Depression
Depression is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. You probably know several people who have depression or experienced it in the past. Depression is more than just feeling sad, as it must feature a severely low mood and an inability to feel pleasure. Some people may even struggle to get out of bed for weeks.
If this is you, and you are searching for a way to reclaim your life, Life Balance Clinic offers Chinese medical therapies such as acupuncture to treat depression in Glenview, IL.
Symptoms of Depression
The symptoms of depression go far beyond simply feeling sad. They must include a depressed mood, where you feel a deep, near-apathetic type of sadness, alongside a loss of interest or ability to feel pleasure. Your symptoms must also include at least four of:
- Poor concentration
- Sleep disturbances
- Changes to your appetite
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
- Feelings of being worthless or guilty
- Psychomotor problems. Psychomotor issues can affect reaction time, movement speed, or even your ability to sit still.
How to Treat Depression
The conventional theory of mental illness is that a chemical imbalance in the brain leads to mood disorders. In the case of depression, a deficiency of serotonin, and often other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, cause a sadness so deep that even the things that once made us happy don’t work.
Conventional treatment, therefore, features medication such as antidepressants, which aim to raise serotonin levels. If a trauma or other difficult life circumstances contributed to its development, psychotherapy is common.
Chinese Medicine recognizes that depression involves other organs in the body. The brain is not only the “captain” of your body, but it instead depends on all other organs and systems to thrive. The most common Chinese diagnosis of depression is Liver Qi stagnation, and many others have Spleen Qi deficiency. Liver Qi depression can appear alone or alongside Spleen Qi deficiency, and Heart Qi deficiency often develops with Spleen Qi deficiency, too. Here, we can see in all cases that vital energy is insufficient or cannot nourish the brain as it is stagnant. This is why depression features a lack of emotion and interest, rather than a reason to feel sad.
Acupuncture for Depression
Clinical studies show that acupuncture can effectively relieve depression. These include trials testing acupuncture alone, and in combination with conventional and other Chinese medical therapies. The longer the patients’ treatment continued, the stronger their results.
Qi is your body's vital energy, and good health requires a continuous, balanced flow through a system of meridian channels. Liver Qi stagnation may also involve mood swings and restlessness, while Spleen Qi deficiency can lead to poor digestion and fatigue. Heart Qi deficiency features palpitations alongside fatigue and often develops after intense emotional events.
Treatment of Depression in Life Balance Clinic
Acupuncture is an effective alternative medicine for depression, but the right combination of points is different for everyone. Dr. Dekhtyar, DACM at Life Balance Clinic, treats every patient with depression as an individual. Every patient receives an in-depth examination to find the underlying causes of their condition and the right treatment. Besides acupuncture, many effective supplements are available to rebalance neurotransmitters, Qi, and organ function. Long-term remedies you can use at home include breathing exercises and relaxation techniques such as meditation. These are essential in many cases, as stressful life events and incorrect everyday stress management contribute to poor mental health.
If you are located in Glenview, IL, Life Balance Clinic offers effective alternative treatment for depression near you. Call us at 847-724-1777 to book an appointment, or if you have any further questions.
