Acupuncture for Depression - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Sun, 07/09/2006 - 4:51pm

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for depression. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

  • Differentiation:

  • LV Qi Stagnation - Excess
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • Depression with irritability, plum pit qi, chest oppression, PMS.
      • Tongue:  Pale or purple w/thin white coat
      • Pulse:  Wiry
    • Treatment Points:
      • St. John Treatment Points (with modifications):
      • LV 3 - harmonize LV
      • LI 4 - four gates w/LV 3 above
      • ST 36 - tonify Qi
      • HT 7 - calm spirit
      • GV 20 - clear the mind
  • Phlegm Qi Depression - Excess
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • Similar to below but arising from LV Qi Stagnation effecting fluid metabolism, depression, chest oppression and other phlegm signs.
      • Tongue:  Greasy white coat
      • Pulse:  Slippery, wiry
    • Treatment Points:
  • Retention of Phlegm-Damp
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • Similar to above but arising from SP Qi deficiency, chest oppression, lack of appetite, lack of thirst, fatigue, heaviness of the body.
      • Tongue:  Greasy white coat
      • Pulse:  Slippery
    • Treatment Points:
  • HT & SP Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • Excessive worrying and thinking, poor concentration, palpitations, insomnia, pale lustreless complexion, poor appetite, fatigue.
      • Tongue:  Pale
      • Pulse:  Thin, weak
    • Treatment Points:
  • SP & KD Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • Fatigue, sore back and knees, low libido, insomnia, anxiety, cold extremities.
      • Tongue:  Pale, swollen
      • Pulse:  Deep, fine
    • Treatment Points:

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

  • St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
  • Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes

Comments

yyh_staff's picture
Submitted by yyh_staff on Wed, 06/09/2010 - 4:42pm.

If you read the entire page

If you read the entire page you will see the notes that have been quoted - one of them being "Meredith St. John".  These have absolutely nothing to do with the herb or any other association with St. John's Wort.  They are simply a reference to where the protocol was discussed as opposed to the CAM text or texts by Giovanni for example.

rdf5270's picture
Submitted by rdf5270 on Wed, 06/09/2010 - 2:25pm.

St. John Treatment Points

What do you mean by "St. John Treatment Points"?  Would you be so kind as to send me a list of these points and information about the rationalle for using them?

Dr Ford