Manic Depression

"Manic Depression" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for manic depression.

Content Related to Manic Depression

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "manic depression" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "manic depression" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

Related Acupuncture Protocols

When developing an acupuncture protocol a practitioner is very often focusing on the causal diagnoses in Chinese Medicine terms, not on the condition itself. To illustrate and guide developing an acupuncture treatment for someone experiencing manic depression, this issue is referenced in the following acupuncture protocol section:

• View HT 4 (Spirit Pathway)
  
      1.5 cun above the wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, on the HT 3 - HT 7 line.
  
      Sudden loss of voice. Restless Zang Disorder (fluctuating emotions, mania, depression, anxiety, insomnia), various emotional disturbances. Chest pain that perhaps worsens with emotional distress. Local point for pain in the elbow and/or…
• View HT 6 (Yin Cleft)
  
      .5 cun above the wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, on the HT 3 - HT 7 line.
  
      Night sweats, Steaming Bone Disorders, tonify Yin and Blood.  Often used with SI 3 for nightsweats. Acute chest and/or heart pain from Blood stasis.  Palpitations, although HT 5 may be better. Acute emotional disturbances - mania, anxiet…
• View HT 7 (Spirit Gate)
  
      At the wrist crease, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, between the ulna and the pisiform bones.
  
      Tonify deficiencies of the HT Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang. Emotional issues, especially those with related sleep or thinking manifestations - insomnia, muddled thinking. Heart and Phlegm fire leading to insomnia, anxiety, mania. Physical re…
• View HT 9 (Lesser Surge)
  
      .1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the radial side of the little finger.
  
      Jing Well Point - clear heat a/or obstruction from the opposite end of the channel, eye pain a/or redness, mouth ulcerations, sores. Can be bled or needled for emotional disturbances - strong restlessness, anxiety, panic attacks, manic de…
• View KD 9 (Guest House)
  
      5 cun above KI 3 on the line drawn from KI 3 to KI 10 at the lower end of the belly of the gastrocnemius muscle.
  
      Strong spirit disorders - anger, cursing, mania. Deficient yang, cold, in the abdomen - shan disorder, hernia, pain a/or retraction of the scrotum. Useful in a detox prescription to assist the cleansing, especially with respect to emotio…
• View KD 20 (Open Valley)
  
      5 cun above CV 8, .5 cun lateral to CV 13.
  
      Local point for abdominal and digestive issues. Mania, epilepsy, palpitations, mouth/tongue deviation/swelling - largely through resolving phlegm. Chest pain, coughing, wheezing.
• View LI 5 (Yang Ravine)
  
      On the radial side of the wrist in a depression between extensor pollicis longus and brevis tendons, found when the thu…
  
      Local point for wrist pain. Classically noted with LI 7 for "seeing ghosts," may be useful in manic conditions.  
• View LI 7 (Warm Dwelling)
  
      5 cun above the crease of the wrist (LI 5).
  
      Xi Cleft Point useful for pain due to stagnation along the meridian in the shoulders, elbows and wrist. Classically noted with LI 5 for "seeing ghosts," may be useful in manic conditions.  
• View LI 8 (Lower Ridge)
  
      4 cun below LI 11 on the LI 5 to LI 11 line.
  
      The following relationships exist between the ST and the LI and can be used to treat ST, LI and SI organ problems: SI: LI 8 & ST 39 LI: LI 9 & ST 37 ST: LI 10 & ST 36 Blood in the urine arising from heat in the SI - use wit…
• View SI 5 (Yang Valley)
  
      On the ulnar end of the transverse wrist crease in a depression between the styloid process of the ulna and the triquet…
  
      Local point for the hand and wrist. Neck and shoulder pain and/or swelling. Toothache, lockjaw. Clears heat from the hearts - calms the spirit, manic behavior.  
• View SI 19 (Auditory Palace)
  
      Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible, in a depression formed when the mouth is…
  
      Ear problems of any etiology, inflammation, deafness, tinnitus, hearing loss. TMJ, toothache. Calms the spirit - manic behavior, epilepsy, sensation of pressure below the heart.  
• View SP 5 (Shang Hill)
  
      In a depression distal and inferior to the medial malleolus midway between the tuberosity of the navicular bone and the…
  
      Tonifies the spleen and resolves dampness - lethargy, desire to lie down, abdominal distention. Calms the spirit - manic depression, anxiety, excessive thinking. Speech disorders, stiffness at root of tongue.
• View ST 23 (Supreme Unity)
  
      2 cun lateral to the AML level with CV 10.
  
      Abdominal pain, epigastric pain, bloating, poor appetite, diarrhea. Shen/Spirit related imbalances related to phlegm - manic depression, irritability, anxiety. Used with ST 24 for manic depression with stiff/thrusting tongue.
• View ST 24 (Slippery Flesh Gate)
  
      2 cun lateral to the AML level with CV 9.
  
      Epigastric pain, vomiting (rebellious qi). Similar effects as ST 23 on phlegm related shen issues - manic depression, anxiety, mania. Used with ST 23 for manic depression with stiff/thrusting tongue.
• View ST 40 (Beautiful Bulge)
  
      8 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral to ST 38, two finger widths lateral to the anterior border of the tibia.
  
      Empirical point to resolve phlegm in the body anywhere from any origin. Phlegm in the head - headaches, dizziness / vertigo, depression, poor concentration, stronger shen disturbances - mania. Phlegm in the body - chest oppression, breat…
• View ST 41 (Ravine Divide)
  
      On the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle, approximately level with the tip of the external malleolus, in a…
  
      Opposite end of channel issues (i.e. head/face) - swelling, headache, dizziness / vertigo. Abdominal pain, bloating, constipation. Can aid groundedness and focus - ADD/ADHD, mania, restlessness, palpitations, epilepsy. Local point for a…
• View ST 45 (Severe Mouth)
  
      .1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the lateral side of the 2nd toe.
  
      Release heat a/or move stagnation from the channel and organ - headaches, toothaches, facial pain, sore throat, TMJ, bell's palsy, facial deviation from stroke. Agitation a/or insomnia w/heat signs, excessive dreaming, loss of consciousne…
• View UB 3 (Eyebrow Ascension)
  
      .5 cun inside the anterior hairline, directly above UB 2, between GV 24 and UB 4.
  
      Local point for headaches, nasal obstruction. Epilepsy, agitation of the heart (possibly resulting in mania or excessive giddiness).
• View UB 5 (Fifth Place)
  
      .5 cun behind UB 4 or 1 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cun lateral to the AML or 1.5 cun lateral to GV 23.
  
      Local point for headache and/or eye pain. Epilepsy, yang ascension issues (manic episodes, dizziness, etc.) Sinus congestion, stuffy head.
• View UB 8 (Declining Connection)
  
      1.5 cun posterior to UB 7 or 5.5 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cun lateral to the AML.
  
      Resolve phlegm and clear wind - nasal congestion, blurry vision, dizziness, tinnitus. Calms the shen - a range of psychological conditions including depression, mania, withdrawal from lack of ability of the shen to rise. Useful for remov…
• View UB 10 (Celestial Pillar)
  
      1.3 cun lateral to GV 15 in a depression or .5 cun above the PHL and 1.3 cun lateral to the PML on the lateral aspect o…
  
      Relieves pain - neck issues, stiffness, ROM, occipital headache. For stiffness on one-side of the neck combine with SI 3 on the same side & GB 39 on the opposite side.  Upper back pain and/or shoulder pain. Clears wind and relieves ex…
• View UB 17 (Diaphragm Shu)
  
      1.5 cun lateral to GV 9, level with T7.
  
      Hui-meeting Point of the Blood, useful for all Blood related conditions. Classically combined with UB 19 to create the "Four Flowers" which is used to nourish the Blood, although in clinical practice UB 18 & UB 19 may used equally as o…