Can Chinese medicine treat depression?

Traditional Chinese medicine can treat depression. Its treatment methods include traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine can also develop targeted treatment plans based on the specific conditions of the patient. The specific methods are introduced below:

Chinese medicine treatment

The basic pathogenesis of depression is stagnation of liver qi and imbalance of qi and blood. The disease is in the liver and affects the heart and spleen. Treatment should be based on the principle of soothing the liver and regulating qi.

Among them, rose, Bupleurum, Citrus aurantium, Cyperus rotunda, Turmeric, and Albizia Julibrissin peel soothe the liver and regulate Qi, promote qi and relieve depression, activate blood circulation and calm the nerves.； Tangerine peel regulates Qi and harmonizes the mind ； Ligusticum chuanxiong, white peony root and licorice activate blood circulation, remove blood stasis and relieve pain ； Ziziphus jujube kernel, Polygala polygala and Acorus calamus calm the mind and calm the mind. ； Salvia miltiorrhiza, gardenia, and Gastrodia elata calm the liver, clear away heat and calm the nerves. Used together, it can relieve symptoms of depression.

acupuncture therapy

Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture has definite efficacy in treating depression. Baihui and Dazhui are acupoints on the Du Channel, which have the effect of calming the mind and calming the mind. Xinshu and Liver Ming are the points that support the Taiyang bladder. Acupuncture at Xinshu can replenish the heart qi, regulate the flow of qi and blood, and calm the mind and calm the mind. The liver stores blood and regulates qi and emotions throughout the body. Acupuncture at Ganshu can nourish blood and soften the liver, relieve qi and regulate emotions.

Zusanli is a point on the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. Acupuncture at Zusanli can strengthen the spleen and stomach and enhance the functions of the whole body. Shenmen is a point on the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin, and acupuncture at Shenmen can calm the mind and calm the mind. The combination of acupuncture and medicine can soothe the liver and relieve stagnation, calm the mind and calm the mind, and regulate the spleen and stomach.

In addition, some studies have also shown that acupuncture at Thirteen Ghost Points has good clinical efficacy in treating cognitive dysfunction in patients with depression.

Moxibustion therapy

Moxibustion is a therapy that mainly uses the heat of moxibustion fire to stimulate the human body with warmth, and through the action of meridians and acupoints, to achieve the purpose of warming Qi and blood, promoting Qi and relieving depression.

Both moxibustion therapy and acupuncture therapy are effective in treating this disease, and they also have similarities in their mechanisms of action. However, moxibustion therapy does not cause the pain of acupuncture, and the patient feels relaxed during the treatment, which is easily accepted by patients.

In addition to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion therapy, there are also treatment methods such as auricular bean embedding therapy, acupoint application, and thread embedding therapy, which all have certain therapeutic effects on patients with depression. Patients with depression can choose according to their own conditions and follow the doctor's advice.

References

[1] Lin Yiru, Wang Jinyi. Current status of research on the treatment of depression with traditional Chinese medicine [J]. Chinese Modern Distance Education of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, Volume 20 (3): 197-199.

[2] Qian Qi. Traditional Chinese medicine can effectively deal with depression [J]. Family Medicine, 2022(2):43.

[3] Hu Yan. Depression self-management and recovery strategies [M]. Wuhan: Wuhan University Press, 2020: 52-53.