Depression
Depression is a type of mood disorder characterized primarily by markedly and persistently low mood, reduced activity, and slowed thinking and cognitive function. It is a mental disorder with high rates of incidence, recurrence, and suicide.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this condition falls within the categories of “yu bing” (depression), “bai he bing” (lily disease), “mei he qi” (plum-pit qi), and “zang zao” (visceral agitation).
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Guide
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Low mood, loss of interest, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, decreased sexual desire, and a deep, fine, weak or deep, wiry pulse.
In simple terms:
- Low mood and feeling depressed or lacking motivation.
- Little interest in things; nothing seems appealing.
- Aching, weakness, or a tired, unsupported feeling in the lower back and knees.
- Reduced sexual desire and markedly less interest in sexual activity.
- The pulse feels relatively deep and fine or weak when pressed, or deep and taut.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify the kidneys, regulate qi, relieve constraint, and calm the mind.
In simple terms:
- May help nourish kidney qi and regulate qi movement, easing discomfort such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, shortness of breath, fatigue, or general weakness.
- May help relieve constraint and calm the mind, easing low mood, palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, or anxiety.
| Related Products
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| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Fullness in the chest and flanks, poor appetite, fatigue and epigastric stuffiness, a thin white tongue coating, and a wiry, fine or wiry, slippery pulse.
In simple terms:
- Discomfort or distension in the chest and along both sides of the ribs.
- Poor appetite; food may not seem appealing.
- Fatigue and weakness, with a heavy, bloated feeling in the upper abdomen.
- A thin, light white coating on the tongue.
- The pulse feels taut and fine, or taut with a smooth quality.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Soothe the liver and strengthen the spleen; transform phlegm and disperse nodules.
In simple terms:
- May help soothe liver qi and support the spleen, easing discomfort such as chest and flank fullness, poor appetite, abdominal bloating, or loose stools.
- May help transform phlegm and disperse masses, easing symptoms such as difficulty expectorating phlegm, a blocked feeling in the throat, or lumps in the body.
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The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Irritability, fullness in the chest and flanks, bitter taste in the mouth, scant dark urine, a red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating, and a wiry, rapid or slippery, rapid pulse.
In simple terms:
- Feeling irritable or quick to anger, with unsettled emotions.
- Fullness and discomfort in the chest and along both sides of the ribs, with a stuffy feeling.
- A bitter taste in the mouth.
- Passing small amounts of dark yellow or reddish urine.
- The tongue appears red, with a yellow, greasy coating.
- The pulse feels taut and fast, or smooth and fast.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear liver heat and promote gallbladder function; calm the heart and mind.
In simple terms:
- May help clear liver heat and promote the flow of bile, easing discomfort such as flank pain or fullness, a bitter taste, red eyes, or poor appetite.
- May help calm the mind, easing palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, being easily startled, or irritability.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Low mood, emotional sensitivity, soreness and weakness in the feet and knees, heat in the palms and soles, palpitations and forgetfulness, a red or dark-red tongue, and a fine, rapid pulse.
In simple terms:
- Low mood and emotional sensitivity.
- Aching and weakness in both feet and knees.
- Heat in the palms and soles.
- A pounding or fluttering heartbeat and a tendency to forget things.
- The tongue appears red or dark red.
- The pulse feels fine and relatively fast.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin, clear heart heat, nourish the brain, and calm the mind.
In simple terms:
- May help nourish yin and clear heart heat, easing discomfort such as restlessness, thirst, insomnia, vivid dreams, or heat in the palms and soles.
- May help nourish the brain and calm the mind, easing forgetfulness, dizziness, palpitations, unease, or emotional instability.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Excessive rumination, dizziness, mental fatigue, poor appetite, fatigue and weakness, a pale tongue with a thin white coating, and a fine, moderate pulse.
In simple terms:
- A tendency to overthink and worry, with difficulty relaxing.
- Dizziness and easy mental fatigue.
- Poor appetite; food may not seem appealing.
- Fatigue and weakness, with little energy for tasks.
- The tongue appears pale.
- The tongue coating is thin and white.
- The pulse feels relatively fine and slow.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish the heart and strengthen the spleen; replenish qi and blood.
In simple terms:
- May help nourish the heart and support spleen function, easing discomfort such as palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, poor appetite, abdominal bloating, or loose stools.
- May help replenish qi and blood, easing fatigue, shortness of breath, pale complexion, dizziness, or palpitations.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Timidity and fearfulness, difficulty making decisions, easily startled awake, palpitations and shortness of breath, a pale tongue with a thin white coating, and a deep, fine pulse or a fine, weak pulse.
In simple terms:
- A tendency to feel timid or afraid.
- Difficulty making decisions and a tendency to be indecisive.
- Light sleep and waking easily with a start.
- Palpitations and shortness of breath.
- The tongue appears pale.
- The tongue coating is thin and white.
- The pulse feels relatively deep and fine, or fine and weak.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi, calm fright, calm the mind, and strengthen resolve.
In simple terms:
- May help support vital qi and ease weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale complexion, palpitations, or sweating.
- May help calm the mind and ease fright, relieving insomnia, vivid dreams, restlessness, or being easily startled.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Emotional unrest, fullness and stuffiness in the chest, distending pain in the chest and flanks, irritability, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a wiry or wiry, rapid pulse.
In simple terms:
- Feeling emotionally unsettled, restless, and unable to relax.
- A stuffy, full feeling in the chest.
- Persistent distending pain in the chest and rib area.
- Becoming irritable or angry easily, with emotions that are easily stirred.
- The tongue appears red and bright in color.
- The tongue coating appears yellow.
- The pulse feels taut, or taut and relatively fast.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Soothe the liver and relieve constraint; regulate qi and calm the mind.
In simple terms:
- May help soothe liver qi and relieve constraint, easing discomfort such as chest and flank fullness, low mood, or frequent sighing.
- May help regulate qi movement and calm the mind, easing chest tightness, palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, or mental restlessness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Low mood, aversion to cold, cold limbs, cold pain in the lower back and knees, frequent urination at night, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a deep, weak pulse.
In simple terms:
- Low mood.
- Feeling cold and having cold limbs.
- Cold pain in the lower back and knees.
- Frequent urination at night.
- The tongue appears pale.
- The tongue coating appears white.
- The pulse feels deep and weak.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm the kidneys and support yang; relieve constraint and calm the mind.
In simple terms:
- May help warm and tonify kidney qi and support yang, easing discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, or low energy.
- May help relieve constraint and calm the mind, easing palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, being easily startled, or low mood.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
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- Weissman MM，Bland RC，Canino GJ，et al. Cross-national epidemiology of major depression and bipolar disorder[J]. JAMA，1996，276(4)：293-299.
- Gureje O，Kola L，Afolabi E. Epidemiology of major depressive disorder in elderly Nigerians in the Ibadan Study of Ageing: a community-based survey[J]. Lancet，2007，370(9591)：957-964.
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- Tang Qisheng. Foundations and Clinical Practice of Depression in Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House，2012.
- Encephalopathy Committee of the China Association of Chinese Medicine，Tang Qisheng. Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment Protocols for TCM Patterns of Depression[J]. Journal of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine，2011，34(12)：810-811.
- World Health Organization. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders, diagnostic criteria for research[M]. Geneva：WHO，1993.
- Tang Qisheng. Annotations to the TCM Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines: Qi, Blood, Body Fluids Volume[M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine，2017.