Depression is a type of mental illness[1], which is characterized by the symptom of having persistently low spirits. Though its pathogenic factors have not yet been fully understood, some key causes identified in past research and studies include genetic factors, psychosocial factors and biochemical factors etc. With the continued modernisation of society, fierce competition and intense stress is inevitable and depression-related diseases or symptoms are also on the rise.
In recent years, besides western medicine, there is an increasing number of instances in which acupuncture is used to treat depression. In particular, the physician-researcher Xu Kai [2] treated 30 depression patients with Jin’s three-needle therapy, which uses the four mind acupoints (i.e. mind I, mind II, mind III and mind IV), the three wisdom acupoints (i.e. spirit courtyard , bilateral roots of the spirit), the three brain acupoints (i.e. brain door, bilateral brain hollows), and the three bilateral temporal acupoints (temporal I, temporal II, and temporal III) as the primary acupoints. According to his scientific findings, the curative effect displayed of the Jin’s three-needle group is equivalent to that of the Seroxat group (the results are statistically significant, with P>0.05), which is generally considered as an effective drug for treating depression in Western medicine. Moreover, it was found that the side effects of the Seroxet group were greater than those of the Jin’s three-needle group (P<0.01). Therefore, acupuncture options such as the Jin’s three-needle therapy could be considered during the clinical treatments for patients with depression to improve the efficacy of the recovery process and reduce adverse reactions. The yang energy is situated at the head and on the top of head, especially around the acupoints on the Du Meridian as well as the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang. Thus, acupuncture at these acupoints can invigorate the kidney-yang, replenish vitality, nourish the brain and calm the mind. Although depression is may be attributed to brain-related disorders, there are still variations amongst different patients. Therefore, in clinical practice, diagnosis and design of the remedy should be based on the overall evaluation of the patient’s condition for a more targeted treatment in order to achieve various benefits such as invigorating the brain, refreshing the mind, clearing the liver, relieving depression, and regulating emotions.
Jin’s three-needle therapy has a unique therapeutic effect on brain and mental diseases. The treatment for depression begins with “regulating the mind”. The acupoints are mainly concentrated on the head, and the treatment is adopted to the overall analysis of the patient’s condition and idiosyncracies from person to person. Another facet of the treatment lies crucially in the “depression three-needle” which refers to a set of specific acupoints in Jin’s three-needle therapy targeted at treating depression. The “depression three-needle” set includes the four mind acupoints, the Inner Pass and the Three Yin Intersection, which are selected by Professor Jin Rui, the creator of the therapy. The four mind acupoints, where the yang energy is primarily located, are connected with the brain through the Du Meridian and Bladder Meridian, making them important points for calming the nerves, refreshing the mind, inducing resuscitation, relieving depression, tranquilizing the heart and regulating the emotions.
Additionally, Inner Pass, a point of the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, has the effect of relieving chest oppression and depression. As recorded by the seminal text in this field, the AB Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, “Inner Pass is responsible for treating symptoms such as uneasiness, panic, fear, anxiety, sadness and depression.” Besides, Inner Pass also has remarkable curative effect on the common symptoms of depression patients including chest oppression, gastric cavity distension, deep sighing, eructation, loss of appetite, fear, panic and sleeping disorder etc.
Finally, Three Yin Intersection, which is the intersecting point of the three yin meridians of the foot, has the functions of strengthening the spleen, clearing the liver, nourishing the kidney and regulating the vital energy and blood, thereby adjusting the overall health of the patients. Thus, the combination of the Three Intersection and Inner Pass can tranquilize the mind and allay excitement, achieving significant therapeutic effects on insomnia caused by depression. As the AB Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion stated, “Insomnia induced by panic……the stagnation of fluid and the lingering energy of the five solid organs can be treated from the perspective of the Three Yin Intersection.” For diseases that fall into the category of depression, the lesion’s sites are mostly in the liver, heart, spleen and kidneys. As the “depression three-needle” set of acupoints are aimed at moderating the functions of the liver, heart, spleen, kidneys and other organs, it can calm the mind and treat depression.
Existing clinical treatments for depression ranges from medication to acupuncture. How about prevention? The Chinese medicine practitioners emphasise the importance of preventing diseases before their onset, by measures such as maintaining a light and balanced diet as well as frequent exercise, which can help to maintain a healthy oxygen intake, leading to an increase in production of haemoglobin which can in turn improve immunity and therefore enhance the efficiency of the cerebral cortex and cardiopulmonary function. Another benefit is invigorating feeling brought by exercise contributes to the relief of depressive emotions[3-4]. It is hoped that with the advancement of science and technology, there will be more breakthroughs in scientific research or clinical discoveries, which will further optimize the treatment plans for depression as well as create a happier and more fulfilling society!
Written by Physician Dorothy Goh
References：
[1] 中华医学会精神科分会. 中国精神障碍分类与诊断标准第3版（精神障碍分类）[J]. 中华精神科杂志, 2001, 34(3): 59-63
[2] 徐凯, 高海燕, 秦小红, 卢芳怡. 靳三针治疗抑郁症30例临床观察. 云南中医中药杂志, 2015, 36(3): 54-55
[3] Brum PC, Bacurau AV, Cunha TF, et al. Skeletal myopathy in heart failure: effects of aerobic exercise training[J]. Exp Physiol, 2014, 99(4): 616-620
[4] 赵萍, 杨新利. 针灸与运动想象法结合治疗脑卒中偏瘫肢体功能疗效观察[J]. 陕西中医, 2015, 36(8): 1071-1072