The pandemic has thrown up a lot of challenges, and the effects of lockdown and general uncertainty have taken their toll on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Mental health disorders are conditions that can disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning, which can result in a diminishing capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Complications linked to mental health include decreased enjoyment of life, social isolation, extreme mood changes, and depression.
These symptoms can negatively affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
With so much uncertainty in the world, supporting mental health awareness is taking one step closer to ensuring those suffering get back to their best.
In Chinese culture, it is believed that mental health disorders can disrupt the flow of Qi (vital energy) and it is not recognised as one syndrome. These methods aim to treat specific symptoms unique to the individual to restore imbalances in the body.
CHINESE HERBAL FORMULAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
1. Ba Zhen Tang – addresses fatigue, may assist poor mental function, can help anxiety, and may help to restore balance, Qi and vitality to the body.Contains:
- Bai Shao
- Bai Zhu
- Chuan Xiong
- Dang Gui
- Fu Ling
- Ren Shen
- Shu Di Huang
- Zhi Gan Cao
2. Gui Pi Tang – may help with insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, poor appetite, depression, may assist with anorexia, poor memory, may help to improve immune system regulation and anti-stress.
Contains:
- Bai Zhu
- (Da Zao)
- Dang Gui
- Fu Ling
- (Gan Cao)
- Huang Qi
- Long Yan Rou
- (Mu Xiang)
- Ren Shen
- (Sheng Jiang)
- Ye Jiao Teng
- (Yuan Zhi (Zhi))
3. Jia Wei Xiao Yao San may help improve energy, aim to reduce irritability, anxiety, depression, generalise body pain, assist with heaviness in the head or body, and assist with tiredness or insomnia.
Contains:
- Chao Bai Shao
- Chao Bai Zhu
- Chai Hu
- Dang Gui
- Fu Ling
- Mu Dan Pi
- Zhi Gan Cao
- Zhi Zi
4. Jie Yu An ShenPian may help to reduce symptoms of depression such as sleeplessness, misery, sadness, anxiousness, lack of enjoyment in life, feelings of failure, address insomnia, may help to sedate the mind, and aims to assist with neurofunctional exfoliation.
Contains:
- Bai Shao
- Du Zhong
- Fang Feng
- Gan Cao
- Gui Zhi
- Hai Feng Teng
- He Huan Pi
- Mo Yao
- Mu Dan Pi
- Niu Xi
- Qian Hu
- Ru Xiang
- Ye Jiao Teng
- Zhi Van Hu Suo
5. Si NiSan may alleviate mental depression, may raise quality of sleep, and aims to help exhaust the stagnation of Qi and blood.
Contains:
- Bai Shao
- Chai Hu
- Chao Zhi Zi
- Gan Cao
Chinese herbal supplements are made using decocted methods of mixing herbs together to create an infused formula/blend. These supplements contain a 5:1 herbal concentration ratio, meaning that commonly used formulas may benefit your mental health.
