduction in the scores for the electroacupuncture group.

The second study involved 241 depressed patients and compared treatment with electroacupuncture or amitriptyline hydrochloride for 6 weeks. Hamilton Depression Scale scores showed a significant reduction after treatment in both groups. Electro-acupuncture has been used in a variety of settings as an effective antidepressant drug therapy, without the unpleasant side effects associated with medication. A study at the University of Arizona in Tucson found acupuncture as effective as drug therapy and concluded that participants using acupuncture had significant reduction in depressive symptoms.

Acupuncture appears to improve depression by affecting the synthesis of neurotransmitters that control mood.320 There’s a variety of approaches to acupuncture in addition to traditional and electroacupuncture, and treatment varies on the extent of imbalances in the meridians.

Anxiety

Clinical research has shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for anxiety.125 In one study, eight patients suffering from anxiety were treated with acupuncture three times per week for eight sessions. Six of the eight patients achieved good to moderate improvement.

A double-blind study of acupuncture for anxiety associated with dental procedures reported that acupuncture reduced anxiety in patients prior to dental work. In two other studies, acupuncture proved useful for generalized anxiety as well as for situational anxiety.

Insomnia

Acupuncture may be helpful for insomnia, possibly by increasing production of sedating neurotransmitters such as serotonin. A preliminary trial with people who had sleep difficulties showed that one acupuncture treatment daily for seven to ten days resulted in complete recovery of normal sleep in 59% of participants. One study measured sleep quality using either acupuncture or fake acupuncture by inserting needles at non-acupuncture points. The patients receiving true acupuncture had significant improvements in sleep quality compared to the placebo group.

Addiction

Acupuncture has been successfully in the treatment of addiction in a variety of settings. Following British importation of opium to China in 1760s, the use and production of the drug in China increased dramatically.166 Since that period, traditional Chinese medicine has used herbal therapy and acupuncture in the treatment and prevention of opiate addiction.

Research has indicated that combining herbs, acupuncture, and other forms of TCM help with the rehabilitation of abnormal body functions induced by chronic opiate use, including improving immune function, increasing working memory and preventing neurological disorders. Acupuncture has also been used in the treatment of cocaine and methamphetamine addiction. There has been some success in using acupuncture with alcoholics, but as with other types of substance abusers, acupuncture provides the most benefits when used with standard treatment protocols.

Quitting Smoking

Acupuncture in the form of auriculopuncture (ear acupuncture) and electroacupuncture (electrified needles) have been widely used as a treatment for nicotine addiction. A study of 141 adults established that acupuncture was twice as effective as placebo. Other research has shown that acupuncture was an effective adjunct for other therapies, such as nicotine chewing gum and behavioral therapy. A Norwegian study of 46 smokers reported that acupuncture significantly reduced cigarette consumption. The researchers found that 31% of subjects who received acupuncture had quit smoking completely at the end of 30 days, compared with none in the control group. A study at Southampton Hospital in New York noted that electroacupuncture treatment was significantly more effective in helping volunteers to quit smoking than placebo treatment. According to the researchers, "The major outcome measure was biochemically validated total cessation of smoking at six months."

Alzheimer's

Research presented at a World Alzheimer's Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2000 discussed the results of treatment with acupuncture. In two separate studies, one at the Wellesley College Center for Research, the other at the University of Hong Kong, researchers found that acupuncture increased AD patient's verbal and motor skills and improved mood and cognitive function.

In the first study, researchers studied 11 patients, 10 with AD and one with vascular dementia. Subjects received acupuncture twice a week for three months and took a number of tests before and after being treated. At the end of the study, the researchers noted statistically significant improvements in the depression and anxiety scores.

In the second study, eight patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AD were treated at the University of Hong Kong. Treatment consisted of 30-minute acupuncture sessions over 30 days. At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that patients had significantly improved on measures of verbal orientation and motor coordination. Other research has successfully combined acupuncture with music therapy in the treatment of AD. Based of the findings of these studies, acupuncture can produce a therapeutic effect on AD.

Parkinson's

Clinical studies report that acupuncture can of tremendous benefit to patients suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s. According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, Parkinson's can be accompanied by an imbalance of energy along one or more meridians.

In Parkinson's patients, traditional acupuncture can alleviate muscle stiffness, soreness, and tremors by encouraging the flow of energy. In a study of acupuncture therapy administered to 29 patients with Parkinson's, participants were treated with acupuncture or placebo every other day for three months. Both groups were already taking medication for Parkinson’s and continued to do so throughout the trial. The researchers reported significant improvement in symptoms for those treated with acupuncture, while the placebo patients experienced a worsening of symptoms. Additionally, patients treated with acupuncture were able to lower their dosage of drugs after the three months of treatment, while those using only the drugs retained original dosages.

In 2002, the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine did a study to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of acupuncture for the symptoms of Parkinson’s.103 Twenty patients participated in the study, each of whom received standardized tests regarding activities of daily living. All patients were treated with two acupuncture treatment sessions per week. At the end of the study, 85% of the patients had improvement of symptoms including tremors, walking, handwriting, slowness, pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety. While acupuncture can alleviate discomfort through even advanced stages of Parkinson’s, some acupuncturists believe that treatment in the early stages provides the most benefit.

References
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About the Author

Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and author specializing in the treatment of mental health using integrative medicine and natural therapies. She works with individuals, couples, and families at her office in San Jose, California. Dr. Fredricks' publications include the landmark book Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems. Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Dr. Randi Fredricks as articles often present the published results of the research of other professionals. Copyright © 2012. To cite this article, please use the following citation: Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. Bloomington, IN: Author House.