We have four branches:
TCM Treat Depression 忧郁症 with TCM methods
In TCM, depression is
usually seen as an imbalance rather than a single disease.
Common patterns
include:
* Liver Qi
stagnation --> mood swings, irritability, chest tightness;
* Heart and spleen
deficiency -->fatigue, poor appetite, overthinking;
* Phlegm misting the
mind -->brain fog, heaviness, low motivation;
* Yin deficiency with
heat --> anxiety, insomnia, restlessness.
Main TCM treatment
methods
1. Herbal Medicine
Customised herbal
formulas aim to:
- Reduce mood swing, emotional instability, and stress;
- Improve sleep and energy;
- Reduce anxiety;
- Disperse Qi stagnation.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture may help:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve sleep quality
- Enhance emotional regulation
Points often target
calming the mind (“Shen”) and regulating liver Qi.
3. Diet &
lifestyle (very important in TCM)
- Regular meals; avoid excessive cold, greasy, or sugary foods
- Good sleep routine (critical for mood recovery)
- Gentle movement: Tai Chi, walking, breathing exercises
- Stress management (TCM sees emotions as strongly linked to
organ health)
Evidence and
expectations
- Some studies show TCM (especially acupuncture + herbs)
can improve mild to moderate depression symptoms
- Effects are usually gradual, not immediate
- Severe depression may require Western medications.
When to seek more than
TCM
TCM alone is not
sufficient if there are:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Severe insomnia or inability to function
- Rapid worsening symptoms
In such cases,
professional mental health care is essential.
What good TCM care
should include
- Individualised diagnosis (not one formula for everyone)
- Regular follow-up and adjustment of herbs
- Integration with counselling or medical treatment when needed
TCM can:
- Support emotional balance
- Improve sleep, energy, and stress tolerance
- Work well alongside modern treatments
But it works best as part
of a holistic, combined approach, especially for anything beyond
mild depression.
Depression 忧郁症
Most of us feel sad,
lonely, or depressed at times. It's a normal reaction to life's struggles, or
injured self-esteem. But when these feelings become overwhelming, cause
physical symptoms, and last for long periods of time, they can keep you from
leading a normal, active life.
Depression symptoms can
vary from mild to severe and can include:
Feeling sad or having a depressed mood；
Pessimism worthlessness and hopelessness；
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions；
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much；
Restlessness, Crankiness or irritability；
Loss of energy or increased fatigue；
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed；
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much；
Overeating, or appetite loss；
Aches, pains, headaches, or cramps that won't go away；
Digestive problems that don't get better, even with treatment；
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings；
Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts。
We have a number of
patients suffering from depression. There are cases where they also had health
problem. Some of them lose their self-esteem. Some of them did not
raise their head to look at us. They feel sad and depressed. Some of
them did not even want to come to see us, sort of given up in life. Some of
them will cry in front of us. Some parents told us that their child wanted to
commit suicide.
However, depression
should not be ignored. They can be treated. For those who have illnesses must
first address their health issues. When their sickness is resolved, their
depression will soon disappear.
One of my patients who is
a university student had eczema for 6 years. Since then, he always wore
long sleeves and long pants to cover his dried skin. He did not play
footballs he once enjoyed. He had no girlfriend. He also said that he
wanted to commit suicide. Although he had very bad skin condition, he managed
to pass all his exams in the university. When his eczema was very bad, he
skipped one semester. However, he still managed to graduate. After his
graduation, he could not find jobs for two years as his eczema was on his whole
body. The most obvious part was his fingers, they are broken and oozing with
fluid. When he turned up for interviews, potential employer looked at his
fingers, immediately rejected him. He was so depressed that when he came to see
us, he always berried his face on our table. He only raised his head when
he had to answer a question. Eventually, he found a job in a cooking
school.
He came to our clinic and was treated for his eczema and his depression. After 6 months, he eczema recovered, and his depression also disappeared. TCM adopt acupuncture and medication to treat Depression. They are effective.
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