In a recent study featured on TIME, researchers from the University of York in the UK discovered that acupuncture may be an effective supplement to depression treatments.

Researchers divided more than 750 individuals diagnosed with depression into three groups: one was given 12 weeks of acupuncture sessions together with their regular treatment, another had 12 weeks of counseling sessions together with their regular treatment, while the last acted as the control group.

At first, the patients who underwent the acupuncture and counseling sessions showed fewer symptoms of depression than those in the control group, but by the ninth and 12th month, all three treatments were more or less working equally well.

Researchers conclude that antidepressants need time to take effect, and techniques such as acupuncture may help fight mood symptoms on a short-term basis. However, as with every new method, it is still best to consult a doctor before going through the procedure.

(Photo by Marnie Joyce via Flickr Creative Commons)