Blood rheology is a medical test used to determine the flow of blood and plasma and is used as one measure to assess vascular disorders and depression. Research has now confirmed that acupuncture can alter the blood tests in patients with depression. Chinese medicine theory views that liver disharmonies can be major cause of depression because if the liver function is inhibited in some way, it can’t circulate energy and blood properly. Imagine not enough good healthy blood going to the brain and you can understand why someone would have dull thinking or depression.
Increased circulation of energy and blood for example after a run, often improves the mood and this is why research has shown that exercise can improve depression.
Each major organ of the body has a meridian and on each meridian are acupuncture points that can influence that organ. Historically, specific liver acupuncture points have had the reputation to treat depression. The ancient text books have recorded symptoms that have been quite specific, such crying for no reason or no desire to get out of bed. Ironically, these are also symptoms associated with modern day depressive disorders.
Now researches have studied the effects of needling individual liver points and comparing them with patients who had been prescribed Prozac.
After 8 weeks of acupuncture for depression using liver acupuncture points and using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity of Illness, researchers found that the acupuncture group was significantly better than the Prozac group. Prozac side effects include insomnia, nausea, weakness and headache. Acupuncture for depression has no side effects and can in fact improve the overall health of the patient and address other symptoms simultaneously.
Acupuncture with other research has already shown that it can change markers in brain chemistry, circulation and inflammation but now it’s known that viscosity of whole blood, erythrocyte aggregation and rigidity index as well as fibrinogen levels can all improve. This is great news for patients seeking alternatives to taking Prozac and financially contributing to the 924 Million USD profit that Eli Lilly & Company made last year.