| | | | | dam, in that you may cry easily, experience a |
| The Chinese have a saying that the emotions are | | | | lack of energy or motivation, poor appetite, |
| the cause of 100 diseases. In the case of | | | | restlessness and constant worry. At this point, |
| depression, they're right on the money. I have | | | | your depression is zapping your energy. |
| worked with many patients who suffer from | | | | Treating depression in Chinese medicine can be |
| depression and who have had very real physical | | | | very effective and involves the use of |
| ailments as a result. While they differ widely in | | | | acupuncture to calm your spirit and to unblock |
| their histories, they all have one thing in | | | | energetic and emotional stagnation. The use of |
| common: lack of emotional flow. | | | | Chinese herbs is extremely helpful for depression, |
| Chinese medicine is all about flow, whether it's the | | | | and there are several formulas that can be used |
| flow of digestion, blood, energy, or emotions. | | | | based on your particular symptoms. |
| When that flow is blocked for one reason or | | | | There are also some things that you can do at |
| another, symptoms arise. We practitioners of | | | | home to help relieve depression, including: |
| Chinese medicine consider that lack of flow a kind | | | | 1. |
| of stagnation, much like a dam on a moving | | | | Stay flexible, both literally and figuratively. Some |
| river. Behind the dam, water backs up and | | | | gentle stretching feels good and is relaxing. |
| creates a lake. However, down river, there's | | | | Emotional flexibility is also crucial to overcoming |
| only a trickle of water getting past the dam. In | | | | depression. Making friends with your life as it is |
| your body, stagnation works in much the same | | | | or making changes to improve your personal |
| way, in which a blockage creates a backup, but | | | | situation will help your mental outlook. Also, |
| can ultimately create depletion. | | | | flexibility in terms of an open mind will arm you |
| In Chinese medicine, depression is caused by | | | | through future upsets or disappointments. |
| emotions gone wild, including anger, grief, | | | | 2. |
| excessive worry, frustration, or anxiety. It's | | | | Get moving. Again, this is both literal and |
| important to note that some people have | | | | figurative. Movement, in the form of physical |
| depression caused by chemical imbalances, | | | | activity, will help improve your mood through the |
| traumatic life events, and even medications | | | | production of endorphins, the feel-good chemicals |
| they're taking. However, I have found that | | | | in your brain. Research studies are clear on this: |
| people I have treated who suffer from | | | | physical activity is an effective way to relieve |
| depression experience a large difference between | | | | depression—in some cases as effective as |
| the way they would like their life to be and the | | | | medications. Emotional movement in terms of |
| way that their life actually is. These strong | | | | trying something new or a new solution is also a |
| emotions ultimately affect the physical body and | | | | way to rise above your depression. |
| can cause symptoms such as poor digestion, | | | | 3. |
| insomnia, a lump in the throat, a sensation of | | | | Get enough sleep. While insomnia may be a |
| heat, aches and pains, and fatigue. | | | | component of depression, do everything you can |
| Early on, depression is usually characterized by | | | | to get a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep will |
| stagnation. This means that your blockage of | | | | only make you feel worse. |
| emotional energy is strongest during this time and | | | | 4. |
| most likely to cause symptoms associated with | | | | Eat well. Healthy foods that you can easily digest |
| stagnation. Symptoms include feeling | | | | will help combat lethargy and fatigue. Eat a good |
| despondent, frequent sighing, feeling full, pain | | | | breakfast to maintain your energy; and eat lost |
| under your ribs, and chest pain. If there is some | | | | of well-cooked vegetables, fruits, whole grains and |
| heat involved, you may also experience irritability, | | | | a little protein at each meal. |
| impatience, a dry mouth, thirst, a bitter taste in | | | | 5. |
| your mouth, and constipation. | | | | Keep a gratitude journal. Research has shown |
| Sometimes the blockage feels like a lump or | | | | that just writing down a couple of things each day |
| something stuck in your throat. The Chinese call | | | | for which you are thankful can in some instances |
| this Plum Pit Qi and believe that it is the physical | | | | be as effective as antidepressant medications. |
| manifestation of a situation that is figuratively too | | | | Remembering those positive things and people in |
| difficult to swallow. | | | | your life helps you will shift your thinking from |
| Over time, if your depression is unresolved, it will | | | | your glass being half empty to being half full. |
| begin to act like the trickle of water below the | | | | |