Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. There are many forms of medicine, from Eastern to Western, but none is older than Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The technique has been around since time immemorial and is known to optimize mental health. But what exactly is Traditional Chinese Medicine and should you practice it?
At a glance
Like Western medicine, TCM offers a variety of ways to treat mood issues and improve mental health. You may have heard of popular TCM methods like meditation and Feng Shui and have even incorporated them into your daily wellness routine. But there are other ways you can treat anxiety and stress-related disorders, from Chinese herbal medicine to acupuncture.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic health care system that has been practiced for thousands of years in China and other parts of Asia. TCM believes that the body and mind are interconnected and influenced by the flow of vital energy (chi) along pathways called meridians. TCM combines a variety of methods to identify and treat deficiencies and imbalances in the body.
Teddy Fisher, PhD, RAc, exercise physiologist and owner of The Nest Clinic, a traditional Chinese medicine wellness clinic, says Western medicine believes it’s important to balance the nervous system by regulating hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and cortisol, moving people from a “fight or flight” state to a “rest and digest” state.
In contrast, from a TCM perspective, we focus on each organ system – Qi and Blood, Yin and Yang – to help bring the body back into balance and help a person feel their optimum.
For example, anger often emerges when a TCM diagnosis of Liver Qi stagnation or Liver Yang overactivity occurs. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can mobilize the Liver Qi, clear the overactive Yang Qi, and calm the anger.
Dr. Daniel Burt, BSc, RAc, adds that in TCM, doctors need to know a patient’s health history and symptoms before making a TCM diagnosis, and TCM treatment is unique to each individual and customized to that person’s needs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Approaches to Mental Health
TCM does more than “boost mental health,” Dr. Bhat explains: TCM can help treat specific mood issues, including frustration, irritability, mood swings, sadness, depression, fear, and anxiety.
She adds that TCM can treat mood issues regardless of how they arose. For example, say you’re experiencing mood swings due to premenstrual syndrome or depression due to the death of a friend. Though the causes are different, TCM can treat these conditions in the same way.
Herbal medicine
TCM utilizes a wide range of herbal formulas tailored to your individual needs to help improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall mental health.
Michelle Oravitz (AP, LAc), owner and founder of fertility acupuncture and wellness clinic Wholesome Lotus, says that the herbal medicine prescriptions prescribed to individuals are based on patterns. Different patterns determine which herbal medicines can improve mental and emotional health. For example, most liver and heart patterns are related to emotions. To improve issues like depression and mood swings, you would take herbal medicines designed to improve liver and heart function.
“According to traditional Chinese medicine, we often use herbal medicines to support heart qi and heart blood, which affect the heart,” Oravitz explains. “This not only affects mood by reducing anxiety, but it can also affect sleep because it can calm the mind.”
According to Tatiana Rivera Cruz, MSW, LCSW, some of the herbs commonly used in TCM include red ginseng root, dang shen root, and astragalus root. These herbs help restore energy balance and counteract opposing energetic forces.
acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy (chi) and promote balance within the body.
Oravitz explains that acupuncture can support overall health by releasing congestion. Acupuncture also helps regulate the nervous system by encouraging deep relaxation during treatment. The external acupuncture hole stimulates the vagus nerve, which calms the body and supports the digestive system.
“Acupuncture is powerful enough on its own to have a significant effect on mood, but some patients also need herbal medicines depending on their TCM diagnosis,” says Dr. Burt.
Shiatsu
Acupressure is the application of pressure to specific points on the body. These points are the same as the meridians (channels of energy) used in acupuncture. By stimulating these points, acupressure aims to promote balance and improve the flow of energy within the body.
During an acupressure session, pressure is typically applied using the fingers, thumbs, palms, or specialized instruments. Pressure can be light or firm, depending on the individual’s tolerance and the specific condition being treated.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion involves burning dried mugwort leaves on certain acupressure points to stimulate blood flow and promote healing, says Dr. Bhatt. It can help relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting relaxation and relieving tension. Some moxibustion practitioners offer moxibustion treatments in clinics, while others teach patients how to do it at home.
Qigong
Qi Gong consists of gentle movements, breathing and meditation techniques aimed at cultivating and balancing the body’s Qi. Regular practice of Qi Gong can help calm the mind, reduce stress and promote emotional stability.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi, like Qi Gong, is a mind-body exercise that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing and mental focus. Practicing Tai Chi can help you feel relaxed, reduce anxiety, improve your mood, and enhance cognitive function.
diet remedy
According to TCM principles, certain foods can have a big impact on mental health. Eating a balanced diet that includes nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help keep your mind healthy.
Tuina Massage
Tuina is a type of Chinese therapeutic massage that focuses on stimulating acupressure points and manipulating the body’s energy pathways. Tuina massage can help relieve tension, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve insomnia and sleep quality.
Feng Shui
Feng Shui is the practice of arranging your environment to promote harmony and balance, and according to Chinese medicine principles, creating a supportive and harmonious living and working space can have a positive impact on your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Mindfulness and Meditation
TCM emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and meditation practices to create inner peace and mental clarity. Regular mindfulness meditation can help reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and improve emotional resilience.
Integrating Traditional Chinese and Western Medical Approaches to Mental Health
Dr. Bhatt says that many TCM patients use a combination of Western and Chinese medicines to manage their mood issues, and that some patients continue taking their medications while undergoing TCM treatment, gradually tapering off (with a doctor’s supervision) once their mood stabilizes. Other patients prefer to continue taking Western medications but use TCM to treat side effects or reduce their dosage so that the side effects are not as noticeable. Either approach is fine.
Oravitz believes “all medicines have their merits” and encourages the use of Western medicines in combination with Chinese herbal medicines, as both approaches “can help with certain symptoms.”
If you want to try TCM therapies, Dr. Fisher recommends finding a practitioner with whom you have a good connection. Different practitioners have different views on health, philosophies, medicine, and the world. Make sure you choose a practitioner who is professionally licensed and registered for the specific therapies they offer.
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