Depression

Question 1

general description of depression

Answer 1

Yu Zheng is a general term for melancholy resulted from emotional depression and stagnation of qi. A disorder of qi movement can lead to stagnation of blood, accumulation of phlegm, and many pathological changes will occur.

Question 2

what are the 4 causes of depression

Answer 2

1. depression of qi in the liver
2. transformation of depressed qi into fire
3. stagnation of phlegm
4. deficiency of blood

Question 3

Depression of qi in the liver:

Points
Tx principle
manifestation
Tongue 
Pulse

Answer 3

BL18, LR3, CV17, CV12, ST36, SP4

Treatment principle: Soothe the liver, relieving the depression

Manifestations: Mental depression, distress of the chest, hypochondriac pain, abdominal distension, belching, poor appetite, vomiting

T: thin white or greasy coat
P: wiry

Question 4

Transformation of depressed qi into fire

Points
Tx principle
manifestation
Tongue 
Pulse

Answer 4

CV13, TB6, GB34, LR3, GB43

Treatment principle: dispel fire from liver, regulating stomach qi and relieving depression

Manifestations: Headache, dryness and bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, oppressed sensation in the chest, hypochondriac distension, acid regurgitation, constipation, red eyes, tinnitus

T: red body with yellow
P: wiry and rapid

Question 5

Stagnation of phlegm

Points
Tx principle
manifestation
Tongue 
Pulse

Answer 5

CV22, CV17, PC6, ST40, LR3

Treatment principle: Regulating qi and resolve phlegm, soothe the liver and relieving the depression.

Manifestations: Mental depression, pressure sensation in the chest, feeling of a lump choking in the throat, hard to spit it out or to swallow it

T: greasy and white coating
P: wiry and slippery pulse

Question 6

deficiency of blood

Points
Tx principle
manifestation
Tongue 
Pulse

Answer 6

CV14, HT7, SP6, LR3, ST36

Treatment principle: Nourish the blood, soothe the liver and tranquilize the mind.

Manifestations: Grief without reason, capricious joy and anger, fright, palpitation, irritability, insomnia, or sudden oppressed sensation in the chest, hiccup, sudden aphonia, convulsion, or loss of consciousness in severe case

T: thin and white tongue coat
P: thin and wiry pulse