Does Acupuncture treat Postpartum Depression?
If you suffer from Postpartum Depression and wondering which TCM Postpartum Treatments can help, acupuncture is certainly a good intervention to consider.
Instead of Prozac, Acupuncture is a better way to treat depression after giving birth. While Prozac can cause nausea, dizziness, and a loss of appetite, Acupuncture has no side effects.
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that is a big part of traditional Chinese medicine. Thin needles are put into the body, usually to relieve pain. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been helping women get better after giving birth for more than 3,000 years. They can be very helpful for common postpartum problems. People with mild to moderate depression may feel better after 8 to 12 treatments over 4 to 6 weeks, but the duration of the treatment and how often it is done can vary.
How does Acupuncture treat Postpartum Depression?
People with a lot of stress or depression can benefit from Acupuncture. Acupuncture helps to improve emotional regulation, elevate mood, and provide a sense of overall well-being.
Acupuncture lets endorphins out into the body and may help flow blood. A rise in endorphins may give the mind and body a boost, which could make some of the symptoms of depression go away. When you get Acupuncture, your nervous system releases beta-endorphins, which make you feel good. These are important for dealing with pain. They work like morphine.
How often should a Woman Receive Acupuncture Treatment to see Health Improvements?
It does depends on the person and her mental health journey. That said, some women do feel significant relief from the first session onwards.
After one or two sessions, many people start to feel better. In some cases, this can take longer, so some Acupuncture experts say to give it at least five sessions before deciding it doesn’t work. If Acupuncture makes you sleepy, take a nap or go to bed earlier that same day. It gives your body a fast way to get more energy. Many of my clients slept 10 hours or more after the session and felt great the next day. Acupuncture is 100% safe for women who are pregnant.
What is the Difference Between Chinese Acupuncture and Western Acupuncture?
Western Acupuncture, like dry needling, is based on tangible anatomy. It is given to stimulate certain muscles or nerves to affect the patient’s physiology. The approach is often reductionist and seeks to treat a certain part of the body.
Chinese Acupuncture is part of a larger health philosophy that includes herbal medicine, manual therapy, and changes to how you live your life. Chinese acupuncture can be given for musculoskeletal conditions e.g. lower back pain or ankle sprain, but in general, the treatment philosophy and choice of points is more holistic and takes the patient’s body type and psychoemotional state into account.