Mike Stephenson, who runs the Brook Street Clinic in Driffield, has taken on new patients at his York clinic who have been diagnosed with depression to find out whether they respond well to the treatment in one of the first trials of its kind.

Mr Stephenson said the people who had already visited him as part of the pilot study had responded positively.

He said: “So far it's worked quite well but this is one of the first clinical trials to compare the effects of acupuncture with other, more commonly used, treatments. Of the patients I've seen the outcome has been very positive.”

The study was formulated by York University in response to claims by GPs that the effectiveness of common medication used by people with depression was inadequate.

This Chinese practice of inserting fine needles into the specific points of the skin which correspond with certain organs of the body is already popular in this country.

Needles are inserted for a few seconds, or left in place for up to 20 minutes, in order to relieve symptoms of arthritis, asthma, back pain, high blood pressure or migraines among other conditions, by restoring the body’s natural channels of energy.

The trial uses three groups of patients, one receiving GP care and acupuncture, one receiving counselling with GP care, and another group receiving only GP care.

Mr Stephenson, who is registered with the British Acupuncture Council, explained how the pilot study would continue throughout the summer and if the group receiving acupuncture responds well it will be extended to give more people the chance to try it as an alternative to medication.

He said acupuncture would be offered alongside other modern medicines if the trial was a success, but it does not work for everyone.

“More GPs are seeing patients with depression. It seems to be a sign of our times and something which is sadly growing in our society, and having more forms of treatment can only be good. And acupuncture has no side effects.”