Depression

Depression, a common symptom of stress, is an indication of
blocked liver energy according to Chinese medicine. Some
prescription drugs such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and
anti-histamines are known to possibly cause depression because
these medications weaken the liver. A Chinese herb,
Curcuma (Yu-Jin), is helpful for depression because
it unblocks liver energy. As a matter of fact, Yu-Jin means
"gold for depression" in Chinese. Curcuma is also
helpful in stimulating energy circulation and resolving blood clots
or bruises. Curcuma works better when it is taken in
conjunction with Chinese Bitters to decongest the
liver.

Depression is also common among individuals who have their
gallbladders removed or whose gallbladders are loaded with stones.
When the gallbladder is loaded with stones, there is limited space
or even no space left for bile storage. The bile that is produced
in the liver ends up getting congested in the liver causing energy
blockage. Anyone without a gallbladder is in the same situation.
Bile is forced to stay and become congested in the liver leading to
depression.

A good example of how depression can be caused and cured would
be a 31-year old man who suffered from depression for years. He
took a lot of antibiotics as a child for his tonsilitis (most
medications, including antibiotics, tend to weaken the liver). By
the time he was in school he was hyperactive and was prescribed
Ritalin. At age 25, he became very depressed and was on various
anti-depressant medications for 5 years, to no avail. At 31, he
started with Chinese Bitters and Curcuma first. When he experienced
significant relief in his symptoms in only a few weeks, he decided
to do the complete program of liver and gallbladder cleansing. His
depression never returned after he cleansed his liver and
gallbladder.

There was also a case of a 62 year old woman. She woke up one
morning feeling very depressed. She tried Y-Dan exercises and her
depression went away. I explained to her that her depression must
have been caused by her "blocked liver energy" (to use the Chinese
medicine terminology) due to blood retention in her liver. Y-Dan
exercises helped her to clear this congestion, improve her general
blood circulation, and unblock her liver energy.

According to Chinese medicine, the liver works hard at night to
filter the blood. A substantial amount of blood may be retained in
the liver upon waking in the morning if the liver is sluggish.
Therefore, morning exercises will help get this blood moving and
"activate" the liver. It does not have to be any
particular kind of exercise, so long as it involves a lot of
deep breathing and stretching. Y-Dan is an example of a low-impact
morning exercise that meets these criteria.


Insomnia


I always needed a lot of sleep from the days of my teenage years
although I had no problem falling asleep in those days. I had too
much sleep but I never felt refreshed. Looking back, I realize that
too much sleep and yet never being able to feel refreshed is an
early sign of liver and spleen weakness. As the years went by, in
my late 30's, I had problems falling asleep and would wake up
several times every night. I was told that was part of the aging
process.

According to Chinese medicine chronic sleep disorders are
usually caused by "Yin-Yang" imbalance resulting from a
weak liver, spleen, heart or kidneys. Since these organs affect one
another, they all have to be taken care of, especially the heart
and the liver. According to Chinese medicine, the liver filters all
our blood through the night, especially between 1-3 am. A weak or
congested liver means that it has to struggle through the night.
Poor quality sleep or even insomnia may result in more severe
cases.

With my organs healthier, they are more in harmony. I sleep well
now and rarely have to get up at night even though I am over 60.
Best of all I feel refreshed in the morning. For people with sleep
problems, taking the Chinese herbal tinctures Chinese
Bitters in the morning and Coptis at night has been
found to be very helpful in improving the quality of sleep. For
some people, taking Curcuma at night instead of
Coptis may be more effective.

A 57-year old man came to see me a few years ago with sleep
problem. He took painkillers regularly for 6 years for his pain
after a car accident. He woke up every morning at around 2 am. He
had no more problem sleeping after cleansing and detoxifying his
liver with Chinese Bitters and Coptis in addition
to daily morning exercise.