from http://www.sidewaysnews.com/your-life/acupuncture-improves-mood-kills-pain
Acupuncture could be used as an effective treatment for alleviating depression and reducing pain, according to two new studies.
In a paper published in the journal Brain Research, scientists say acupuncture works by making the brain, rather than the body, stop experiencing pain.
The researchers found that the parts of the brain which are responsible for processing pain were deactivated when the Chinese therapy was given.
A further study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting revealed that acupuncture could be an effective treatment for pregnant women who are suffering from depression.
Dealing with depression during pregnancy is difficult as some anti-depressants can cause developmental issues in the foetus. But according to the study, women who received acupuncture experienced a significantly greater decrease in depression severity, without the need for medication.
According to Dr Mike Cummings, medical director at the British Medical Acupuncture Society, brain imaging over the past few years has shown similar results to the two new studies.
He noted: “Acupuncture tends to result in decreased activity in some of the primitive parts of the brain associated with pain, suffering and mood.”
“Acupuncture also has effects on sensory nerves in the spinal cord and in nerve endings around the area stimulated.”
“Because of these mechanisms, acupuncture appears to be particularly effective at treating pain and the suffering related to pain, but it may also have some effects on mood disorders, such as depression, through its general effects on the brain,” he added.
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