Q. My sister has been suffering from anxiety-induced depression for 1/1/2 years.
She is taking Western medication for her condition. How can TCM help her?

A. In TCM, anxiety-induced depression is likely to be caused by a deficiency in the functions of the heart, liver, kidney and spleen, a stagnation of 'qi', 'liver-fire', as well as weak qi and blood circulation.

Pathogenic factors such as 'fire', 'heat' and 'dampness' also play a part. Chinese medicine, acupuncture and cupping therapy can improve your sister's condition by dispelling the pathogenic factors, improving the organs' condition and enhancing the qi and blood circulation.

Your sister should have proper sleep every night as lack of it is one of the main contributing factors leading to depressive symptoms. Doing light exercises such as qigong, taiji and yoga (left) will improve her qi and blood circulation as well as relax her mind.

She should abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol. She should also avoid spicy, sour and oily foods. When she is feeling anxious or angry, she should take a deep breath and hold it for three seconds before slowly exhaling.

Repeating this exercise will help bring her heart rate back to normal.

Information provided by Lim Lay Beng, a TCM physcian at YS Healthcare TCM Clinic in The Adelphi.