Western medicine treats depression and anxiety as symptoms of abnormal brain chemistry. Pharmaceutical drugs are often prescribed to alter this chemistry and mimic a sense of normalcy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views depression and anxiety, not as brain problems, but more as chest problems. Emotions associated with loss, repressed expression, and other stressful events cause us to tighten in the chest, restraining flows of Qi and fluids to the Liver, Heart and other organs. TCM calls this condition Liver QI Stagnation. In the West we call it depression.
Constraint of chest energy can build up, leading to a feeling of agitation known as Heat in the Heart . In the West, we call this condition anxiety or panic disorder.
Relieving Liver Qi Stagnation or Heat in the Heart requires moving the Qi of the chest. Relief can be obtained by physically freeing the chest Qi. That's why laughing and crying help. Many people find that push-ups work as well as Prozac (r).
Other ways to release the chest include boxing, breathing excercises and yogic techniques, massage, forcefull wailing, and almost any upper body exercise. Results are quick and can last for hours or days.
Herbs for Depression and Anxiety
Chinese herbs used to relieve depression and anxiety generally move the Qi of the chest .
Chai hu, or bupleurum, is the best known of these herbs. Its ability to do this is greatly enhanced by combining it with a small amount of mint (bo he).
Similarly, he huan pi or he huan hua, (mimosa bark or flower) are classified as heart nourishing herbs. When combined with dan shen (salvia miltorrhiza), it strongly moves the qi of the chest.
Other herbs used in these formulas can include poria (fu shen), red dates (hong zao), and wheat berries (fu xiao mai). Oyster shell (mu li), fossil bone (long gu), amber (hu pou), and loadstone (ci shi) are considered strong stabilizing agents, and are administered for limited periods of time to stablize the spirit.
The following herbal medicines are considered extremely safe and reliably relieve depression and anxiety for most people who use them. Effects are generally felt within a few weeks, but can be experienced more quickly by some.
When under stress, qi (energy) tightens in your chest. This protective reaction is triggered by by events in our life or events in our memory.
Dr. Shen's Free & Easy Pillreduces feelings of stress by helping to release tension in the chest. Based on a 900 year old formula, It uses bupleurum (chai hu) and other natural substances to relieve chest constraint and to promote the free flow of Qi in the chest.
Other ways to release stress in the chest include breathing and yogic techniques, massage, forcefull crying, and upper body excercise. Expressive use of the hands stimulates the channels that nourish the chest, so that activities as varied as gardening, giving massage, swimming the breast stroke, and playing basketball can offer relief.
If constrained qi has resulted in anxiety or insomnia, Good Sleep and Worry Free Pill can be used or added to relieve anxiety, insomnia, irritablility, or restlessness. These tablets do not make you sleepy and are taken several times a day as well as at night if you are awake.
Good Sleep & Worry Free Pill
Insomnia, Anxiety and Restlessness.
Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Spirit. Does NOT cause drowzyness.
150 capsules 700 mgs.
INGREDIENTS &Formula Functions
Sour Date Seed, Zizyphus semen, suan zao ren
Nourishes the Heart, Calms the Spirit
Chinese Sage Root, Salvia radix, dan shen
Clears Heat from the Heart, Invigorates the Heart Blood
Siberian Milk Wort, Anemarrhena rz., zhi mu
Clears Heat, Quells Fire, Tonifies the Yin
Arbor Vitae Seed, Biota semen, bai zi ren
Nourishes the Heart, Calms the Spirit
Atractylodes Root, Atractylodes rx, bai zhu
Tonifies the Spleen, Aids the Digestion and Assimilation of the Formula's Yin Tonics
Schizandra Fruit, Schisandra fructus, wu wei zi
Astringes the Essence, Calms the Spirit
Heart of Poria, Poria cocos, fu ling
Calms the Spirit, Aids the Digestion and Assimilation of the Formula's Yin Tonics
Gardenia Seed, Gardenia semen, zhi zi
Clears Heat from the Heart, Relieves Irritability & Restlessness
Bulrush, Medula Junci, deng xin cao
Drains Heart Heat, Relieves Insomnia
Ginseng Root, Panax ginseng rx, ren shen
Benefits the Heart Qi, Calms the Spirit, Tonifies Original Qi
Chinese Licorice Root, Glycyrrhiza rx, gan cao
Aids in the Assimilation of Other Herbs (Harmonizes)
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Shen Herb Inc.makes no claims as to efficacy or safety of products appearing on this site. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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