by Brian Benjamin Carter, MSci, LAc
I read your article, Chinese Herbal Prozac: Depression and Traditional Chinese Medicine. One of my friends has a depression called “bipolar affective disorder (BAD)”. He’s had it for 15 years. Could you please advise if there are any Chinese or acupuncture treatments for him.
     Â
Thank you in advance,
AhmedAhmed,
You may also want to read this article, Q&A: Endogenous Depression, Psychiatric Meds, and Chinese Herbs.
Yes, there are Chinese medicine treatments for bipolar affective disorder.
The key in Chinese medicine (CM) is to see an acupuncturist/herbalist one on one, get a diagnosis, then get the acupuncture and herbs that best fits the patient.
Just like in Western medicine, CM is a medical system, and requires a detailed intake, history and exam. We put together our Chinese medical diagnosis with the DSMIVR type diagnosis (Bipolar Affective Disorder, for example) and use both to come up with the best treatment.
It would be irresponsible and possibly harmful for me to suggest specific herbs for someone I haven’t seen personally.
To find an acupuncturist, check out this page.
Let me know if you or your friend have any other questions.
All the best!
B
Hi Brian,
Our problem that the acupuncturist in our area does not know much about BAD. Could you send for me a document or link that describe BAD disease and how can it be treated using Chinese medicine
Thank you in advance,
Ahmed
Ahmed,
Tell him to get Chinese Medical Psychiatry by Bob Flaws and James Lake, published by Blue Poppy Press. Also, he can email me about the classical use of acupoints for psychological diseases (from a book not yet published in English by European Chinese Medicine expert Philippe Sionneau).
For a psychiatric resource on BAD, see this page from one of my favorite western medicine sites, eMedicine.
Also, your friend should be sure to keep seeing his psychiatrist, too!
Tags: Acupuncture, BAD, bipolar affective disorder