Tongue Acupuncture and Depression

Tongue Acupuncture and Depression

Tongue acupuncture (TA) is a method which is rarely  applied in clinical practice. A study was conducted to investigate whether additional TA can improve the efficacy of body acupuncture (BA) in patients with depression. Twenty patients with a mean age of ± SD of 42.9 ± 11.2 years were randomly divided into two groups, one group receiving BA (Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Neiguan, Shenting, Yintang, and Baihui) and the other receiving BA and TA (Liver, Heart, and Brain) together. The quantitative and qualitative outcome measures were heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and other clinical scores. The researchers found that in both groups all scores and HR improved significantly, whereas HRV increased partly significantly. It seems that TA can enhance acute and treatment effects of BA in patients with depression.

Xian Shi,  Huan Wang, Lu Wang,  Zengkai Zhao,  Daniela Litscher, Jingqiao Tao, Ingrid Gaischek, Zemin Sheng, and Gerhard Litscher.  Can Tongue Acupuncture Enhance Body Acupuncture? First Results from Heart Rate Variability and Clinical Scores in Patients with Depression, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2014, Article ID 329746,