Many patients today who are diagnosed with "depression" in conventional medical terms are turning to older natural remedies to see if they can help themselves a little. Although there are many complementary therapies out there, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the longest established and most comprehensive. This article explains what is different about the TCM approach, some factors unique to it and typical therapies a TCM practitioner might use. This aims to explain some of the more important aspects of the system and how it is used today.
When people think of medicines for unpleasant low emotional states or 'clinical depression', they often think of pharmaceutical drugs and talking therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine is different in that it neither uses any chemical drugs nor does it take a psycho-therapeutic approach. It approaches the problem in terms of the condition of the body's vital energy, the Qi and how to best facilitate a better flow and condition for Qi for each individual patient. In explaining the role of Qi here, it is important to explain a little about the TCM view of the person.
TCM holds that each human being is a complex matrix of energetic processes influenced by the food and drink they consume, their environment including the local climate, the constitution they inherited from their parents and their lifestyle. This can include looking at the person's diet and liquid intakes, their accommodation, their home life, occupation, exercise patterns along with their symptoms and some signs of the condition of Qi such as examining the tongue and pulse. The link between mind and body is quite natural in TCM, as both are influenced by the Qi condition throughout the body. This is one of the mainstays of the approach when considering the typical therapies a practitioner might use for treating low emotional states.
Broadly speaking, all TCM interventions aim to improve the condition and circuit of Qi around the body, to encourage the body to heal itself from unbalanced states. Practitioners may choose to influence the Qi by needling specific acupuncture points, or using specific herbs blended into a 'formula' for daily use. Interestingly, exercise is often felt in conventional medicine to benefit patients in many ways, including for low moods, and TCM has a series of healing movements within its Qi Gong tradition that might also be advised.Using methods to influence the body's Qi are held to benefit mind and body, which of course is an attractive strategy for addressing emotional problems.
In discussing this topic, its worth remembering that Traditional Chinese Medicine really comes into its own with chronic conditions and its not used for acute or emergency situations- those situations are where conventional modern medicine comes first. Depression and low emotional states can be a serious condition so other interventions are of course used by patients in modern times alongside their visits to a TCM practitioner. Understanding just a little about the body and mind connection, Qi condition as important for both and some of the ways the practice is used in modern times can help to explain the systems use in this field.
IMPORTANT: Depression and low moods can be serious conditions - please take care of yourself and seek medical help if you think you are affected (or encourage someone else affected to do so). This article is not medical advice and cannot be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Many thanks for your understanding.
Daniel James Clark had a science orientated background and found that witnessing unexpected positive results from Traditional Chinese Medicine in action left him frankly speechless. Daniel runs a blog focusing on the possible use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the field of depression and low mood states. To profit from Daniel's studies on the topic, visit the site at http://www.depressionmedicineinfo.com/, to see some general information on TCM visit a practitioner friend of Daniel's at http://www.tcm-acu-herbs.com/.
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