The most fundamental way to overcome depression is simply to find the root of the depression and remove it, and then the depression will be resolved.
He was once the owner of a company, running a small business with his wife at home, thriving in their endeavors, and their child was also doing well in school. It could be considered a glorious time in life. However, one poor investment left him heavily in debt, and the family’s former vibrance had long disappeared from their faces.
There was a time when he doubted whether he was mentally ill, but later he realized it was just due to excessive stress and that there was nothing genuinely wrong. It was this stubbornness that cost him dearly.
As his body began to show discomfort: chest tightness, palpitations, insomnia, struggling to fall asleep all night, significant memory decline, fatigue, and a persistent dry mouth and bitter taste—all experiences he had never encountered before—he gradually started to pay attention to his health.
However, after taking Western medicine for a while, his condition worsened, so he stopped the medication, and later a friend suggested he try traditional Chinese medicine.
Since he lived relatively close to Beijing, he came in for a consultation.
When the doctor examined his tongue, he found the condition to be not so good—light red and with thin yellow coating, and a weak pulse.
The reason for this patient’s condition was due to phlegm and heat disturbing the heart; this phlegm-heat evil was creating chaos inside. The heart is key to controlling mental activity, and a stable mind leads to a stable sleep; conversely, disturbances cause restless nights. That’s why he always felt irritable, couldn’t sleep well, and had no energy throughout the day. Additionally, the intertwining phlegm and heat made him feel chest tightness and anxiousness.
Ultimately, the problem lies in the “heart,” and the key to treatment is “harmonizing the mind.” If one is weak, nourishment is needed; if too vigorous, then drainage is required. Therefore, Dr. Wang employed methods to clear heat and resolve phlegm, calm the mind, nourish the qi, and eliminate dampness to settle his spirit. In this way, the “roots” that caused his depressive mood were removed, leading to a natural improvement in his depression.
After half a month, he reported to the doctor that his irritability had lessened, and he was able to sleep, albeit only for about five hours. During the second consultation, based on his original treatment, the prescription was slightly adjusted with increased dosages. After six months of treatment, his symptoms were largely under control, and after stopping the medication for observation, there was no recurrence.
In Chinese medicine, regulating qi and blood and balancing yin and yang is one of the important methods of treatment. Through nourishment, invigorating blood flow, and dissolving stasis, metabolic functions of the body are adjusted, immune function improved, blood circulation enhanced, and stasis metabolized to achieve therapeutic goals.
