Posted by Hombre on September 25, 2010, at 3:16:07
In reply to Re: Lithium Orotate for depression? Anyone using this, posted by BetweenDreams81 on September 24, 2010, at 23:30:26
BetweenDreams81,
I hope you will consider seeing a trained TCM doctor who specalizes in herbs. I am only an amateur and can only speak from my personal experience. I would hate to recommend something and have it backfire on you. On the other hand, I've found herbs to be pretty mild and I've shared them with friends with no ill effects. If anything, it isn't the right formula and it does nothing. Or they don't take it regularly enough to see a change. I do have some personal experience helping someone with PMS/PMDD. She has a terrible week before her period where she becomes extremely fatigued, depressed, and has obsessive negative thinking.
Again, take all of this as opinion, but the things I say I have a pretty good grasp on at this point. I'm still open to learning more, of course:
My general idea about getting energy back revolves around the Spleen concept - digestive function. Although I've taken nutrition courses and know all about carbs/fat/protein and energy metabolism, there is more to it than that. I also have taken classes in exercise physiology and know about the Kreb's cycle and whatnot. Again, there is more to it than that if you are not healthy.
If your Spleen is fine, you can eat with a lot of leeway and your energy is OK. If it is not healthy, well you'll get a bunch of weird symptoms.
The Spleen in TCM is associated with digestive function, metabolism, controlling dampness/bloating, producing Blood, and controlling blood sugar levels. On the mental/emotional side, a healthy spleen is associated with learning and memory. When weak, one will tend to have obsessive thinking, worrying, and problems with memory. The metaphor is that when you learn, you also have to digest, process and absorb.
The spleen is also associated with the flesh and muscles. When the spleen is weak, you will lose muscle mass and you'll feel physically weak. The lack of blood production means you'll just feel anemic and tired. You may also have headaches, loose, watery stools, bloating, and/or alternating constipation and diarrhea.
The spleen like to stay 'dry'. Eating to many raw fruits and vegetables, junk food, grease, and physically cold foods and beverages will weaken the spleen. When the spleen develops 'dampness', you'll get bloating and indigestion. You'll tend to feel sluggish and thick.
The Spleen likes sweet things (not candy or pop). Sweet potato, Chinese red dates, rice porridge - these are some foods that help tone the spleen. Please google for more dietary advice.
Overwork and overstudying/thinking are what can injure the spleen, not to mention a bad diet. I have sort of a theory that obsessive worrying about food and weight are related to the spleen both physically (poor diet) and mentally (obsessing). I know what it is like to worry a little too much about body image and food, but probably not as much as someone with a bonified eating disorder. I mean no disrepect to those who suffer from that.
Treating the spleen involves some of the most classical formulas in Chinese medicine. The most basic formula is Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). It contains four herbs and serves as the basis for almost any formula that treats the spleen.
It contains: ginseng or codonopsis (a milder substitute), White atractylodes, poria and fried licorice root. These herbs tonify the spleen and qi and remove dampness.
This formula is available as pills, known as "wan", so the name to search for is "si jun zi wan". Googling Four Gentlemen Decoction will work too.
Another formula especially recommended for the ladies is Ba Zhen Tang/Eight Treasures Decoction (not sure about the translation, but it has 8 herbs). It helps blood by tonifying the spleen. It is based on Four Gentlement but adds some more blood building/nourishing goodies. I've made this formula out of raw herbs for my friend and it did seem to help. As pills, it is called Ba Zhen Wan. Very common. Take it up until you actually start your flow, then lay off for a week. It is a good all-around tonic and can be taken for long periods of time.
Anxiety and fear are symptoms of a kidney weakness. You will also feel extremely fatigued if your kidneys are weak. The kidneys are the most important system (I say system because we are not talking about just the anatomical kidneys) in CM theory. They are the root of your body's energy and any illness will affect them in some way.
The positive emotions associated with the kidneys are courage and willpower. This probably relates to not being able to follow-through on ideas and projects.
If you tend toward feeling hot at night, sweating a lot, having poor sleep and fatigue, feeling sort of jittery and anxious, you may have a deficiency of kidney yin.
If you tend to feel cold, apathetic, sit still for long period, don't feel like initiating actions or talking much, you probably have deficient Yang. That's what I have, and I take herbs for that.
The formula I use is called Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan. Kidney pills from the Golden Cabinet (I think a reference to some medical book or trusty stash of proven meds). It basically nourishes the kidneys and warms them up.
If the warming herbs are taken out of this formula, it is called Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, or Six Flavor Rehmannia Pills. That one is more for kidney yin deficiency. I've taken it when I think I've weakened kidney yin and developed back spasms in the lower back. Other than that, the kidney Yang formula above serves me better on a day to day basis. Another sign of weakened kidney Yang is trouble urinating or maybe urinating to often (or is that kidney yin? so complicated.)
Depression and irritability will involve the liver, and the liver is closely related to the kidneys and also the spleen. The flagship formula for depression is Xiao Yao Wan, which has bupleurum, but that formula hasn't done much for me personally and I don't have a firm grasp on what liver stagnation feels like, maybe a heavy, sinking feeling in the chest or a lump in the throat. The best thing for this is to exercise and to find an outlet for creative expression. When you get angry and frustrated, it can easily cause liver stagnation. Liver stagnation can cause a build-up of heat that can flare up and cause outbursts of anger or headaches. Heat can also cause skin eruptions and rashes.
Phew. I hope that makes sense. Cross-reference online (acupuncture.com, http://www.shen-nong.com/, and itmonline.com are good). It takes a while to get used to the ideas and to be honest I doubt most people can gain an understanding without also doing so qigong or meditation. I do recommend that as well, granted you can find a qualified teacher. Without a good teacher, you'll at least be moving a bit, but not getting the benefit of tai chi training OR vigorous exercise. And as you probably know, aerobic exercise is proven to fight depression and anxiety. The hard part is doing it and doing it regularly.
Best of luck.
poster:Hombre
thread:962840
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20100812/msgs/963668.html