TCM for Depression

The Roots of TCM in Depression Treatment

By Fritz Hudnut, DAOM, LAc

In traditional Chinese medicine, there is historical precedent for the treatment of so-called "Shen" (Heart-Mind) disorder, or disorder/dysregulation of the spirit, which is also considered as distinct but not separate from the cognitive function of the brain.

According to Dr. CQ Yang, PhD, LAc, in his self-published book Shen Disturbance, which takes a thorough look at how TCM approaches mental-emotional imbalance, the Nei Jing–Yellow Emperor's Classic (100-200 B.EV) is the first book to develop and discuss in an organized fashion the diagnostic theory and treatment of human Shen (Spirit) and its imbalances. He further states that it still is the most comprehensive elucidation of TCM Human Shen and its imbalance(s) in the lexicon to date. Dr. Yang has gone to considerable effort to translate the enigmatic, Chaucer-like Nei Jing Classic into the language and approach of modern TCM diagnosis and treatment.

A passage has been selected from the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine (Wu, 1997, pp73-75), which makes a connection from the Classical text to their TCM application in modern treatment.

"Yi Jing Bian Qi Lun" ("On the Therapy of Transferring Thought and Spirit"): Yellow asked, "I am told that in ancient times, when a physician treated a disease, he only transferred the patient's thought and spirit to sever the source of the disease. In nowadays, the patient is treated with drugs internally and acupuncture externally. Nevertheless, some of the diseases are cured, but some of them cannot be cured and why is it so?" Qibo answered, "In ancient times, people lived in the cave of the wilderness surrounded with birds and beasts, they drove away the coldness by motion of themselves, and evaded the hot summer by living in the shade. They had no burden in heart in admiring the fame and gain, and had no fatigue in the body for seeking a high position, thus, one can hardly be invaded by exogenous evil in this calm and plain environment. So, when one contracted disease, both drugs for curing inside and acupuncture for curing outside were not necessary, but only transferred the patients emotion and spirit to sever the source of the disease would be enough.

To read more, click here.