Acupuncture for Mental Illness
•Acupuncture for Mental Health
•Acupuncture and Mental Health Research
•Acupuncture Points for Mental Illness and Depression
Acupuncture and Mental Health
Acupuncture has long been used to treat depression, anxiety, mood swings, and insomnia, as well as psychosis such as schizophrenia and mania. Most of these conditions are thought of as spiritual in nature and are called shen disorders. As there is, according to Chinese medicine, a unity of mind and body, "mental disease" is actually physical in nature and is treated like any other physical ailment, with acupuncture and herbs. Psychological counseling is not a part of Chinese medical treatment, however disciplines involving meditation and mental concentration can play a part in curing mental illness.
Acupuncture - Mental Health Research
Acupuncture may be a valuable adjunct therapy for those suffering from mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder. A study conducted at the University of Arizona examined the responses of 34 depressed women to acupuncture, sham acupuncture that didn't use correct points, and no treatment at all. Of the women who received correct acupuncture for depression, 43 percent experienced a reduction in their depression, compared with 22 percent who received sham acupuncture and 14 percent who received no treatment. After eight weeks, over half of the women who received correct acupuncture were no longer depressed.
Additionally, two randomized, controlled, trials suggest that electroacupuncture may reduce any sign/symptom of depression as effectively as amitryptiline, a tricyclic antidepressant medication. Electroacupuncture involves the application of a small electrical current through acupuncture needles. Other studies suggest that acupuncture may be effective for people with mild depression and for those with depression related to a chronic medical illness.
Acupuncture for Bipolar Disorder
Dr. Tricia Suppes associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is investigating a new use for acupuncture.
"Bipolar disorder is ... disrupts the lives of patients and their families," said Suppes, "If ... the patient does not respond well to currently available drugs, the disease may lead to loss of jobs, marriages and even lives”
Suppes is currently enrolling patients who are in the depressed stage of bipolar disorder.
Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, it is the first study to evaluate acupuncture as an adjunct to medication for treatment of bipolar illness although an earlier published study at the University of Arizona College of Medicine reported positive results on the use of acupuncture as a treatment for major, or unipolar, depression.
Current medications for bipolar disorder do not work well for many patients. Some must take a combination of medications that can cause significant side effects.
More on Chinese Medicine for the mind go to: http://acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_aug08/ chinese%20herbs%20mind.htm
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Acupuncture Points for the Mind
HE7 • Shen Men • Heart 7 Spirit Gate. Shu Stream Point on the Heart Channel. Yuan Source Point on the Heart Channel.
Location: On the transverse wrist crease, in the small depression between the pisiform and ulna bones.
Calms The Spirit
Regulates And Tonifies The Heart
Depression • Dream Disturbed Sleep • Hysteria • Insomnia • Loss Of Voice • Memory Impaired • Mental Disorders • Seizures
PC6 • Nei Guan • Pericardium 6 Inner Pass. Luo Connecting Point on the Pericardium Channel to TE4. Special Command Point for the Thorax.
Location: On the anterior forearm, 2 cun superior to the transverse wrist crease, between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles.
Unbinds The Chest
Regulates The Heart
Calms The Spirit
Alleviates Nausea And Vomiting
Arrhythmia • Cardiac Conditions • Headache Migraine • Hiccough • Hypochondriac Region Pain • Hysteria • Insomnia • Memory Impaired • Mental Disorders • Metabolic Disturbances • Nausea • Palpitations • Seizures • Stomach Pain
GV20 • Bai Hui • Governing Vessel 20 Hundred Meetings. Meeting Point on the Governing Vessel with the six yang channels.
Location: On the midsagittal line, at the intersection of a line connecting the right and left ear apices.
Expels Wind
Benefits The Head
Strengthens The Sea Of Marrow
Calms The Brain
Calms The Spirit
Clears The Sense Organs
Agitation • Anal Prolapse • Deafness • Dizziness • Headache Hypertension • Jaw Disorders • Memory Impaired • Mental Disorders • Seizures • Shock • Tinnitus • Vertigo
