The human body is actually composed of multiple systems, such as the digestive system involving the spleen and stomach, the respiratory system involving the lungs, and the circulatory system involving the kidneys. The body functions properly with the maintenance of these systems. If any of these systems malfunctions, corresponding problems will arise in the body.
In ancient times, a common issue arising from system malfunctions was known as depression, where certain areas of the systems get blocked, preventing the proper rise and fall of substances, leading to minor health issues. If left untreated, these could escalate into major problems, posing a constant threat to health. By addressing and regulating depression, the systems can restore normal functioning, leading to improvements in various bodily issues.
How should depression be regulated?
Depression mainly manifests in six aspects: qi depression, blood depression, damp depression, heat depression, food depression, and phlegm depression. Each type of depression corresponds to different bodily symptoms, which can help identify the specific type of depression one may have.
In summary, individuals with qi depression mainly experience chest and rib pain; those with blood depression have weakened limbs, good appetite but red stool; damp depression causes wandering or joint pain throughout the body, aggravated by damp and cold weather; heat depression results in red urine and mental restlessness; individuals with food depression often feel bloated and lose their appetite; while phlegm depression leads to continuous shortness of breath with minimal physical activity.
Among these six types of depression, qi depression is fundamental. Qi serves as the body’s driving force, propelling various bodily functions, making qi depression the primary manifestation among the six depressions. If left untreated, it can lead to other types of depression. The sequence of onset of other depressions varies based on individual constitutions. Treatment primarily focuses on regulating qi depression, followed by addressing other types of depression accordingly.
Regulating qi depression is quite complex, as the symptoms vary depending on the location of the depression in the body. Treatment strategies differ for liver qi depression, where individuals may exhibit emotional depression, chest pain, poor appetite, and a thick, greasy tongue coat. Liver-soothing and depression-relieving approaches, along with qi regulation, are often used, with the help of ingredients like Bupleurum to regulate liver qi. Different locations of qi depression present varied issues and require tailored treatment approaches.
Faced with the complexity of depression symptoms, there is a general method suitable for most body constitutions, involving the use of five ingredients such as Atractylodes, Cyperus, Ligusticum, Poria, and Gardenia. Atractylodes regulates qi depression, Cyperus promotes blood circulation to resolve blood depression, Atractylodes eliminates dampness depression, Gardenia clears heat and resolves heat depression, while Poria helps with digestion and food depression. Combining these five ingredients in equal proportions can help alleviate all depressions except phlegm depression. By resolving these five depressions, phlegm depression can also be improved. When combining these ingredients, adaptability based on individual body constitution is necessary.
Ancient people viewed depression as the source of various illnesses, often stemming from untreated internal depressions, leading to other health issues and potentially affecting the functionality of various organs. By identifying any signs of depression mentioned in the article, one can evaluate if they are also experiencing depression symptoms and should seek timely regulation to avoid potential future complications.
