Acupuncture Chinese Medicine
Treatment in Depression

Depression in acupuncture and Chinese medicine covers a group of syndromes caused by internal disruption due to emotional disturbance such as internalised anger, anxiety, overthinking or grief. This leads to stagnation and obstruction of the flow of Qi.

The stagnant Qi if untreated over a period of time can give rise to stagnation of blood, phlegm, dampness, heat or even food. These can lead to functional disturbance and pathological changes in the mind and body.

Treatment relies on differential diagnosis based on major presenting symptoms that would class the condition as either depression or anxiety.

Depressed mood includes Minor depression and Major depression whereas Anxiety includes Generalized anxiety, Phobias, Panic disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Stress disorders, for example post traumatic stress.

Generally in acupuncture, Liver and Heart are the two primary organ syndromes that underlie depressed mood and anxiety. This is because the Chinese medicine paradigm of the psyche also includes a physical basis of the psyche. Classical literature states that the Liver houses the ethereal soul (hun) and the Heart is the seat of the mind or consciousness (shen).

This is evidenced in the Su Wen and the Ling Shu, stating that

• Anger injures the Liver; when Liver Qi is deficient, fear (or a ‘sense of absence’) occurs; when Liver Qi is in excess, one becomes angry.

• Joy injures the Heart; when Heart Qi is deficient, sorrow occurs; when Heart Qi is in excess, unceasing laughter occurs.

However, in many cases dysfunction can also be seen in the Spleen organ system. Thus the three main organ systems concerned are:

1. Liver – loses its ability to maintain the free flow of qi,

2. Heart - disturbance of the Heart spirit.

3. Spleen - loses its transporting and transforming function of food, water and nutrients

In clinic today, patients typically present with mixed syndromes, in other words, various combinations of the above three organ systems. Five major patho-dynamics are commonly seen in patients with depressed mood.

1. Constrained Liver Qi, Qi stagnation

2. Transformation of static Liver Qi into Liver Fire

3. Instability of the Heart Qi (due to deficiency)

4. Heart Blood Yin and Spleen Qi deficiency

5. Phlegm/ Phlegm Fire harassing the Heart (obstructing of the mind)

Furthermore, all organ systems of Chinese medicine are affected in some way in depression, especially if anxiety and insomnia are also present. Therefore, apart from the Liver, Heart and Spleen systems, a secondary implication include either Lung, Kidney or Triple Energizers (burners) systems. Click on the links for more explanation.

• Worry and anxiety injure the Spleen

• Sadness injures the Lung

• Fear injures the Kidneys

• Shock injures the Kidney and Heart

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