The illness of depression often arises from the deficiency or excess of the liver, combined with damp-heat, and variations in the symptoms of the spleen, stomach, and heart.
If depression persists, blood stasis and qi deficiency will follow, this is a common occurrence.
How can this be explained?
By observing the veins under the tongue, when blue veins are prominent, or when anger distorts like a bow, or twists like a snake, these are clear signs of blood stasis.
What are the symptoms?
Chest and head pain, belching, dry retching, internal heat, dizziness, discomfort, palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, irritability, anger, evening heat, dull lips, and lackluster eyes.
At the onset of blood stasis, it is like a major road blockage, later becoming clogged.
Therefore, to treat this condition, the focus should start from addressing the blood stasis on both sides of the liver meridian.
Treating blood stasis in depression, the Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is indeed an effective prescription for this condition.
The Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang consists of herbs such as peach kernel, safflower, dang gui, sheng di huang, niu xi, chuan xiong, jie geng, chi shao, zhi ke, gan cao, and chai hu combined.
This is an adapted version of the Si Ni San plus Taohong Si Wu Tang.
Speaking of the Si Ni San, it is crucial to note the coldness of limbs without an overall cold sensation, which is a sign of blocked qi circulation.
The Si Ni San is composed of chai hu, shaoyao, zhi shi, and gan cao.
These four herbs work not to tonify but to harmonize, particularly regulating the sympathetic nervous system.
Whether it is due to emotional tension or vasoconstriction from other factors, string-like, uncomfortable pulses are all due to blocked qi.
Hence, Si Ni San treats cold limbs and actively regulates the liver and gallbladder’s qi circulation.
Furthermore, the Taohong Si Wu Tang containing dang gui, shu di, chuan xiong, bai shao, peach kernel, and safflower, exemplifies blood circulation and stasis transformation without elaboration.
When Si Ni San and Taohong Si Wu Tang are combined with jie geng and niu xi, it forms the Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang.
Jie geng, niu xi, chai hu, and zhi ke create a combination of raising and lowering effects.
Chai hu raises while zhi ke lowers, jie geng raises while niu xi lowers, working together to regulate qi circulation and promote unobstructed flow.
Chai hu dispels externally while shaoyao gathers internally, aiding in the harmonious balance of internal and external qi circulation.
The ingenious method of application of this formula precisely addresses the pathogenic mechanism of depression involving qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Any symptoms of blood stasis can be resolved. Once the blood stasis is removed, the downward flow becomes smooth, and the exhaustion dissipates, fatigue is relieved.
