abstracted & translated by

Honora Lee Wolfe, Lic. Ac., FNAAOM (USA)

Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, psychiatry, depression, Prozac®

On pages 40-41 of issue #1, 2005 of Hei Long Jiang Zhong Yi Yao (Heilongjiang Chinese Medicine & Medicinals), Qi Gui-jun and Sang Peng published an article titled, "Clinical Observations on the Acupuncture Treatment of 60 Cases of Depression." A summary of the main points of this study is given below.

Cohort description:

All patients enrolled in this study met the diagnostic criteria for depression based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the CCMD-2 (the Chinese equivalent to the DSM-IV). Patients with organic disease were excluded as well as those whose depression was related to their use of medication. All 60 patients were seen as out-patients, and none had taken any anti-depressants previously. These 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients each, an acupuncture treatment group and a Prozac treatment group.

Treatment method:

The points needled in the acupuncture treatment group consisted of:

Tai Yang (M-HN-9), bilateral

Shen Ting (GV 21)

Qu Cha (Bl 4), bilateral

Bai Hui (GV 20)

Nei Guan (Per 6), bilateral

Shen Men (Ht 7), bilateral

San Yin Jiao (Sp 6), bliateral

Tai Chong (Liv 3), bilateral

After being disinfected, a 1.5 inch fine needle was inserted into each point. Small amplitude turning and twisting hand technique was used at a rate of 200 twists per minute. This was done for two minutes. Then the needles were retained for 30 minutes. This was done once per day for a total of 30 days.

The patients in the Prozac treatment group were orally administered one tablet of Prozac (manufactured in the U.S.A.) in the evening per day for the first 10 days and one tablet in the morning and evening per day for the second 20 days, again for a total of 30 days of treatment.

Study outcomes:

Cure was defined as an 80% or more reduction in HAMD score. Marked improvement meant a 50-79% reduction in HAMD score. Improvement meant a 25-49% reduction, and no effect was defined as a 24% reduction or less in HAMD score. The following table shows the outcomes based on these criteria.

In general, the mean HAMD scores for both groups before and after treatment were the same. This shows that the acupuncture was only marginally more effective than the Prozac. However, antidepressants have to be taken for an indeterminate length of time, their side effects are many, and their therapeutic effect is not stable.

Discussion:

According to Drs. Qi and Sang, This condition is closely associated with loss of regulation of the qi mechanisms of the liver, heart, and kidney channels due to psychological factors. Therefore, the above acupuncture protocol mainly courses the liver and rectifies the qi, regulates and harmonizes the qi and blood, quiets the spirit, stills and settles. Points on the head are used to regulate the channel qi of the region of the brain and to course and rectify the qi mechanism. Points on the heart, spleen, and liver channels are meant to regulate and eliminate depression and stagnation of the qi mechanism and the promote the qi mechanism’s spreading and extending. Once the qi and blood are regulated and harmonized, the spirit obtains its nourishment and yin and yang are automatically harmonized. Dr.s Qi and Sang also say that one can use this acupuncture protocol in tandem with Prozac, in which case the therapeutic effects are better, the cost is less (presumably due to lower doses), and the side effects are also less.

Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2005. All rights reserved.

For more information on the acupuncture and Chinese medical treatment of depression, see Bob Flaws and James Lake’s Chinese Medical Psychiatry available from Blue Poppy Press.