Acupuncture for Depression

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a treatment that helps with symptoms like pain, illness, emotional distress and hormonal imbalance, by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation. The key to understand is that acupuncture addresses these ailments as a whole. In other words, it recognizes that insomnia, anxiety, pain, migraines and other issues are the result of fundamental functions within the body that are not working properly. Therefore, acupuncture is not putting the proverbial band-aid on the wound. Instead, acupuncture is about healing the wound from the inside out.

Why Does Acupuncture Work for Depression?

Acupuncture works for depression because it releases endorphins, which are natural hormones that get produced within the brain and nervous system and perform a number of physiological functions, including pain relief. Plus, endorphins provide a boost of natural euphoria, which can be helpful for conditions other than depression, including pain and headaches.

Can Acupuncture Be Used as a Solo Treatment for Depression?

When it comes to depression, it’s best to use acupuncture in conjunction with other treatments, including medication and talk therapy. This is the most effective way to treat depression. Think of acupuncture as part of a complementary care package. Think of it this way: talk therapy may be effective, but when it’s combined with regular exercise, and acupuncture, it’s even more effective.

Where Does Acupuncture Fit into a Treatment Plan?

The frequency of treatments will change as we progress through your treatments. My general recommendation is that you start with three treatments in the first 7-9 days. Acupuncture works by triggering the body to work differently. More frequent treatments amplify the results. During the third treatment, we will reevaluate your treatment plan to make sure you’re seeing and feeling tangible progress. At this time we will also discuss whether it will be more beneficial to do another week of multiple treatments or to start spreading them out. The ultimate goal is for you to have sustained results between treatments, then we can space them out a bit more. In time, we can move to treatments “as needed” or when life presents something really challenging.

How Do I Know If Acupuncture is Right for Me?

When it comes to depression, acupuncture is often helpful, especially when it’s combined with talk therapy, regular exercise, and healthy eating.

Also, there are certain questions you might want to ask yourself before signing up for a session.

Questions to Ask

Can I commit to my treatment plan? Acupuncture treatment is not like taking medication where all of a sudden life is different. Sometimes sudden changes happen, but most often it is a process that takes time. The good news is, when acupuncture is working you will notice improvements with each treatment.
Is there a good practitioner nearby? For acupuncture to work, you’ll need an experienced, proficient practitioner. You can find a good practitioner by doing a simple google search or asking friends, family, neighbors, and trusted medical professionals for a recommendation. If you’re in the area, call me and I’ll get you in for a session.

How can you find a qualified Acupuncturist in Raleigh, North Carolina?

If you’re searching for a qualified Acupuncturist in Raleigh, North Carolina, you’ll want to find someone with experience, qualifications, and compassion. Look no further than Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. Our goal since 2010 has been to provide quality and compassionate acupuncture in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding areas. Much like the balance that Acupuncture provides for your body, we provide our patients with balanced care: the highest quality healthcare, while at the same time focusing on compassionate services that treat you, the patient, with holistic, individualized treatment.

Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center for all of your Acupuncture needs

Hi, I’m Jim Eleczko, the founder of Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center and it’s my mission to provide you with compassionate, whole-person care using holistic treatments, including Acupuncture. I’m a board-certified and licensed Acupuncturist practicing since 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love that I get to wake up every day to make meaningful changes in my patient’s lives. I’ve seen first hand the changes that Acupuncture can make. As a teen I suffered from allergies and my father suggested that I try Acupuncture to calm the symptoms. It worked – and left a lasting impression on me! Now I offer Acupuncture and other treatments to help people with a variety of issues, including anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, and more. Our other treatments include Dry Needling, Tuina Massage, Guasha, Cupping, Stretching, Orthopedic Movements, Electroacupuncture and Therapeutic Exercises.

Here’s a bit more about me and my qualifications: I studied the 4-year program at Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine and continue to travel multiple times a year to study with my mentor, Andrew Nugent-Head. I also studied under Dr. Ed Garbacz, M.D. LAc and spent a year working and studying under Dr. Bonnie Walker, M.D. LAc. I have also done extensive post-graduate studies in acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine from lectures of acupuncturists like Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, Matt Callison, and Edward Obaidey.

Get in touch with me by calling (919) 260-4104. I’d be happy to answer your questions and get you booked for an appointment today!