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The research on acupuncture for depression is promising, but it has not conclusively proven that the technique is a substitute for traditional treatments. Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that uses needles to redirect energy in the body. Practitioners believe that this helps release blocked energy and restore health and balance. Acupuncture for depression is an alternative and complementary treatment that practitioners claim may help support healing. While depression often responds well to medication and therapy, about one-third of people with the condition have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Because TRD is hard to treat, people may want to try alternative therapies. Individuals who wish to try acupuncture for depression will get the best results by combining acupuncture with standard treatments such as therapy and medication. Read more to learn about how acupuncture can help treat depression, what the research says, its side effects, and more. Can acupuncture help depression Share on PinterestNabi Tang/StocksyAcupuncture may help some people with depression, but the research is unclear. Assessing the effectiveness of treatments for depression can be tricky. This is because people with depression often get better even without treatment — a process called spontaneous remission. Additionally, many individuals only improve after trying several treatments, and some continue to have symptoms despite trying many treatments. A person’s depression symptoms may change over time, and no lab test can objectively measure depression symptoms. This makes it difficult to compare acupuncture to standard treatments such as medication. Anecdotally, many people report improved symptoms from acupuncture, so it may be helpful for some individuals. However, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there is not enough evidence to know for sure whether acupuncture helps depression. However, this finding comes from research from before 2016. Since then, several newer studies have shown results in favor of acupuncture. For example, a 2018 review of 64 prior studies compared acupuncture to no treatment, waitlisting, or treatment as usual. The review found that the practicemay slightly decrease the severity of depression in comparison with a placebomay cause fewer negative side effects than medicationcan substantially reduce depression symptoms in combination with medication Overall, there is little quality evidence supporting acupuncture’s use in treating depression. This points to a need for more studies, and it means that the technique is not a substitute for standard treatments. How it works An acupuncture practitioner inserts long, thin needles into the top layer of skin to stimulate certain points on the body. These individuals believe that energy called “qi” affects health. Blockages of this energy or changes in its flow can cause a wide range of symptoms. Acupuncture stimulates qi to flow correctly, promoting health. Specific acupuncture points purportedly correlate with specific functions. Acupuncture for depression stimulates acupuncture points that practitioners believe improve mental health, optimism, pleasure, and other traits that have links to well-being. What the research says While some studies support the use of acupuncture for depression, a 2018 review found weak evidence supporting its usefulness. Most notably, it concluded that acupuncture may improve outcomes when a person uses it along with antidepressant medication. While experts are not entirely sure how acupuncture works for depression, a 2019 paper suggests this technique acupuncture may work by regulating neurotransmitters. Many antidepressants work on neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals that help carry signals across a synapse. Drawing on previous research, the study’s authors suggest that acupuncture might help regulate glutamate receptors, helping the body respond more effectively to neurotransmitters. This could offer benefits for depression and other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and anxiety. A 2020 overview of recent meta-analyses suggests acupuncture may slightly reduce the severity of depression. The evidence also showed some improvement compared with certain antidepressants and suggests the practice might increase the effectiveness of antidepressants. However, the quality of the data was very low, and some of the meta-analyses were contradictory. Therefore, it cannot conclusively prove that acupuncture works. Side effects and risks Most data suggest acupuncture is safe, but there are some risks to consider. Side effects are mild and rare. However, all medical treatments pose some risks. A person may experience: pain during or after acupuncturebruisingbleedingdizziness or headachesnausea Additionally, people with any history of allergies should tell their acupuncturist, since chemicals that clean the skin or the needles may trigger an allergic reaction. Metals in the needles may also be allergens. When acupuncture practitioners use dirty needles, apply incorrect techniques, or are otherwise not knowledgeable in the practice, a person can have serious consequences such as: bleedingpunctured organs damage to major blood vesselsinfection contracting blood-borne diseases broken needles under the skin Therefore, people should take care to choose a reputable, licensed professional when choosing an acupuncturist. Using acupuncture as a complementary therapy Acupuncture can be a type of complementary medicine. This means that a person uses it alongside standard medical treatment rather than in place of it. This approach offers the most potential benefits because it allows someone to gain the potential benefits of acupuncture in addition to the documented, evidence-backed benefits of medical treatment. People considering acupuncture as a complementary intervention should consider incorporating therapy and medication, which are both standard treatments, into their treatment plan. Summary Acupuncture may offer relief from depression symptoms, and some research indicates it may be effective in relieving symptoms in combination with antidepressant medication. However, the practice is not an alternative to standard treatments. Depression is a serious and potentially life threatening condition, and any person who experiences symptoms of this condition should seek treatment. Last medically reviewed on May 31, 2022DepressionMental HealthComplementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Acupuncture: In depth. (2016).https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-in-depthChand, S. P., et al. (2021). Depression.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430847/Hengartner, M. P., et al. (2020). Is there a genuine placebo effect in acute depression treatments? A reassessment of regression to the mean and spontaneous remission [Abstract].https://ebm.bmj.com/content/25/2/46Li, M., et al. (2020). The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for depression: An overview of meta-analyses [Abstract].https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229919308374Smith, C. A., et al. (2018). Acupuncture for depression.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4/fullTu, C.-H., et al. (2019). The effects of acupuncture on glutamatergic neurotransmission in depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease: A review of the literature.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00014/fullZhdanava, M., et al. (2021). The prevalence and national burden of treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder in the United States.https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/depression/prevalence-national-burden-treatment-resistant-depression-major-depressive-disorder-in-us/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Zawn Villines on May 31, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageCan CBD help treat depression?Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound that comes from the cannabis plant. It is gaining popularity as a natural treatment for many mental health…READ MOREHow does acupuncture work?Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that involves inserting thin needles into targeted areas of the body. It can help treat chronic pain.READ MOREIs there a cure for depression?Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD Depression is a lifelong mental health condition. There is no cure for depression, but many different treatments are available to manage the symptoms.READ MOREDry needling vs. acupuncture: What the research saysMedically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT Dry needling and acupuncture look similar and involve sticking thin needles into the skin, but they are different practices with different aims. 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