Anxiety & Depression Support with Traditional Chinese Medicine
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a meaningful time to reflect on our emotional well-being. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health challenges today, affecting millions of people across all ages and walks of life. While conventional treatments can help, many are searching for natural, holistic solutions with fewer side effects. That’s where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comes in—a time-tested system that addresses not just symptoms, but the root causes of emotional imbalance.
Understanding Anxiety & Depression in TCM: The Emotional-Organ Connection
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions are not seen as separate from the body. Each major emotion is linked to an internal organ system, and emotional distress is often a sign of organ imbalance or disharmony.
Anxiety: A Heart–Kidney Imbalance
Anxiety typically involves a disharmony between the Heart, which houses the spirit or consciousness (Shen), and the Kidneys, the root of our constitutional vitality.
This disharmony may result in symptoms like restlessness, racing thoughts, insomnia, palpitations, or panic.
From a Western perspective, these symptoms often correlate with dysregulation in the sympathetic nervous system, elevated cortisol, and imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA.
Depression: Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Deficiency
Depression in TCM is often rooted in Liver Qi stagnation—when the Liver fails to regulate the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy), emotions become stuck. Symptoms include mood swings, irritability, PMS, or a constant feeling of being emotionally blocked.
Over time, stagnation can affect the Spleen, which is responsible for digestion and mental clarity. This leads to Spleen Qi deficiency, which manifests as fatigue, foggy thinking, lack of motivation, and heaviness.
From a biomedical standpoint, this might relate to low serotonin and dopamine levels, chronic inflammation, and gut-brain axis dysfunction.
How Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Help
Modern research confirms what Chinese medicine has known for centuries: acupuncture influences brain chemistry.
Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins and regulates serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters responsible for mood, relaxation, and pleasure.
It also modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, helping to lower stress hormones like cortisol and support a calm, balanced nervous system.
Common Acupuncture Points for Emotional Support:
Yintang (Third Eye) – Calms the mind, helps relieve anxiety and overthinking
Heart 7 (Shenmen) – Nourishes the Heart, promotes emotional stability
Liver 3 (Taichong) – Moves stuck Qi, releases anger or frustration
Herbal Support
TCM herbal formulas are personalized, but common ones used for mental health include:
Mood Elevation Formula – Calms the mind, eases stress, and uplifts mood
Calm Formula – Strengthens Spleen and Heart Qi, great for over-thinkers, fatigue, and poor sleep
Sanctuary Sleep Formula – Relieves anxiety, nervous tension, and insomnia
Lifestyle Tips to Support Emotional Wellness
Small, consistent habits can make a big difference in how you feel each day:
Eat Warm, Nourishing Foods: Favor cooked greens, root vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Avoid cold, raw, or processed foods that weaken digestion.
Move Your Qi: To clear emotional stagnation, practice gentle movement like qi gong, tai chi, yoga, or walking.
Sleep with the Sun: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep, and go to bed by 10:30 pm to replenish Yin and calm the spirit.
Protect the Shen (Spirit): Limit screen time, reduce overstimulation, and build moments of stillness through Chi Gong for the Fire Element, Heart Meditation, or simply being in nature.
You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone
TCM offers a gentle, whole-person approach to emotional health. By treating the root patterns, we help restore balance and resilience—body, mind, and spirit.
Schedule your acupuncture or telehealth session with our practitioners today and take a natural step toward emotional well-being.