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Qi Depression, Dampness Depression, Phlegm Depression, Fire Depression, Blood Depression, Food Depression

The disease characterized by stagnation and obstruction is called "Depression" (Yu), involving Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Dampness, and Food. Zhu Danxi formulated Yueju Wan (Cure Six Depressions Pill) [composed of Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), Gardeniae Fructus (Shanzhi), Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong), and Medicated Leaven (Shenqu)], which has meritorious effects in resolving various depressions. If accompanied by alternating chills and fever, headache, pain in the chest and diaphragm, blurred vision, deafness, and a deep, choppy pulse, it belongs to Qi Depression. Treatment involves adding Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Muxiang), Linderae Radix (Wuyao), Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Sharen), Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Qingpi), and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi) to the base formula.

If there is pain throughout the body and joints, exacerbated by cold weather with limb weakness, it belongs to Dampness Depression. For a deep, fine pulse, add Poria (Fuling) and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi). If coughing and rapid breathing occur, it belongs to Phlegm Depression. Numbness of the hands and feet, a slippery and deep pulse, and hard phlegm masses that are difficult to expectorate also fall under Phlegm Depression. In such cases, Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), Trichosanthis Fructus (Gualou), Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia), Arisaematis Rhizoma (Nanxing), and Spongia (Haishi) should be added.

Bitter taste in the mouth, severe irritability, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, red urine, and a deep, rapid pulse belong to Fire Depression. Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) are extremely effective. Fever occurring in the afternoon belongs to Blood Depression, where the lesion site is fixed and immovable. A deep, choppy, or knotted pulse, accompanied by bleeding from above or below, requires the addition of Peach Kernel (Taoren) and Safflower (Honghua). Belching with acid regurgitation, fullness in the chest and diaphragm, yellowish complexion, pain with loss of appetite, and a tight, deep pulse belong to Food Depression. Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Sharen (Amomum Fruit) can be added, which is also appropriate. Add Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) in spring, Kushen (Sophora Root) in summer, and Wuyu (Evodia Fruit) in autumn and winter to accord with the seasons.

Chen Xiuyuan stated: Depression leads to Qi stagnation; prolonged Qi stagnation inevitably transforms into Heat. Prolonged Heat consumes Body Fluids (Jinye), causing them to cease flowing, and the mechanism of ascending and descending loses its regulation. Initially, the Qi aspect is damaged; after a long time, it extends to the Blood aspect, and may even develop into Yu Lao (Depressive Consumption). The general principle of medication should be bitter, pungent, moistening, diffusing, and unblocking; it is unsuitable to use drying, heating, astringent, or stagnant tonifying drugs.

Defending the harmonious Qi is referred to as Qi; when it moves recklessly and deviates from normality, it becomes Fire. The use of drying-hot and pungent-aromatic drugs in Ju Fang (Formulas of the Bureau of Taiyi Hospital) to aid Fire with Fire offers no benefit. Gao Yang's statement that "raw and cold generates Qi" is incorrect; the idea that "excess Qi is Fire" is Zhu Danxi's intent. Treatment must follow symptoms and distinguish deficiency and excess. Deficiency is indicated by a powerless pulse on the right hand, laziness in speech, shortness of breath, physical fatigue, empty fullness in the chest, and lack of appetite. One should employ "treating obstruction with obstructive methods" (a clear principle in Nei Jing), using Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction); Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) is also beneficial.

For Qi Stagnation Excess patterns, the pulse is surging and solid, often caused by worry and anger. Symptoms include distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, inability to belch, acid regurgitation, nausea, and mental depression. For such various Qi stagnation conditions, Fenxin Qi Yin (Dividing Heart Qi Drink) is most suitable. It contains Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), Fu Ling (Poria), Chi Shao (Red Peony Root), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry Root Bark), Zi Su Geng (Perilla Stem), Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel), and Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel). Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), and Da Zao (Jujube) serve as guides; Xiang Fu, Gu Ya (Sprouted Grain), and Bing Lang (Areca Seed) are used for chest fullness; Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Rhizome) and Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root) are essential for hypochondriac pain; Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) is moved to treat pain located in the lower abdomen. For combined Qi Stagnation and Qi Deficiency, tonifying formulas can be combined; using Liujunzi Tang concurrently yields unique efficacy. Add Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root) for irritable temperament, Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) for heat, and Wu Yao (Lindera Root) and Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) are beneficial for women. For Qi stagnation causing lower back pain, Zhi Ke (Aurantium Fructus) and Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit) are used; for Fan Wei (Regurgitation/Vomiting), Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood) ground into powder is used to regulate Qi.