View Cart  Chinese Herbs for DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, and STRESS Causes of Depression TCM Treatments for Depression & Anxiety Free & Easy Pills Good Sleep & Worry Free Pills   Causes of Depression and Anxiety Western medicine treats depression and anxiety as symptoms of abnormal brain chemistry.  Psychotherapy and counseling are important methods of treatment, however these methods are expensive and drawn out. Pharmaceutical drugs are far cheaper. By altering the neural chemistry, these drugs mimic our sense of normalcy and can be effective in the management of mental illness. TCM, on the other hand, views depression and anxiety, not as brain problems, but rather as chest problems. Loss, fear of loss, memory of loss, repressed expression, and other events will cause constraint in the chest, restraining the normal flows of QI and Blood in the central and upper body. In the West we call this pattern “depression”. In TCM we call this condition Liver QI Stagnation (LQS). Depression and consequent anxiety are two ways we feel the constraint of qi in our chest. Abnormal brain chemistry may accompany LQS, but the cause is in the realm of thought. This constraint of chest energy can lead to a feeling of agitation in the chest known as Heat in the Heart. It is usually diagnosed as anxiety, insomnia, or panic disorder. Some heart arrhythmias, and many forms of psychosis have their origins in Liver QI Stagnation. To Treat Liver Qi Stagnation:  Vigorously Move the Qi of The Chest. Though drugs are often effective in relieving depression, relief can also be obtained by physically freeing the qi of the chest and releasing this energy. Push-ups work as well as Prozac (r). Other ways to release the chest include boxing, breathing excercises and yogic techniques, massage, forcefull crying and wailing, and almost any upper body exercise. Results are instantaneous and can last for hours or days. Herbs for Depression and Anxiety Chinese herbs used to relieve depression and anxiety all move the Liver QI (qi of the chest ). Taken alone, these herbs may exert only a mild effect. In certain combinations, however, the results can be quite powerful. Chai hu, or bupleurum, is the best known of these herbs. Though it is classified as a surface relieving herb, which might be used for colds, etc., its most common use by far, is to move the qi of the chest (Liver QI). Its ability to do this is greatly enhanced by combining it with a small amount of mint (bo he). He huan pi or he huan hua, mimosa bark or flower (albezzia) is classified as a heart nourishing herb. When combined with dan shen (salvia miltorrhiza), it strongly moves the qi of the chest. Other herbs used in these formulas 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. Herbal Medicines: Products for Depression and Anxiety By far the most frequently used formula contains chai hu, and is known as hsiao yao wan (also spelled xiao yao wan). In English, it is often known as Free and Easy Pill, Relaxed Wanderer, Free and Easy Wanderer, or Rambling powder. Dr. Shen's Free & Easy Pill uses this 900 year old formula to reduces stress by helping to release constrained qi in the chest.           FREE & EASY PILL also known as xiao yao wan 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 Pill reduces 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. 200 tablets, 700 mgs - $24.95   View Cart 4 pack - $91.80 (22.95 ea.)      View Cart   If constrained qi has resulted in anxiety or insomnia, Good Sleep and Worry Free Pill can be added to clear heat from the heart, and relieve insomnia, anxiety, irritablility, or restlessness.   Good Sleep & Worry Free Pill Insomnia, Anxiety and Restlessness. Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Spirit. Does NOT cause drowzyness.    150 capsules 700 mgs. - $24.95 View Cart 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) DOSAGE 2-3 tablets, 2-3 times a day    Mail Order Call Toll Free: 877-922.4372   Chinese Herbal Remedies for Other Ailments    top of page