Guest Speaker Report
by
Rotarian Peter Douglas
Wednesday 27 May 2009
Our guest speaker was Kirk WILSON (son of Rotarian Ray Wilson) whose subject was ‘Using Acupuncture to Treat Depression‘. Kirk was introduced by Ray.
Kirk who is a practitioner of Acupuncture is multi degreed and is currently undertaking research in his chosen topic towards a PhD.
What is depression? There are two forms of depression. The first is major depression disorder which has eight points of identification. These are as follows:
Depressed for most of the day
Loss of interest
Appetite disturbance
Sleep disturbance
Psychondric disturbance
Loss of energy
Feeling of worthlessness
Lack of concentration
Suicidal tendencies
The second form of depression is Bi-Polar which is a more severe form of the first form.
What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is one of the two recognised forms of traditional Chinese medicine. The other is herbal medicine. Acupuncture which has 5000 years of history revolves around energy meridians. There are 12 different points of imbalance in the body which are linked to the performance of the liver which is recognised in Chinese traditional medicine as the cental organ in dispersing energy throughout the body. Does acupuncture hurt? Yes and no depending on where it is applied. Certainly in the extremities of the arms and legs it can be initially painful.
Kirk undertook a design study using acupuncture to see whether it would assist in conjunction with the standard medication used to treat depression in reducing the impact of depression in sufferers.
Two separate groups of sufferers received 12 treatments over a period of 8 weeks. The first group maintained their prescribed medication and also received a course of acupuncture while the second group only maintained their prescribed medication. At the conclusion of the 8 week trial all members of both groups had their symptoms of depression reviewed. Of the first group who maintained their medication along with the acupuncture there was a dramatic reduction of between 46 and 55% of the level of depression while in the second group who only maintained there prescribed medication there was no perceptible change.
These results are both astounding and significant in the potential further treatment of depression.
Some further testing has been done on sufferers using acupuncture only. The results
Showed some improved greatly, some slightly and some no change at all.
After questions Kirk was thanked by Suzanne Freund
Terry was thanked by Paul White.