Acupuncture for pregnancy depression

In a study carried out at Stanford University, 61 pregnant women with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments:

(i). Individually tailored true acupuncture designed to treat their depression,
(ii). True acupuncture, but with points not chosen to treat the depression, and
(iii). Massage treatment (included to provide control for attention, physical contact, relaxation and respite from daily stress).

Acute phase treatment was given for twelve sessions over eight weeks, with continued treatment throughout pregnancy for those who responded.

As far as possible the acupuncture treatment was double-blinded, with the treatment to be given by a treating acupuncturist determined by a different (assessing) acupuncturist. The assessment, treatment design, needle insertion, and needle stimulation were all standardised. Response rates at the end of the acute
phase were:

  • 68.8% in the depression specific acupuncture,
  • 47.4% in the non depression-specific acupuncture,
  • 31.6% in the massage group.

The study also showed that successful treatment of depression during pregnancy offers protection from postpartum depression.

Menopause hot flushes now have a natural alternative treatment - acupuncture.

Acupuncture and hot flashes: five times more effective

September issue of a reputable journal Fertility and Sterility confirmed acupuncture to be effective in reducing hot flashes associated with menopause.

In a well designed placebo controlled study, acupuncture was almost five times more effective than placebo. Seven weeks of acupuncture reduced the severity of hot flashes by 28% among menopausal women.

The research was conducted by Mary Huang, M.S. of Stanford University, California.

My comment: Additionally to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine is extremely effective in reducing menopausal hot flashes. I often combine acupuncture and one of the herbal formulae like Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan consisting of rehmannia (shu di huang), cornus (shan zhu yu), Chinese yam (shan yao), alisma (ze xie), moutan (mu dan pi), poria (fu ling), anemarrhena (zhi mu), and phellodendron (huang bai).

Most of the time, you will see the results after one or two weeks, no need to wait for seven weeks like suggested in the study.

Acupressure for back pain

Acupuncture relieves low back pain long-term

“Our new data provides a significant step forward in treating chronic pain and managing depression” Professor MacPherson

In a recent study, Professor MacPherson and his team explored the impact of acupuncture for back pain on 241 individuals. Their findings suggest that acupuncture not only offers short-term relief but can also provide lasting benefits.

“If you offer acupuncture to someone with back pain, on average, they are likely to experience sustained benefits—not just in the short term but particularly over the long term, up to 24 months,” said MacPherson.

This is a striking discovery, as most treatments tend to lose effectiveness over time. MacPherson emphasised: “It’s remarkable to see lasting improvements, where you would typically expect the benefits of treatment to diminish.”

The study compared standard care, which included medication, physiotherapy, and exercise, with the addition of 10 acupuncture sessions over three months. Throughout the two-year study, patient satisfaction and pain levels were closely monitored. While there was little difference between the two groups after three months, subtle improvements were observed in the acupuncture group by the 12-month mark.

By 24 months, the gap between the two groups had widened, with the acupuncture group showing greater improvement.

“This is the first study to show such a progressive difference over two years, which makes it quite unique,” MacPherson noted.

Additionally, a cost-analysis revealed that acupuncture is a cost-effective option. The cost of treatment for each patient receiving acupuncture was £460 (NZD $863) compared to £345 (NZD $647) for standard care. The modest increase in cost is justified by the long-term benefits reported by patients.

This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting acupuncture as a valuable and effective treatment for chronic pain management, offering patients not only relief but also hope for lasting results.