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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


Western Tradition

Tristitiae, & solicitudini prosunt –
Beneficial in Sadness and Solitude


Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)

Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)
Powder of Rosemary (Dianthos) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Gems (Mesue)

Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)



Happiness and Joy, to promote

Syrup of Borage
Syrup of Bugloss

Conserve of Bugloss flower
Conserve of Borage flower

Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)
Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis)

Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Electuary of Aloeswood
Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Arabian Pills



Sadness


Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia)
Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Sweet Powder of Musk (Diamuscum Dulce)
Bitter Powder of Musk (Diamuscum Amarum)
Powder of Ambergris (Diambra) (Mesue)
Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon)

Letificans Electuary of Filius Zacharia
Electuary for Sadness and Worry (Galen)
Arabian Pills (Nicholas)

Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)



Fear

Tincture of St. John's wort
Powder of Happiness
Electuary for Melancholy and Fear of Filius Zacharia
Noble Confection for the Heart

Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Pills for Melancholy (Unani)
Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)



Stress, Anxiety, Pensiveness


Tincture of Balm
Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia)
Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon)
Electuary for Sadness and Worry (Galen)

Letificans Electuary of Filius Zacharia
Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis)

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (TCM)
Xiao Yao San (TCM)

Tian Wan Bu Xin Dan (TCM)
Aloeswood 31 (Tibetan Medicine)



Irritable, Restless

Syrup of Hops

Tincture of Balm
Aromaticum Rosatum

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (TCM)
Bi Ma La (Tibetan Medicine)



Anger

Syrup of Hops

Tincture of Balm
Diarrhodon Abbatis
Powder of Three Sandalwoods
Hiera Logadii

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (TCM)
Long Dan Xie Gan Wan
Bi Ma La (Tibetan Medicine)
Aloeswood 31 (Tibetan Medicine)



-------------------------------------------

By Cause

Emotional Disorder caused by Qi Stagnation


Tincture of Balm
Powder of Happiness
Letificans Galeni
Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon)
Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis)

Electuary for Sadness and Worry (Galen)


Emotional Disorder caused by Heat/Bile


Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia)
Syrup of Borage
Syrup of Bugloss

Syrup of Hops
Conserve of Bugloss flower
Conserve of Borage flower

Tincture of Balm
Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)
Electuary for Sadness and Worry (Galen)

Noble Confection for the Heart

Tian Wan Bu Xin Dan (TCM)



Emotional Disorder caused by Restless Spirit

Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Noble Confection for the Heart
Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)

Tian Wan Bu Xin Dan (TCM)



Emotional Disorder caused by Weakness

Tincture of Balm
Aromatic Rose Compound (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon)
Noble Confection for the Heart


To Purge in Mental and Emotional Disoders

Arabian Pills

Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)
Hiera Pachi, or Hiera Archigenis

TCM Classification

Heart Qi Deficiency
Anxiety, stressed or frightened easily, worried, palpitations, insomnia, short of breath, poor memory, fatigue, dizziness

Sheng Mai San
Ding Zhi Wan
An Shen Ding Zhi Wan

Powder of Rosemary (Dianthos) (Nicholas)


Heart Yin Deficiency
Anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, excess dreaming, restless, irritable, heat in the palms and soles, nightsweats, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, dry mouth, lower back ache

Tian Wan Bu Xin Dan

Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)



Spleen Qi Deficiency
Anxiety, stress, thinking too much, poor appetite, weak digestion; pulse low, weak, deficient, pale tongue

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Aromatic Rose Compound (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)



Qi Stagnation
Anxiety, stress, worrying, hypochondriac and neck tension, inability to resolve a problem, menstrual cramps; pulse is tight

Xiao Yao San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San

Letificans Electuary of Filius Zacharia
Electuary for Sadness and Worry (Galen)


Kidney Yang Deficiency

Fear, lower back pain and weakness, feels the cold, nocturnal urination, deep and weak pulse

Shen Qi Wan



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.

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