Recently, a patient visited the Department of Nephrology at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (Autonomous Region Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital) due to difficulty sleeping caused by depression. Director Shu, based on the “Kidney Houses Will” theory, diagnosed and treated the patient by referencing the modified Aconite Decoction from the “Treatise on Cold Damage.” After taking traditional Chinese medicine for three months with regular follow-ups, the patient reported generally normal sleep, with remaining symptoms stable.
1: Medical Case
Chief Complaint:
Low mood with memory loss, difficulty sleeping for two years, worsened in the past month.
Medical History:
First visit on April 1, 2024: Diagnosed with moderate depression at an outside hospital in 2021, continuously taking Fluoxetine, Quetiapine, and Sertraline, with symptoms varying in severity. Seeking further treatment, the patient visited the outpatient clinic. The patient’s complexion was dark, mood was depressed, and felt fatigued upon waking, making it difficult to maintain normal daily activities and work. Memory loss and difficulty sleeping were reported, with a pale tongue and thin white coating, left pulse not palpable, right pulse thin and weak.
Past Medical History:
Diagnosed with “mood disorder” and “moderate depression” at an outside hospital in 2021, taking Fluoxetine, Quetiapine, and Sertraline.
Allergy History:
None
Auxiliary Examinations:
No significant abnormalities observed.
Diagnosis:
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis: Depression (Kidney Yang deficiency)
Western Medical Diagnosis: Moderate depression with mood disorder
Treatment Principle:
Warm the kidney, regulate Qi, calm the mind, and settle the spirit
Prescription:
Aconite Decoction, combined with Cinnamon Twig, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Decoction, adapted with Sweet Wheat and Jujube Decoction
Aconite slices 30g, Poria 30g, fried White Peony 15g, fried White Atractylodes 30g
Red Ginseng 10g, dried Ginger 20g, Floating Wheat 60g, Jujube 15g
Cinnamon Twig 24g, Dragon Bone 30g, Oyster 30g, calcined Magnetite 30g
Honey Lily 15g, roasted Licorice 6g
7 doses, taken twice a day, decocted in 220ml of water per dose.
Follow-up:
April 13, 2024: After taking the medication, the patient’s mood was relatively stable, able to get out of bed independently in the morning, and fatigue improved compared to before. Sleep was acceptable, with a red tongue and thin white coating, pulse thin and weak; continued with the original prescription. The patient discontinued Fluoxetine and Quetiapine on April 13.
April 20, 2024: Reported diarrhea after taking traditional Chinese medicine, more than 10 times a day, memory loss returned to previous state, with a red tongue, thin white sticky coating, and thin weak pulse. (Previously had taken a large…
