Can Chinese medicine treat depression?

Chinese medicine can treat depression. Traditional Chinese medicine methods for treating depression include traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and psychological counseling.

1, TCM treatment of depression: according to the syndrome characteristics of depression, it is divided into different syndrome types, and different syndrome types have different treatment methods. For example, Chaihu Shugan powder should be used for liver qi stagnation syndrome; Danzhi Xiaoyao Pill should be selected for the syndrome of qi stagnation and fire excess. Banxia Houpu decoction can be used for phlegm-qi stagnation syndrome; Ganmai jujube decoction can be used for mental malnutrition; Guipi decoction can be used for deficiency of both heart and spleen; Liuwei Dihuang Pill should be selected for heart-kidney yin deficiency syndrome.

2, acupuncture treatment of depression: often choose head and face points, such as Baihui point, Sishencong point, Tang Yin point, temple and so on; The trunk acupoints of limbs such as Waiguan, Neiguan, Taichong, Xingjian and Taichong.

3. Massage therapy for depression: Massage techniques include taking method, point method and pressing method. After professional massage, patients will feel refreshed and can relieve depressive symptoms.

Chinese medicine treatment of depression should be based on the specific situation of patients, which can avoid the side effects of western medicine and reduce drug dependence. However, for patients with severe depression, simple traditional Chinese medicine treatment is difficult to improve, and it needs to be taken together with western antidepressants such as doxepin, paroxetine, sertraline and fluoxetine under the guidance of a doctor.