Related Health Condition
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Anxiety
Introduction
Anxiety neurosis is a disease manifested as emotional disturbances such as intense apprehension, uncertainty, and fear, and is often accompanied by vegetative nerve dysfunction. In traditional Chinese medicine, it belongs to the categories of “palpitation,” “insomnia,” and “hysteria.”
Etiology/Pathogenesis
The pathological changes of this disease involve many visceral organs, and in a majority of cases, the patient displays symptoms of both cold and heat syndromes, and of both deficiency and excess conditions. First and utmost, though, this disease is a mental disorder, and its origin can often be traced to one of two factors: 1) emotional injuries, which, left unattended, lead to stagnation of the liver-qi and fire hyperactivity, which in turn eventually lead to disruption of the normal heart function (i.e., mental activities); and 2) excessive worries overburdening the heart and the spleen, causing the heart to be overstrained, which leads to lasting anxiety, palpitation, dizziness, sleep disorders, etc.
Primary Treatments with Chinese Medicinal Herbs
Long Gu Mu Li Tang with Chai Hu
Ingredients: Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Long Gu (Dragon Bone), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Sheng Jiang (Ginger), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Da Huang (Rhubarb), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Da Zao (Jujube), Qian Dan
Clinical Application:
A study treated 32 cases of psychoneurosis with this formula, and compared the effect of using this formula alone with that of combining this formula with Western medication in treating this condition. The results: this formula was found to significantly ameliorate the patients’ restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, susceptibility to fatigue, and feelings of insecurity, with a total effective rate of 81.3%; using the formula alone was found to be superior to combining this formula and Western medication in treating anxiety. (1)
Other Treatments with Chinese Medicinal Herbs
Ning Shen Ding Zhi Tang
Wang treated 48 cases of anxiety neurosis with a formula called Ning Shen Ding Zhi Tang. The formula consisted of: Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Fu Ling, Tai Zi Shen, Suan Zhao Ren, Hu Po, Dang Gui, Gou Qi Zi, Shi Chang Pu, Wu Wei Zi, and Zhi Gan Cao. The herbal treatment was supplemented by psychological care (e.g., comforting and explanation), and one unit of treatment lasted 7 days. The results: 36 cases significantly improved, 10 cases improved, and 2 cases did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 95.8%. (2)
Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
The formula Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang was used in one study to treat 32 cases of neurosis. It significantly improved restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, tendency towards fatigue, and insecure feelings, etc. Compared to another group treated with both the herbal formula and anti-anxiety Western medicine, the treatment with the herbal formula alone was more effective (with a total effective rate of 81.3%). (3)
Chai Hu, Bai Shao, Yuan Hu Suo, Xiang Fu, Qin Pi, Dang Gui, Zhi Zi, Dan Pi, Zhen Zhu Mu, Fu Ling, and Ci Shi
Shao treated 236 cases of neurasthenia and anxiety neurosis according to TCM’s differentiation theory: patients with stagnation of the liver-qi were treated with Chai Hu, Bai Shao, Yuan Hu Suo, Xiang Fu, Qin Pi, Dang Gui, Zhi Zi, Dan Pi, Zhen Zhu Mu, Fu Ling, and Ci Shi; patients with heart and spleen deficiencies were treated with Dang Shen, Bai Zhu, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Huang Qi, Yuan Zhi, Fu Ling, Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou, and Gan Cao; patients suffering from melancholy were treated with Gan Cao, Xiao Mai, Bo Zi Ren, Zao Ren, He Huan Pi, Fu Shen, and Da Zhao; and patients with blood stasis due to qi deficiency were treated with Huang Qi, Yu Jin, Bai Zhu, Yuan Zhi, Chang Pu, Fu Ling, Yi Mu Cao, Ji Xue Teng, Zao Ren, and Fo Shou. The results: the treatment was effective on 75.3% of the neurasthenia patients, and effective on 80% of the anxiety neurosis patients. (4)
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Xu used the formula Jia Wei Xiao Yao San to treat 42 cases of liver-qi stagnation manifested as melancholy and anxiety, and reported a total effective rate of 97.62% (73.80% significantly effective, and 2.38% did not respond to the treatment). (5)
Bao Nao Ning
Li, et al. treated 90 cases of anxiety and depression with a formula called Bao Nao Ning. The formula consisted of: Dan Nan Xing, Hu Po, Fu Shen, Shi Chang Pu, Huang Jing, Dang Shen, etc., and one unit of treatment lasted 1-3 weeks. The results: the effective rates for anxiety, palpitation, depression, and insomnia were 96.4%, 90%, 87.3%, and 78.1%, respectively. (6)
Yi Lu Kang
Zhao, et al. used a formula called Yi Lu Kang to treat 90 cases of neurotic anxiety and another 90 cases of neurotic depression. The formula consisted of Chen Xiang, Yu Jin, Chai Hu, Mu Xiang, Fo Shou, Shan Yao, Chang, Niu Huang, Zhu Sha, Hu Po, Zao Ren, and Yuan Zhi. Two comparison groups were treated with amitriptyline and alprazolam, respectively. The treatment lasted 30 days. The results: of the neurotic anxiety patients, 61 were resolved, 12 significantly improved, 8 improved, and 9 did not respond to the treatment; of the neurotic depression patients, the corresponding numbers were 31, 16, 24, and 19; both sets of numbers were significantly different from those of the comparison groups (P
Shen An Kang Jiao Rang
Liu, et al. used a Chinese patent medicine called Shen An Kang Jiao Rang to treat 121 cases of neurasthenia and anxiety due to stagnation of the liver-qi and fire hyperactivity. A comparison group of 61 cases was treated with Shu Le An Ding. The results: the treatment was effective on 78.51% of the neurasthenia patients, and effective on 68.85% of the anxiety patients. (7)
Other Treatments
Si, et al. argued that music therapy has a mind-calming effect, and it helps relieve mental distress, nervousness, and anxiety. (8)
Qigong Treatment
Nie systematically studied the effects of practicing qigong on the lung capacity, sleep and mood conditions of 32 senior citizens, and reported that qigong exercise could improve older people’s lung function, keep them in a good mood, and effectively prevent senile anxiety and depression. (9)
Shan, et al. treated 8 cases of anxiety neurosis with relaxation exercise, and reported satisfactory results. (10)
Tang, et al. surveyed 120 senior citizens who had been practicing qigong for more than two years and 90 other senior citizens who had never practiced qigong, asking them to self-rate their depression, anxiety, and sleep status. The results showed that practicing qigong was conducive to relieving older people of depression and anxiety symptoms, and to improving the quality of their sleep. (11)
Acupunture & Acupressure
Liang combined acupuncture and psychotherapy to treat 110 cases of anxiety neurosis. Acupuncture was applied to the following acupoints: Bai Hui (Du 20), Si Shen Cong (Extra 6), Shen Men (H 7), Nei Guan (P 6), and Zu San Li (S 36). The needles were maneuvered using the uniform reinforcing-reducing method, and retained for 30 minutes. While the needles were being retained, the patient was administered a psychological suggestion therapy. The results: after 3-7 sessions, 107 patients recovered. (12)
Huang, et al. treated 36 cases of anxiety neurosis with electropuncture. All patients received treatment at the following acupoints: Shen Men (H 7), San Yin Jiao (Sp 6), Bai Hui (Du 20), Zu San Li (S 36), and Da Zhui (D 14). In addition, patients with heart and spleen deficiencies were also treated at Xin Shu (UB 15) and Pi Shu (UB 20); patients suffering from incoordination of heart and kidney functions were also treated at Xin Shu, Shen Shu, and Tai Xi (K 3); patients with deficiencies of the heart and gallbladder-qi were also treated at Xin Shu and Dan Shu (UB 19); and patients with hyperactive liver-yang were also treated at Gan Shu (UB 18) and Tai Xi. A comparison group was treated with She Le An Ding. The results: after 1 month of treatment, the treatment group scored 53.56 ( 11.32 on the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS)), which was significantly different from the result of the comparison group (P
References
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