Depression and Chinese Medicine: A Holistic Approach

Depression is a consistent feeling of sadness that can affect just about every aspect of your life. Acupuncture is here to help. While acupuncture doesn’t magically take away the emotions you’re experiencing, it takes the edge off so the depressive feelings are less cumbersome, more manageable, and you can begin to work through them. Just as there are a variety of types of depression, there are many ways that Chinese Medicine approaches treating depression, depending on your symptoms.

Symptoms of depression can include feeling sad, worried, anxious, frustrated, irritable, and/or unable to find joy in the things you once enjoyed. You may feel tired, have little appetite or be eating a lot, have trouble sleeping or be sleeping too much, experience difficulty concentrating, have aches and pains, and/or think harmful thoughts. Depending on your symptoms and their severity, you may be doing some type of talk therapy, making lifestyle changes, and/or taking medications. Chinese Medicine is a great complementary therapy to these other approaches.

Sometimes, depression is a natural part of life: grieving a loss, navigating the end of a relationship, or coping with a job change. In these cases, sadness is a normal and appropriate emotion. Acupuncture can help make that sadness feel less acute, less all-encompassing, and more manageable, so you can process emotions in a healthy way.

Some Examples of Chinese Medicine Approaches

According to Chinese Medicine, there are many causes of depression. Our practitioners begin with a thorough intake, tongue diagnosis, and pulse reading to determine the most appropriate Chinese Medicine pattern and treatment plan. This may include acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Heart blood deficiency is one common pattern in depression. In Chinese Medicine, blood stores emotions. When blood is deficient, it may not be able to anchor emotions, resulting in feelings of being emotionally scattered. It can also present as apathy, where there isn’t enough blood to support the healthy expression of emotions. The Heart is associated with joy, so Heart blood deficiency often results in lack of joy. This pattern may also cause difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and vivid dreams. Treatments may include acupuncture points, dietary guidance, lifestyle changes, and Chinese Herbal formulas to nourish the blood and Heart and help reduce depression symptoms.

Liver qi stagnation is often seen when depression shows up as frustration and irritability. The Liver governs the smooth flow of qi and is associated with the emotion of anger. When Liver qi is stagnant, it can lead to feeling stuck, moody, and easily irritated. You may wake in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back asleep. Symptoms may also worsen around your menstrual cycle, as the Liver is closely tied to hormonal balance. Treatments focus on moving Liver qi using acupuncture, supportive lifestyle practices like deep breathing or singing, and herbal medicine to release emotional tension.

Because qi flows from the Liver meridian to the Lung meridian, blocked Liver qi can disrupt the Lungs, whose associated emotion is grief or sadness. This can manifest as persistent sadness, heaviness in the chest, or shallow breathing. Restoring the natural flow of qi between Liver and Lung meridians through acupuncture helps alleviate these depressive symptoms.

Spleen qi deficiency is another common root of depression in Chinese Medicine. The Spleen is responsible for transforming food into qi (energy). When the Spleen is weak, it can cause fatigue, excessive sleep, worry, heaviness in the body, and poor appetite. The Spleen meridian connects to the Lung meridian, meaning Spleen qi deficiency can lead to Lung qi deficiency, further contributing to feelings of sadness or depression. Treatment may include acupuncture points to strengthen qi, dietary and lifestyle changes, and Chinese Herbal Medicine to restore energy levels and emotional balance.

Takeaways

These are just a few examples of how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine work to alleviate depression. Your symptoms do not need to match these patterns exactly to benefit. Our practitioners take the time to understand your unique presentation and create a personalized treatment plan that includes acupuncture, herbal formulas, lifestyle support, and potentially gua sha, cupping, or moxibustion. 

Schedule your appointment today to experience this powerful and natural way to support your mental health and emotional well-being.