A new American study has shown acupuncture to be effective for depression in pregnancy. A total of 150 pregnant women who had already been diagnosed with major depression, were randomly allocated to one of three groups: acupuncture treatment specifically for depression, control acupuncture, or massage, all delivered over eight weeks.
Women who received specific acupuncture, experienced a more rapid decrease in symptom severity compared to those in the control groups. They also showed a significantly greater overall response rate (63%) compared to control acupuncture alone (37%). The authors conclude that the results achieved with acupuncture, are similar to those achieved with standard depression treatments of similar duration.
(Acupuncture for Depression during Pregnancy: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Obstet & Gynaecol. March 2010.)
Author: Robin Costello
I offer traditional Chinese acupuncture in Exeter, from a tranquil clinic a mile from the city centre, and next to the University of Exeter. I graduated originally from the London School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 3 year full time Acupuncture Diploma (DipAc) course. I am on the practitioners register of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), a regulatory and professional body with an entry standard of a full three year undergraduate degree level training.
I have worked in a hospital in south west China, deepening my knowledge and using acupuncture and Chinese massage (tuina) as the treatment of choice in its country of origin. I have taught Chinese medicine in colleges, the NHS and at university level. I also practise Qi Gong, and Chinese dietary therapy, that is the medicinal use of ordinary foods, chosen to help achieve particular therapeutic effects in different individuals.
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