Treatment Can Be Alternative To Some Medicine
　　Nanda Matera has Alzheimer's disease, and each week she's treated with acupuncture to relieve her anxiety and depression.

Matera's daughter Frederica Cushman says that it's made a big difference.

"Not very long after she began the acupuncture, she became much more tranquil, sanguine, pleasant to be with and certainly sleeping better," Cushman said.

As part of a small study, people in the early to middle phases of Alzheimer's disease received acupuncture twice a week for about three months. The result was a significant drop in anxiety and depression.

Alzheimer's patients suffer from swelling in the body and researchers found that acupuncture helps reduce that swelling quite a bit.

"Some studies have shown that acupuncture actually releases chemicals in the brain that help improve our mood, whether making us happier or less anxious and feel calm and peaceful," gerontologist Dr. Nancy Emerson said.

Needles were placed in the head, hands and feet.

"It has no side effects in the hands of a competent person. And people with Alzheimer's disease cannot tolerate many of the medications that are now available on the market. It has too many side effects or it's ineffective," Emerson said.

Researchers say that no clear improvements were seen in members or thinking but on average there were no negative effects.

Matera's family continued the acupuncture even after the study was over. They say that the treatment has improved the quality of her life.

(From Yahoo)