Acupuncture may help boost your mood and
soothe your troubled mind.
Feeling down while carrying that little bundle of joy?
One in five women experiences some degree
of depression during pregnancy, says Rachel Manber Ph.D., professor in the
Psychology and Behavioral Studies department at Stanford University. Feelings
of being overwhelmed and hormone surges are the culprits. Manber is co-author
of a recent study in the journal Obstetrics and Gunecology that suggests acupuncture
may significantly reduce symptoms of clinical depression during the first and
second trimesters. “Acupuncture has been used for many issues during pregnancy.
There is evidence that it’s beneficial,” says Suzanne Merrill-Nach M.D., an
obgyn in San Diego. “Many people are nervous about the needles, but once they
experience an session, they find that acupuncture can be extremely relaxing,”
says Naomi Rabinowits M.D., founder of Turning Point Acupuncture in New York
City. “Many pregnant patients find that it’s a comfortable and cost-effective
treatment for many symptoms of pregnancy, including depression.”
“Acupuncture
has been used for many issues during pregnancy. There is evidence that it’s
beneficial,”
