How much do you know about the traditional Chinese medicine treatments for depression?

Depression is a symptom of self-negativity, pessimism, and low mood. It is the main type of mood disorder. Patients may have serious world-weariness or suicidal thoughts. So, does Chinese medicine have any good treatments for depression?

TCM treatment for depression

Chinese medicine treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment, and the same is true for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Traditional Chinese medicine must first distinguish between deficiency and excess in depression, and then select different prescriptions and medicines for treatment.

Common manifestations of depression include liver qi stagnation, qi stagnation turning into fire, and phlegm qi stagnation.

1. Patients with liver qi stagnation have symptoms of depression, chest tightness, flank pain, abdominal distension, belching, loss of appetite, and thin and stringy pulse. The treatment should focus on soothing the liver and regulating qi, and Sini San can be used for treatment.

Prescription and usage: Grind the roasted licorice root, roasted immature bitter orange, bupleurum root and white peony root into powder, mix with boiled water, take 1 dose per day, divided into 3 times.

In the formula, Bupleurum dispels heat and relieves the exterior, soothes the liver and relieves depression; White Peony calms the liver and suppresses yang, nourishes blood and consolidates yin, relieves pain; Citrus aurantium breaks up qi and eliminates accumulation, eliminates phlegm and removes lumps, can relieve the stagnation of spleen qi and regulate the movement of the middle jiao; Licorice nourishes the middle and replenishes qi, clears heat and detoxifies, relieves pain, and can also harmonize the other medicines. This formula can achieve the functions of relieving depression and heat, soothing the liver and regulating qi.

2. For those with qi stagnation turning into fire and going up against the flow, the symptoms include headache, dizziness, chest tightness and distension, bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, yellow tongue coating, and rapid and stringy pulse. The treatment should be to clear the liver and purge fire. Jiawei Xiaoyao Powder can be used.

Prescription and usage: Angelica, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria, Licorice, White Peony Root, Bupleurum, Fructus Citri Reticulatae, Paeonia Suffruticosae Alba. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water.

In the recipe, Angelica Root nourishes and replenishes blood, promotes blood circulation and relieves pain; Atractylodes macrocephala nourishes the spleen and replenishes Qi, strengthens the spleen and dries dampness; Poria strengthens the spleen and replenishes the middle, calms the mind and soothes the nerves; Fructus japonici clears heat and relieves restlessness, relieves fire and cools blood; Paeonia suffruticosa clears heat and cools blood, promotes blood circulation and disperses stasis; Bupleurum Root, White Peony Root, and Licorice have the same effects as mentioned above. This recipe can clear the liver and relieve fire, smooth the Qi and relieve depression.

3. Patients with phlegm and qi stagnation have symptoms of something blocking the throat, which cannot be coughed out or swallowed. Treatment should be to promote qi and resolve phlegm, and prescriptions such as Banxia Houpu Tang can be used.

Prescription and usage: Pinellia, Magnolia officinalis, Poria cocos, ginger, Perilla leaf. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water. In the prescription, Pinellia ternata dries up dampness and removes phlegm, relieves adverse reactions and stops vomiting, and eliminates lumps and disperses knots; Magnolia officinalis dries up dampness and promotes qi, resolves phlegm and relieves adverse reactions; Poria cocos calms the mind and soothes the nerves; ginger warms the stomach and stops vomiting, warms the lungs and stops coughing; Perilla leaf regulates qi and soothes the stomach, and is good at regulating the qi of the spleen and stomach. The various medicines work together to promote qi, resolve phlegm, and relieve depression.

The deficiency syndrome of depression can usually be divided into two categories: long-term depression damaging the mind and yin deficiency and excessive fire.

1. For those who have been depressed for a long time, the symptoms include mental confusion, sadness and crying, fatigue and weakness. The treatment should be to nourish the heart and calm the mind. You can choose to use flavored dry wheat and jujube soup.

Prescription and usage: roasted licorice root, wheat, jujube, sour jujube seed, Polygala tenuifolia, Cyperus rotundus, Bupleurum chinense, Curcuma aromatica, and Leucanthus chinensis peel. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water. Jujube in the prescription nourishes the spleen and stomach, nourishes blood and calms the mind; wheat, sour jujube seed, and Polygala tenuifolia can nourish the heart and calm the mind, and can also nourish yin and promote sweating, remove phlegm and benefit the spleen; Cyperus rotundus can soothe the liver and regulate qi, relieve depression and relieve pain; Curcuma aromatica can promote qi and blood circulation, cool blood and clear the heart; Leucanthus chinensis peel can regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and resolve phlegm, and Bupleurum chinense can soothe the liver and relieve depression. This prescription can nourish the heart and calm the mind, and has a sleeping effect. Its therapeutic effect is quite significant, and the drugs can be added or subtracted according to the symptoms.

2. For those with Yin deficiency and excessive fire, symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, irritability, and insomnia. The treatment should be to nourish Yin and clear fire, nourish blood and soften the liver. You can choose to drink water to nourish the liver.

Prescription and usage: Rehmannia glutinosa, Chinese yam, Cornus officinalis, Poria cocos, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, Radix Bupleuri, White Peony Root, Ziziphi Spinosae, Angelicae Sinensis, Paeonia Suffruticosae Alba, Fructus Fragrantis. Decoction in water, 1 dose per day. Rehmannia glutinosa in the prescription can nourish blood and liver, nourish kidney and nourish yin, stop sweating and consolidate extremity, and the effects of other herbs are as mentioned above. This prescription can nourish kidney water and clear liver fire, and can nourish blood and calm the mind, so it has a good therapeutic effect on depression and insomnia.

Warm reminder: Chinese medicine treatment of depression, in fact, the key to the treatment of depression is how to do a good job of preventing and treating depression in life, so that we can avoid depression will threaten our physical and mental health, so we must do these things in life.