Electro-acupuncture as effective as drugs for depression

Electro-acupuncture (EA) is as effective for depression as the drug fluoxetine, according to Chinese researchers. Seventy-five patients with depressive disorder (DD) were treated with either fluoxetine or acupuncture five times per week for six weeks. EA and fluoxetine were found to have similar curative effects, but EA had a faster onset of action, better response rate and better improvement rate than fluoxetine. The researchers also looked at the effect of the two treatments on serum concentrations of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a biomarker for damage to brain cells which is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. Both fluoxetine and EA restored the normal concentration of GDNF in the serum of DD patients, although EA outperformed the drug in this comparison. (Effects of Electroacupuncture on Depression and the Production of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Compared with Fluoxetine: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med. September 2013, 19(9): 733-739).

Categories: Psychological / emotional

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Moxibustion

moxibustion at essex acupuncture

Warming points through Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It utilises a substance called Moxa, which is made from the aged leaves of a herb called mugwort. Like the sun, moxa produces a comforting dry heat helping to eliminate dampness and cold in the body, alleviating Aches and Pains and supporting Aging Joints.

Pain Relief

pain-relief

If you are one of those people who has exhausted the chemical pills and potions of Western Medicine, then Acupuncture could be for you.
There are many patients who have been sent home to grin and bear it and, after many months of putting up with discomfort, the discovery of natural pain relief in the form of an acupuncture treatment can be the most wonderful experience.

Battlefield

battlefield-acupuncture

Originally developed to treat pain in US Air Force pilots who were unable to take medication while flying, this ear acupuncture technique has proved so effective in the relief of pain that many soldiers across the american forces have been trained so they can treat each other on the battlefield.