Around 48 million Americans suffer from depression, but there is no single treatment that works for everyone. According to experts, it is possible to undergo regular therapy and take antidepressants following all recommendations and still feel the need for additional support to maintain optimal mental health. Whilst there are several complementary therapy options available, new research presents an additional case to consider: acupuncture.
A study published in the journal Medicine analysed brain imaging data from 357 people with major depressive disorder who underwent acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Researchers found that people who received acupuncture showed greater activity in the right cingulate region, linked to emotional control, and in the right caudate nucleus, which is part of the brain's reward system.
The more acupuncture sessions people underwent, the greater the changes in the left amygdala, which is important for emotional processing. People taking antidepressants showed increases in activity in the left hippocampus, involved in memory and stress regulation, along with the right middle occipital gyrus, an area of visual processing.
Thea Gallagher, associate clinical professor at NYU Langone Health, noted that the findings suggest a "neurobiological" component that explains why some people feel better after acupuncture. "There are probably multiple things happening simultaneously," she said. Gallagher explained that acupuncture can be a relaxing and somatic experience that, if it helps reduce physiological activation, improve sleep, reduce pain or increase body awareness, can have downstream effects on mood.
Experts warned, however, that these brain changes are temporary. Randy D'Amico, a neurosurgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital at Northwell, emphasised that "the study shows changes in brain activity, not evidence of permanent rewiring". The findings are not sufficient to suggest that all people with depression should book an appointment with an acupuncturist immediately, although they add evidence to a growing body of research suggesting that this form of traditional Chinese medicine could be a useful addition to existing treatment.
A 2024 scientific review published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that acupuncture was "significantly more effective" at reducing depression symptoms compared with those taking medication alone. A small 2025 study published in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports found that participants with depression who received scalp acupuncture daily had "significantly better depression scores" compared with those following their usual treatment plan.
