does anyone know if acupuncture helps with depression?

[BarbieGirl]

My SIL suffers with really bad depression - she has reflexology once a month and takes Citalopram but they don't seem to be helping at all with the depression.

I too suffer depression but only mildly and find exercise and reflexology helps me - her depression is moderate-severe and nothing seems to be helping her.

Does anyone know if acupunture will be more beneficial? If not are there any other Holistic treatments of benefit?

Acupuncture didn't help me with my depression at all. It helped with hayfever and migraines but it didn't have the slightest effect on the depression. Neither did any other complementary treatments; the only thing that works for me is SSRIs.

Thanks.

What about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? Is it any good - do you know?? I know its not a Holistic Therapy but I have heard really good reports - can't see how it can help with depression though?? Thought depression was a chemical imbalance.

My SIL takes Citalopram - I think that is a SSRI anti-depressant isn't it? Doesn't seem to be working.

You're right, Citalopram is an SSRI. HOw long has she been taking it? Typically, SSRIs take a month or two to kick in.
I don't know much about CBT; I didn't try it. I had regular counselling and that was really helpful in getting things straight in my mind but it didn't actually shift the depression. As far as I know, CBT is very helpful for "reactive" depression, the kind of depression which is a reaction to a situation or an event. The other kind of depression, "organic" or "intrinsic", is thought to be more to do with physiology or brain chemistry. This is probably a gross over-simplification but I hope someone who knows more will come by to help.
I think your SIL should go back to her doctor and explain that the meds aren't helping.

I had CBT to help me break thought patterns that were leading to anxiety (which, in turn led to clinical depression). It helped, but only after SSRI's had started the process. I now use acupuncture to control my anxiety, but for me it is a kind of maintenance thing to help stop the depression coming back rather than a cure for it. Agree with Bluestocking about going back to the doctor.

Thanks for your helpful replies.

She needs to go back to the Docs.