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Depression

What is Depression?

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and a loss of interest in daily activities. It significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles everyday tasks. To be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. This condition is more than just a bout of the blues; it is a chronic, debilitating disorder that can lead to severe health outcomes if left untreated.

How Does TCM View Depression?
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), depression is seen not merely as a psychological issue but as a systemic one. It results from disharmony and imbalance within the body's energy system, or Qi. TCM posits that emotional well-being is deeply intertwined with physical health. Identifying the unique "pattern" of disharmony in each individual is crucial. Treatment is tailored to the individual, aimed at restoring balance and addressing the root cause rather than just alleviating symptoms.

Root Causes of Depression in TCM

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, depression is often the result of internal imbalances that can manifest through various patterns:

  • Liver Qi Stagnation: This pattern occurs when the life force, or Qi, is impeded, causing emotional repression, irritability, and mood swings. Emotional distress can directly affect the flow of Qi, leading to a stagnant state.

  • Phlegm-Heat: This pattern involves the accumulation of Phlegm that clouds the Heart, metaphorically leading to a 'foggy' mental state characterized by manic behavior or mental restlessness.

  • Heart Yin Deficiency: This condition pertains to an insufficiency of calming energy in the heart, resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and palpitations.

Understanding these underlying conditions is essential in TCM, as it directs the practitioner to the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. By addressing the root causes, TCM aims to restore balance and promote emotional and physical well-being.

Educational Consultation:

To understand Phlegm in the body, think of pathological water present in the body and affecting the mind. It is like feeling the oppressive heat and humidity of the east coast vs. the arid Arizona desert.

Educational Consultation:

Say you ate a resturant greasy foods and noticed irratiable.

One cause of becoming irritable can be the excessive consumption of fried, fatty or greasy food as well as dairy products. This can cause dampness in the Spleen, which will in turn cause Liver Qi Stagnation by hampering the free flow of Qi.

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