Herbal Remedies for Depression

Video Transcript

"Chinese herbs can be very effective for helping with depression. Depression is usually due to one of two factors; the first one is going to be pent up anger, and in Chinese medicine we call that liver Chi stagnation, because the liver houses the anger, so we need to smooth the liver, calm the liver down. The other cause is usually due to excessive worry, someone you've always seen the worry warts, well if you take it too far, then you can, it will lead to depression, and insomnia, and in Chinese medicine, we call that disturbed Chen, or disturbed spirit, and we also call it heart blood deficiency. So, as with all herbal formulas, it's important to check with your herbal practitioner, or your acupuncture physician to get a proper diagnoses, treatment, and prescription formula. And I'd like to show you a few that I often times prescribe in my acupuncture clinic. A basic formula that I often prescribe is called Shine, and Shine is good to relieve that anger, sort of that excessive anger, liver Chi stagnation, and it helps to elevate the mood, and elevate your attitude, your mood, make you feel a little happier and makes life a little easier to deal with. And then, the other three formulas are assistant formulas that I might add according to how you present. So, if you're having trouble sleeping, and you're having a lot of anxiety, I might add this one, Chandra Z. And if you're having a lot of headaches along with that, because often times when you're really angry, it rises to the head and causes those painful migraines, I might add Choradalin. And if you're having that chronic fatigue, because sometimes depression, you just don't, you become comatose, you don't want to move, and just moving hurts, we call it chronic fatigue syndrome, I might prescribe this formula, Imperial Tonic, and it improves the mental alertness, and makes you more interested in life again. So, I have worked with patients before that wanted to get off of their prescription medications, and it can be done over a slow period of time, maybe four to six months, transitioning, and we can do it successfully, and hopefully get you feeling happy and healthy again."