Do you suffer from depression that only seems to occur during the cold and dreary winter months? If that is the case then you will find that you are often looking for the right remedy to the problem. No one likes to be burdened with depression even when the situation is temporary. Taking medication to relieve the symptoms can be beneficial, but they also tend to have serious side effects that can occur. That is why so many people turn to natural remedies for their symptoms. The winter blues might not be curable, but it is certainly more manageable with the right treatment.
Acupuncture is one of the all natural treatments that people may choose to help fight the problems that stem from a depression disorder. Acupuncture itself is an ancient Chinese remedy that has been used for generations to treat a variety of medical conditions. Those who utilize acupuncture for their health problems swear by the results that it offers.
The art of acupuncture involves using special points located around the body. These points are believed to be centralized to locations that tackle various health issues. There are points geared towards everything from a headache to depression. When undergoing acupuncture, needles will be inserted gently into these special points on the body so that relief can be acquired. The goal is that the acupuncture will treat the symptoms that you are experiencing in an all natural way.
The good part of using acupuncture to treat SAD is that it offers the relief you need without the side effects that come with prescription medications. Those medications can induce sleeping, behavior, eating and sexual changes in those who take them. Some may even find that their depression gets worse. A few will become suicidal simply from taking the medication. This is not to say that medications do not work. In many people they become the sole source of relief for conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder. However, those that suffer from side effects would much prefer to have tried an all natural treatment.
The hard part of choosing acupuncture is the cost. In most cases, this method of treatment is not recognized by insurance companies. This means that the entire cost of treatment for any condition, including the winter blues, is going to be paid for out of your pocket. Those who stick primarily to treatment options like acupuncture will find the results to be worth the cost. You simply have to prepare for the cost before seeking treatment.
Acupuncture is a viable alternative for those that want natural treatment options for beating the winter blues. Finding the right person for the job is as simple as asking around. Get references from those that utilize acupuncture and then check into what the services are going to cost. SAD does not have to mean the end of living a decent life. Treating the symptoms will make it far easier to cope with and the use of remedies like acupuncture will allow treatment without the risk.
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I spent some time reading up on the scientific studies of acupuncture for insomnia. I think the water is very murky regarding the effectiveness of it. A meta-study at the university of Beijing concluded that higher quality studies are needed. Another study found that acupuncture was 47% effective in curing insomnia but that sham acupuncture was 43% effective. My personal conclusion was that it was not worth the cost. http://goo.gl/Tx9fuD
I am interested in finding out other opinions though. I have heard several people testify that it works for a variety of conditions.
47% effectiveness is pretty good for a treatment that has hardly any side effects and is suitable for practically anyone. It’s quite possible that the effectiveness is due to the placebo effect, but does it matter why you are cured at the end of the day? The costs can indeed be high, but it might be worth trying before you embark on other treatments.
My personal experience with acupuncture is quite positive. I was very sceptical about the effectiveness of the treatment at first and also felt uncomfortable during the first few treatments (actually i was not totally at ease during the whole 3-4 months of the treatment). I went to treat something unrelated to SAD or insomnia, but when i was there i asked also to apply the needles on the stress zones. I had a lot of work at that time and was very close to burnout. The acupuncture treatments did magic to my stress levels and anxiety, a half an hour after the treatments i was in a totally different state of mind, very relaxed and zen. Now, it is possible that this change was not caused by the acupuncture itself, but from the fact that i had to get out of the office and lay still not doing and thinking anything for about 40 minutes. In any case it was a good experience and probably saved me from developing more serious health problems.
Thanks for relating your experience. I think it is important that peoples experiences are known and not just the results of the scientific studies. I have never tried acupuncture for my insomnia but I was considering it for a while, it was always the cost that put me off.
I think that you are right that it doesn’t matter if it was placebo that caused the effect or not if the treatment was beneficial. I think that it is certainly worth the money for those that can afford it when compared to medication. Did the acupuncture effect last for long after treatment finished or does it need to be continually topped up?
However, if it is placebo then there must be as cheaper alternative. In studies of insomnia where patients were told they were being given a placebo they fell asleep 15 minutes earlier, sleep efficiency increased by 16% and they had only half of the micro-awakenings. The question would then become ‘how does one trigger the placebo effect cheaply?’.