Researchers Manber and Schnver reported that acupuncture reduced depression in pregnant mothers. The Journal of Affective Disorders revealed that they used the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The patients who received acupuncture during their pregnancy also then showed that they had no depression or a much less incidence of depression 10 weeks later.
Post natal depression is commonly seen mothers after birth and has been treated for hundreds of years in China with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Giovani Maciocia, an internationally renowned author and translator of classical Chinese medical texts tells us that the most common cause of depression after child birth is due to blood deficiency. Some mums have can of course become anemic after child birth.
After child birth when excess blood has been lost and not been replenished, the heart is not able to be supplied with adequate blood and thus the Spirit of the heart, that is the mind, will wander and also sometimes lead to insomnia.
For centuries in China, women after giving birth are encouraged to have a broth of chicken and red dates with the herb dang gui to help promote replenishment of the blood. In addition, it was the tradition for grandparents to stay at home and assist the mum at home so she can stay in doors and rest as much as possible.
Nowadays, especially in the West, mums return to work soon after giving birth or resume gym classes to lose weight which then deplete their reserves of blood and in turn contribute to depression.
Adequate rest and help at home after child birth in combination with specific herbal therapy and acupuncture can do wonders to assist with post natal depression.
