Emotional Disorders
‘Passions of the psyche produce changes in the body, that are great, evident and manifest‘
(Maimonides, Regimen of Health)
The Emotions are closely related to Mental activity and the Spirit in Traditional Medicine. Since the Heart ‘stores’ the Spirit, the state of the Heart can have an impact on the Mind and Emotions. For example, Heart weakness can predispose one to Fright and Anxiety. Heart Debility can make one more sensitive, and therefore, overly emotional.
Emotions are also closely related to the free flow of Qi, or otherwise stated, a calm and regulated Nervous system. The Free flow of Qi around the body is controlled closely by the Liver, according to TCM. Stress, Worry, Anxiety, Depression all obstruct the flow of Qi. Frustration is a classic expression of obstructed Qi, and if that turns to Anger, the obstructed Qi has generated Heat. Thus, as it manifests in the Body, so does it manifest in the Mind and Spirit. Medicines which regulate the flow of Qi are of much importance in the treatment of emotional disorders. Sandalwood, Rose, Valerian and Balm are all medicines of this class.
In TCM, each Organ-system is associated with a particular Emotion. Fear, being the Emotion associated with the Kidneys, is more prone in one whose Kidneys are weak. Conversely, extreme Fear can weaken Kidney energy. Worry is associated with the Spleen function, and Spleen controls ‘Digestion’. Worry can be thought of as ‘undigested thought’, and therefore Spleen weakness makes one more liable to Worry. Anger is associated with the Liver, and excess Liver Heat (Bile Humor) predisposes one to Anger. Joy is associated with the Heart, so a healthy Heart enables one to experience Joy and Love. However, Heart Fire (excess Heat) can make one ‘over-joyous’ while Heart deficiency can be associated with being sad for no cause. The Lungs are associated with Grief in TCM.
In the Humoral Tradition, Happiness or Joy is likewise associated with the Blood Humor (Liver), Anger with Bile Humor (Gall Bladder), Sadness and Worry (without cause) with Melancholy (Spleen). In cases with excess, the corresponding Humor is prepared and purged.
Hormones also play an important role in certain emotional diseases, especially when related to Menstruation (such as PMS), and in the elderly where Sex hormones naturally decline which may be associated with Depression, Withdrawal etc. In such cases, tonic medicines are applied that restore Sex hormones. The Chinese Rehmannia-based formulas (such as Shen Qi Wan and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan) are especially useful for this purpose.
It should be noted that a great class of Formulas, the Laetifican formulas, of the Western Tradition are used to promote Joy, being classed as Exhilarants. These elegant formulas contain medicines which strengthen the Heart, move Qi to relieve Obstruction along with medicines to calm the Mind and Spirit. They are of great use in Emotional disorders including Anxiety, Frustration, Sadness, Grief, Depression etc.
The importance of Saffron in the treatment of Mind and Emotions cannot be overstated. It is the ultimate Heart tonic and benefits both Qi and Spirit. Likewise ‘Medicines that Calm the Mind and Spirit’ are used in the various Traditional Medicine systems for Mental and Emotional disorders. Of these, Pearl, Coral and Amber are among the most practically useful in modern Traditional Medicine.
Primary Simples:
|
Balm Borage Rose Basil seed Lavender Cyperus rotundus Withania Centella / Bacopa Pearl |
St. Johns wort Bugloss Sandalwood Camomile Passionflower Peony Convolvulus Shankhpushpi Amber |
Bupleurum Chai Hu Salvia Dan Shen Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren |
Paeonia Bai Shao Polygala Yuan Zhi Platycladi Bai Zi Ren |
Special Formula
Palpitations with Fear
Zerumbet
Doronicum
Ox Tongue
Powder, take 3 times per month with water and wine. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
Palpitations with Fear
Zerumbet
Doronicum
Spikenard
Cardamon 2 drams ea.
Citron peel 1 dram
Dill seed 1 ½ drams
Powder. Take 1 dram with Ox Tongue Wine. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
Musk Antidote, for Fear and Nervousness with Palpitation
Cassia
Indian Spikenard
Indian leaf 2 drams ea.
Amomum
Costus
Frankincense 1 ½ drams ea.
Gold
Silver 2 carrats ea.
Musk
Camphor 3 drams ea.
Leek (seed)
Coral
Amber 1 dram ea.
Form an Electuary with 3 times its weight of Honey. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
Research:
1. Intermittent fasting combined with supplementation with Ayurvedic herbs reduces anxiety in middle aged female rats by anti-inflammatory pathways.2. Herbal Medicine for Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia.
3. Anxiolytic effects of a combination of Melissa officinalis and Valeriana officinalis during laboratory induced stress.
4. Yoga, Meditation and Mind-Body Health: Increased BDNF, Cortisol Awakening Response, and Altered Inflammatory Marker Expression after a 3-Month Yoga and Meditation Retreat.
5. Experimental Evaluation of Hiṅgvādi Ghṛta in Behavioral Despair Using Animal Models.
6. An alternative treatment for anxiety: a systematic review of human trial results reported for the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).
7. Nootropic, anxiolytic and CNS-depressant studies on different plant sources of shankhpushpi.
8. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood.
9. Evaluation of anti-depressant and anxiolytic activity of Rasayana Ghana Tablet (A compound Ayurvedic formulation) in albino mice.
10. Anxiolytic and nootropic activity of Vetiveria zizanioides roots in mice.
11. Anxiolytic, sedative, and hypnotic activities of aqueous extract of Morinda citrifolia fruit.