To date, depression is one of the most frequently reported medical conditions in the U.S., with numerous causes and symptoms varying from person to person. When it comes to depression, many people go untreated while others seek out standard forms of medical treatment or psychotherapy, often stopping treatment too early, or recover from their symptoms, only to relapse some time later.

As a result, many are looking into alternative treatments using traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on treating specific symptoms based on each unique patient with the use of a variety of methods such as acupuncture. Studies are now suggesting that acupuncture can be very helpful to those who suffer from depression, offering effective, long-standing results.

A research study funded by the U.S. Office of Alternative Health showed that acupuncture produced similar results when compared to Western bio-medicine. 33 female participants suffering from serious depression, and screened to rule-out psychotic or suicidal symptoms, were split into 3 separate groups, each receiving different forms of treatment. The end results showed that over half of the women who were specifically treated with acupuncture for signs of depression, using the methods and principles of Chinese medicine, experienced complete remission of their symptoms.

The Office of Alternative Health has given high regard to the study, and it is notably found to offer unique treatment for each patient.