Acupuncture For Depression: A Case Study

THERAPY:

So the strategy will be – Move Qi, Clear Empty Heat, Nourish Yin
and Calm Down

With the herbs, I focused on the nourishment, calming down and
clearing the heat. I moved the Qi with help of Acupuncture, so I decided not to
add more herbs.

Acupuncture Points:

Man Jing Zi 10

Sheng Di 15

Xi Yang Shen 10

Tian Men Dong 15

Mai Men Dong 20

Xuan Shen 15

Dan Sheng 15

Fu Ling 15

Yuan Zhi 15

Dang Gui 15

Wu Wei Zi 20

Bai Zi Ren 15

Suan Zao Ren 20

He Huan Pi 15

88.12 88.13 88.14, Ling Gu, Da Bai, 66.03 66.04 – Bilateral

1010.01, 1010.08

In general it was like this, after the 1st treatment she already
felt much better.

Between the 2nd and 3rd treatment: She had 1-2 days with
depression.

4th Treatment: She seemed much more happy, and calm.

Instead of the usual 4 Gates, I like to use 66.03 66.04 + Ling Gu,
Da Bai as I find it more effective and cool. The 3 Yellows are because the
tongue is going to the side and they will help to treat wind. In addition, when
we needle them deep we get to react the kidneys, liver and heart together.
(According to Young)

I am also focused on clearing her mind. She has made great
progress and this case is still continuing. I plan to give her next formula a
modification of Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San.

Case Discussion:

Stress and depression are high in prevalence, especially in the female
population, whose incidence is approximately double that of the male
inhabitants. In addition, these conditions are difficult to treat and have high
relapse rates and drug side effects. There’s evidence to suggest that
acupuncture may be an effective treatment modality. In fact, a clinical
systematic review was published in 2013, Acupuncture for Treating Anxiety and
Depression in Women: A Clinical Systematic Review. [1]

According to Chinese Medicine, depression and anxiety in women is the
result of “complicated interactions between diverse factors, many of which are
not yet fully understood.” Based on Schnyer, the Chinese Medicine
explanation for why depression is twice as common in women can be explained, in
part, by the relationship between Liver depression and the menstrual cycle. Qi
Deficiency (Lung and/or Kidney), Blood Deficiency (usually Liver and Spleen),
Blood Stagnation (Liver), Cold Invasion inducing Qi and Blood Stagnation, in
Addition to Jing and Yuan Qi Deficiency are all part of the constellation of
findings associated with depression, and all affect the Shen or Mind. As such,
in practice, Chinese Medicine treatment of depression relies upon the
identification of each individual patient and on formulating use of a distinct
group of acupoints unique to each person, along with a strategy that may also
have additional recommendations, including, but not limited to, exercise,
herbal therapy and lifestyle modifications. These varied diagnoses and
ever-changing constellations of acupoints make research harder and produce the
need for individualized acupuncture treatment programs vital.

The aim of this review was to summarize the existing evidence on
acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety and depression in girls and also to
present a novel way of assessing acupuncture trial quality. The published
randomized controlled trials were included, whereby acupuncture was compared
with any management process in areas with anxiety and/or melancholy. Two
authors extracted data independently. A novel acupuncture trial
quality-assessment tool was developed to examine the literature quality.

Six articles used the desired inclusion and exclusion criteria. The
standard of research varied heavily. Five studies were properly randomized.
Three were double-blinded. Three used individualized acupuncture. Four studies
were of reasonable quality. One was of marginal quality, and one was of poor
quality. There was a substantial difference between acupuncture and at least
one controller in all six trials.

The researchers concluded that with respect to six reviewed studies,
there is high-level evidence to support the use of acupuncture for treating
major depressive disorder in pregnancy.

Reference:

1. Sniezek DP, Siddiqui IJ. Acupuncture for Treating Anxiety and
Depression in Women: A Clinical Systematic Review. Med Acupunct.
2013;25(3):164–172. doi:10.1089/acu.2012.0900

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