Chen's Acupuncture

Treating Depression Without Medications

Depression Medications vs. Placebos?

Twenty-plus years of research on antidepressants, from the old tricyclics to the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) show that their benefit is hardly more than what patients get when they take a placebo. Research has found that patients do improve when taking these medications, however when researchers compare the improvement in patients taking the drugs with the improvement in those taking placebo pills, they find that the difference is minuscule.

In many cases, your beliefs are as or more effective than pills when it comes to achieving health.

The mind-body connection counts

What it comes down to is the crucial mind-body connection. Those who have hope and belief in the solutions they try will likely find them working. That’s why it is so key to keep your health freedom, and not pay attention to the huge corporations that continually discredit alternative methods.

Typically, more natural healing techniques won’t harm you, and many of the drugs will. In time, energy medicine will be better understood, and perhaps this placebo element will be utilized in such a way that no pill will ever be necessary — your mind will be stimulated to heal on its own. Similarly, those who pray or meditate for healing should not be ridiculed either.

Simply labeling something as a placebo and not pursuing it any further misses a key point. The so-called “placebo effect” may very well point the way to the future or medicine.

At Chen’s Acupuncture in Seattle/Bellevue, WA we will be happy to answer any questions you might have about how we can help you with stress or anxiety. Just stop by our office, email us at info@chensacupuncture.com or call Peishan, Janette or David at 425 644 2056. Thank you.

(Image courtesy of shattered.art66, Flickr under the creative commons license)

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