Depression
Depression is one of the most common diseases affecting 9.5% of Americans every year. But despite how common this disease is, it is one of the most difficult not only to treat properly but to diagnose in the first place.
When it comes to the proper terminology of the disease, there are many conditions both physical and psychological that can also have symptoms of depression. But Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder are the two big ones. But they must be differentiated from all the other diseases in which depression occurs. For example, certain hormone imbalances (thyroid or adrenal) can lead to similar symptoms. Autoimmune diseases and brain injury can often mimic signs and symptoms of depression, to name a few. Alcohol, drug abuse, proper use of prescription medications also can cause depression symptoms. Then, there is a whole host of psychiatric disorders that can either mimic, or have symptoms in common with, depression.
Once depression is diagnosed properly, treatment can begin. Most depression in America is treated with a combination of cognitive therapy and pharmaceuticals, however, a staggering one-fourth of patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder must be hospitalized because they either cannot function in day-to-day life, or have become suicidal.
The drugs most commonly prescribed for depression are TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants) such as the drugs such as Torfranil® or Elavil®, or SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) such as Lexapro®, Paxil®, Zoloft®, and Prozac®. In the right doses, combined with therapy, these drugs can be very valuable to treat the disease, however, depression is a chronic condition, and there are many side effects with these drugs associated with long-term use. For example, TCAs are associated with dry mouth, dry nose, blurred vision, gastro-intestinal problems including constipation, and urinary retention. SSRIs are often associated with sexual side effects, nausea, drowsiness, headaches, strange dreams, dizziness, appetite problems, liver and kidney problems, and even thoughts of suicide.
It is because of this list of side-effects that many depressed people are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine to help, but can TCM offer a viable solution to these people’s problems? The answer is complicated, but to put it as simply as possible: sometimes.
In China, Traditional Chinese Medicine plays a common role in many hospital psychiatric wards where patints can receive treatment every day, soemtimes even twice a day. But outpatient treatment in the US for mood disorders not to quite as effective. However, when used to compliment Western medical therapy and drug regimens, TCM can be quite helpful. The trick for TCM practitioners is knowing when to refer their patients back to a Western specialist.
So how can a TCM doctor help? TCM doctors can use a combination of herbs, Acupuncture, and Qìgōng (or Tàijí). When it comes to Chinese medical theory, each emotion has its own “Qì.” Think of it as each emotion vibrating at different frequencies. And each of these frequencies resonates with the energetic function of various organs in the body (not to be confused with their Western physiological function which are, in most cases, somewhat different). The Liver is most often associated with anger and depression. Those two emotions have a powerful effect on the Liver’s Qì. Depression can bind up the Qì of the liver, preventing the smooth flow of Qì from the Liver to the whole body.
The point called "Yintang" treats both sinusitis problems and it calms the mind and spirit, aiding in the treatment of depression. |
While there are many other Qì imbalances that can cause symptoms of depression, stagnation of Liver Qì is by far, the most common. Acupuncture can help this by smoothing out the flow of Qì, using points along the Liver channel. There are other, special points that can help too, such as the point called “Yintang.”
Between treatments, patients are encouraged to take herbs to supplement the balancing of the energies involved. One of the most common formulae for treating depression is called Xiao Yao San. This is often translated as, “rambling powder (or pills),” or “free and easy,” or even “free and easy wanderer.”
Qìgōng's affect on depression is unique. Breathing is the one thing that we do both consciously and unconsciously. Because of this, breathing is the natural bridge between the conscioius and unconscious minds. When performing meditation that requires concentration on the breath, a person brings their mind (both the conscious and subconsious) into the present moment and away from factors that can cause sadness (such as thoughts of the past). The continued use of this form of meditation has profound effects on the brain, and according to some research can even change brain chemistry. The result is that a patient who practices Qìgōng will find that they have a new set of coping skills that they did not have before, as well as some quiet moments in the day free of emotion during which the person learns to just, "be."
There is a lot of research supporting the use of TCM to treat depression. In one study entitled, “Clinical observation of treatment of melancholia by acupuncture following principle of relieving depression and regulating mentality,” written by SJ Li, and T. Liu, patients were given acupuncture as an alternative to SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac®). While one group in the study were given acupuncture the other was kept on an SSRI regime. The result: not much difference in the relief from the SSRIs and the relief from the acupuncture. According to the study, “Acupuncture with following RDRM principle has definite effect in treating melancholia, which is comparable to Western medicinal treatment, and shows a superiority to the latter in effect initiating and sustaining time.”
Even if you prefer alternative medicine over Western treatments, if you think you might be depressed, or someone near you might be depressed, you should contact a health care professional immediately.
Warning signs of depression:
By: T. Justin Landers, L.Ac.
Bibliography:
About Dot Com, "Red Flags: Warning Signs of Depression," Article found at http://bipolar.about.com/cs/depressive/a/red_flags2.htm
Chinese Medical Psychiatry: A Textbook and Clinical Manual, Written by Bob Flaws, and James Lke, MD.
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (Online ed.), Edited by Robert S. Porter, MD, and Justin L. Kaplan, MD
Uplift Program Website
http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html
Wikipedia, " Tricyclic Antidepressants," Article found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricyclic_antidepressant
Wikipedia, "SSRIs," Article found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI#List_of_SSRIs