A Review of Chinese Medicine Treatment of Depression
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmhs.202405411
Author(s)
Xiaoming Zhang, Xuewu Dong, Jiayan Fang*
Affiliation(s)
The Third People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, Anhui, 247000, China
*Corresponding Author.
Abstract
In recent years, with the increasing incidence of depression year by year, the mainstream western psychological counseling has a long course of treatment, and has little effect on major depression. Technology of Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors keep pace with The Times, combining TCM with psychotherapy, and have made a series of research achievements in TCM treatment of clinical psychological diseases. This review discusses many methods of TCM in the treatment of depression, and focuses on the application of TCM five-tone therapy, TCM therapy, acupuncture therapy and modern TCM psychological techniques. TCM treatment of depression emphasizes regulating qi and blood, balancing Yin and Yang and dredging meridians, aiming at restoring physical and mental harmony. Five-tone therapy regulates the circadian rhythm through the rhythm, alleviates the symptoms of depression, and is suitable for primary and secondary depression. Acupuncture treatment includes ordinary acupuncture, electric acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture and other methods to regulate the function of qi, blood and nervous system to improve the emotional and mental state of patients. Chinese medicine helps relieve depression by reconciling the viscera and calming nerves. Modern TCM psychological techniques, such as low-impedance ideation therapy, modified TCM emotional therapy and displacement techniques, provide new therapeutic approaches in emotional regulation and cognitive remodeling. Low impedance ideation therapy improves depressive symptoms by adjusting the patient's impedance state and guiding situational imagination. Modified Chinese emotional therapy helps patients regain a healthy state of mind through emotional catharsis and group support. The technique of displacement alleviates negative emotions through visualization and mental space transfer.
Keywords
Five-Tone Therapy; Acupuncture Treatment; Modern TCM Psychological Technology; Low Resistance Thought Induction Psychotherapy; Depression
References
[1] Ai Xi. A Review of TCM Five-tone therapy. Journal of Hubei University for Nationalities (Med Edition), 2021, 38 (04): 68-70. (in Chinese)
[2] presidential. Say "music", music therapy and traditional Chinese medicine. Journal of liaoning traditional Chinese medicine journal, 2007, (01): 38 and 39.
[3] DONG Jingwen, Jiao Fengli, Jia Hongling, Chen Jinshu, Fan Lixiang, Li Ran, Cheng Yixin, Cui Wenzhe, Zhang Jing. Research progress of TCM five-tone therapy for depression. Chinese Folk Therapy, 2024, 32 (06): 101-107. (in Chinese)
[4] Bao Xiaoying, Wang Hongxia, Du Xiaozheng. Clinical observation of Angle tone music therapy in the treatment of depression patients. China Science and Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018, 25 (06): 870-872. (in Chinese)
[5] Song Daqian, Anna, Xiong Ying, Fang Jin, Zhang Guoyan, Li Ying. Study on the influence of Five Elements music Therapy on depression of hospice patients based on "Five state Personality" theory of Traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese Medicine Clinical Research, 2021, 13 (14): 75-77.
[6] Liu Li, Ding Yi, Wang Jian, Li Jianfei, Zhang Tianyu, Li Li. Clinical efficacy of "Five tone Shen method" in the treatment of mild to moderate post-stroke depression with liver-depression and spleen deficiency and its effect on intestinal flora and serum serotonin levels. Chinese Journal of General Medicine, 2021, 24 (30): 3882-3887.
[7] DONG Jingwen, Jiao Fengli, Jia Hongling, Chen Jinshu, Fan Lixiang, Li Ran, Cheng Yixin, CUI Wenzhe, Zhang Jing. Research progress of TCM five-tone therapy for depression. Chinese Folk Therapy, 2024, 32 (06): 101-107. (in Chinese)
[8] LI Menghan, Yin Hang, Wang Lei. Research status of Chinese medicine treatment of adolescent depression. Modern Distance Education of Chinese Medicine, 2024, 22 (07): 158-161.
[9] Ai Xia, Gao Qiangqiang. 32 cases of adolescent depression treated by acupuncture combined with psychological intervention. Henan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013, 33 (10): 1758-1759.
[10] WANG Yanjun, LI Gefei, WANG Yelbo, Li Yanhong, Xie Suchun, LIAN Lingxia, Yang Jian. Therapeutic effect of Tiodutong acupuncture on post-stroke depression. Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019, 41 (06): 927-930. (in Chinese)
[11] Jing Ulrich, Madina Maimetieli. Influence of electroacupuncture and music therapy on patients with mild to moderate depression. Western Chinese Medicine, 2021, 34 (10): 127-129. (in Chinese)
[12] Ye Qinghua, Xu Linxin, Zhong Yin, Zhang Xiaoyang. Clinical observation of abdominal acupuncture combined with left ascending and right descending microneedle regulating qi for depression. Journal of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 2024, 41 (01): 135-140. (in Chinese)
[13] Yang Zichun, Ouyang Baisi, Ma Tianyi, Huang Song-yu, ZHANG Guodong. Clinical study of body acupuncture combined with head acupuncture to improve anxiety and depression after stroke. Basic Chinese Medicine, 2023, 2 (03): 35-40.
[14] Wang Chenyu. Clinical study of "Tongdu transfer" acupuncture in the treatment of mild to moderate post-stroke depression. Tutor: Li Peng. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022.
[15] Shi J. The effect of moxibustion therapy on neurological function and cognitive function in patients with depression. Chinese Medicine Science and Technology, 2020, 27 (01): 130-132.
[16] HUANG Kaiyi, Zhang Liang, Xu Han, LV Xueyu, Wang Weidong. Research progress of modern TCM psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. China Medical Review, 2023, 20 (30): 51-54. (in Chinese)
[17] ZHANG Liang. A clinical study on the treatment of depression by TCM psychotherapy based on abnormal personality development theory. Tutor: Wang Weidong. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2018.
[18] Zhou Xuanzi. Clinical efficacy observation of TIP technique in treatment of mild to moderate depression. Tutor: WANG Weidong. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2015.
[19] Zhao Zhenhai. Clinical study of low impedance ideation therapy (TIP technique) combined with antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive episode. Tutor: Wang Weidong. China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 2018.
[20] Tian Chenchen. Clinical efficacy of TIP technique combined with Xunning Granule in treating Mild to moderate depression of liver-Qi and spleen-deficiency type. Tutor: Wang Weidong. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2017.
[21] Major Yan, Cao Yan-jun, Cui Jie-feng, Zou Yi-zhuang. A Preliminary study on the method, acceptability and Influence of improved Emotion Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shi Zhen Chinese Medicine, 2008, (10): 2405-2406.
[22] Major Yan, Xia Zhao, Menghan Lu, Jiefeng Cui. Clinical observation of 34 cases of depression treated by improved Chinese emotional therapy combined with antidepressants. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2016, 57 (06): 484-488.
[23] ZHAO Jianhua, Zhang Jingxia, Peng Xiaoming et al. Effect of modified Chinese emotional therapy combined with paroxetine on patients with depression and its effect on peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets. Chinese Journal of Immunology,2019,35 (11):1314-1319.
[24] Xia Yuxin, Wu Xiaoyun, Liu Tianjun. Characteristics and future research prospects of emptying technique. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2013, 21 (05): 852-855+862. (in Chinese)
[25] Xia Yuxin, Liu Tianjun. Interview research on the effect of emptying technique on stress response regulation. Beijing Normal University, School of Psychology, Chinese Psychologists Academic Conference Abstracts. College of Acupuncture and Massage, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine: School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, 2013: 86
[26] Chen Longfang. Experimental Research and Case analysis of displacement technology. Tutor: LIU Tianjun. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2015.