Table 3 Possible points and point combinations useful for the treatment of antenatal depression
Points | Indications/Symptom alleviation |
|---|---|
ST 40 (feng long)a | Spleen deficiency, damp and phlegm misting – heaviness, confusion, metal disturbance |
ST 23 (tai yi) | Transforms phlegm and calms the spirit – mania, depression, agitation |
ST 24 (hua rou men) | Transforms phlegm and calms the spirit – mania, depression |
LR 3 (tai chong) | LR Qi stagnation, irritability, feeling of oppression |
BL 42(po hu) | Breathing difficulties, grief, worry, sadness |
BL 43 | Increases spleen yang and lung function, calms the spirit, resolves phlegm |
BL 44 | Calming and mental clarity |
BL 47 (hun men) | Enables clear and positive life planning and decision making |
BL 47 and BL 52(zhi shi) | Together adds stability to plans and decisions, also for LR Qi stasis attack on lungs |
BL 49 | Obsessive thinking, improved memory and concentration |
BL 52 | Willpower, determination, initiation |
BL 52 and BL 42 | Willpower and emotional release |
BL 52 and BL 44 | Willpower, calming, anxiety, depression, mental restlessness and insomnia |
BL 52 and BL 47 | Willpower and life direction, chronic depression with mental exhaustion, apathy and despondency |
BL 52 and BL 49 | Willpower, obsessive thoughts, worry and confusion |
BL 10 (tian zhu) | Calms the spirit |
BL 17 (ge shu) | Mania, depression |
GV 18 (qiang jian) | Liver blood deficiency, calming, mental restlessness, agitation, confusion, obsessive thinking |
GV 19(hou ding) | Willpower, calming, anxiety, mental restlessness, kidney yin deficiency heat |
GV 19 and CV 15 (jiu wei) | Calming, insomnia, mental restlessness |
GV 20 (bai hui) | Lifts mood, aids memory and concentration |
GV 21(qian ding) | Anxiety, insomnia, depression |
GV 24 (shen ting) | Clears the mind |
GV 24 and GB 13 | Calming, anxiety, mental restlessness due to LR causes |
CV 14 (ju que) | Transforms phlegm and calms the spirit |
CV 15 | Calming, chest oppression |
GB 9 (tian chong) | Calms the spirit and pacifies fright |
GB 12(wang gu) | Mania, agitation of the heart and insomnia |
GB 13 | Calming, mental clarity, severe anxiety and mental restlessness resulting from LR disharmony |
GB 13 and GV 24 | Same as for GB 13 with enhanced calming effect |
GB 13 and HT 7 (shen men) | Calming, severe anxiety due to heart disharmony |
GB 15 (tou lin qi) | Calms the spirit, reduces emotional fluctuations and obsessive thinking |
GB 17 (zheng ying) | Calms the spirit, aids memory and concentration |
GB 18 (cheng ling) | Stops obsessive thoughts, strengthens the function of the lungs and clears the nose |
GB 40 (qiu xu) | Willpower, difficulty making decisions |
HT 7 | Calms the spirit, heart blood and yin deficiency |
HT 6 (tong li) | Calms the spirit, repletion patterns with vacuity heat |
HT 8 (shao fu) | Calms the spirit – agitation, fright palpitations, depleted sadness and worry |
HT 9 (shao chong) | Calms the spirit – mania, depression, severe mental restlessness, anxiety, insomnia |
HT 5 (tong li) | Calms the spirit – depressive disorder |
PC 4 (xi men) | Calms the spirit – agitation, insomnia, melancholy, spirit qi deficiency |
HT 7 and PC 6 | Calms the spirit – shen disturbance, anxiety, mental restlessness |
KD 7 ( fu liu) and HT 6 (yin xi) | Calms the spirit – heart and kidney not communicating, agitation, insomnia, anxiety |
PC 5 | Settles and calms the spirit – mania and agitation |
PC 7 (da ling) | Calms the spirit – depressive disorder |
PC 6 | Calms the spirit, lifts mood – qi stagnation emotional problems, anger, resentment and frustration |
PC 6 and SP 4 | Opens yin wei mai, nourishes blood, relaxes the chest, calms the spirit |
PC 6 and LR 3 | Resolves qi stasis from repressed anger |
PC 6 and GV 20 | Lifts the mood, relieves depression |
PC 6 and GV 26 (shu gou) | Lifts the mood, opens heart orifices, relieves depression |
SI 7 (zhi zheng) | Calms the spirit – mania, depression, anxiety, sadness, fear and fright |
KD 9 (zhu bin) | Clears the heart and transforms phlegm – mental restlessness, mania, depressive disorders |
SI 7 and HT 3 (shao hai) | Chronic anxiety, depression, fear or emotional distress |
LI 5 (yang xi) | Calms the spirit – mania, depression |