How TCM Can Help with Mental Health

Herbs, acupuncture and gua sha can help clear your mind and lift your mood

Text: Shannon T

When we think about treating mental health problems, our first thoughts are usually seeking help from counsellors and therapists and getting treatments that involve western medication. However, that’s not the one and only approach we can turn to when it comes to improving our mental health.

Surprisingly, TCM — short for traditional Chinese medicine — poses significant benefits for matters of the mind as well. We speak to Leong Weizhen, Chief Medical Officer and Lead Physician of Oriental Remedies Group who has over 16 years of experience in helping patients with their mental health struggles. She shares with us interesting insights on how this healing approach can help with our mental health.

How TCM works

Rooted in Taoism philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) follows the theory that all of our organs mutually supports each other and must be in balance in order to be healthy. Another theory in TCM is that vital energy — known as "qi" or "chi" — flows throughout the body and that emotional, mental, and physical health problems develop when the flow of qi is blocked, weak, or excessive. As such, restoring the flow of qi is considered essential to balancing the yin and yang and, in turn, achieving wellness. This idea of a “vital energy” guiding our physical and mental processes is shared in other cultures — “prana” in Indian culture and “pneuma” in Greek culture and in Chinese culture “qi”.

TCM treatments for Mental Health

Herbs

TCM practitioners typically combine different herbs in formulas to treat different ailments. These formulas may be given as teas, capsules, tinctures, or grounded into powders.

In TCM, emotional stress is said to be due to stagnation of the liver qi. Hence, improving the circulation of liver qi will help to reduce stress and improve emotional health. The process can help correct imbalances in patients with anxiety or depression. Some herbs can help to bring qi and blood upwards towards the head and clear their minds.

Anxiety: Qi is going upwards, so we need to suppress the qi by using suppressive herbs. This will help “stabilize” patients and even help with their sleep.

Depression: Qi is going downwards, so we need to lift the qi by using lifting herbs. This will help patients feel less suppressed and help to lift their mood.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a TCM practice that originated thousands of years ago. Acupuncturists insert extremely thin needles to specific acupuncture points throughout the body to restore the flow of qi that has been blocked and causing health concerns. This can help to balance the body’s energy, stimulate healing, and promote relaxation.

Regulating qi in the body helps in reducing stagnation of one’s qi and blood circulation. Targeting the right acupoints can help to soothe the mind, lift the mood, calm anxiety and improve sleep.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional technique used in TCM and in Tibetan medicine that involves burning herbs and applying that heat to specific points on the body. According to practitioners, the heat generated during moxibustion helps increase the flow of qi throughout the body.

Moxibustion at Bai Hui acupoint on the head can help to lift the body’s energy upwards to clear the mind and ease depression.

Cupping or scraping (also known as “gua sha”)

Cupping therapy involves briefly applying rounded inverted cups to certain parts of the body using a vacuum effect. The theory is that the drawing of the skin inside the cups increases blood flow to the area. Long used in TCM and other ancient healing methods, cupping is gaining popularity amongst athletes, one being swimmer Michael Phelps who had cupping therapy done while preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Scraping or gua sha is an alternative therapy that involves scraping one’s skin with a massage tool to address stagnant qi and improve circulation. Short and long strokes are used while scraping the skin, to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue and subsequently increase blood flow.

Both cupping and scraping therapy helps to relieve tense muscles (especially around the neck and shoulder area), improve blood circulation and improve sleep quality.

Physician Leong Weizhen is the Chief Medical Officer and Lead Physician of Oriental Remedies Group. With 16 years of experience under her belt, Physician Leong has helped many patients through their struggle with mental health issues.

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