ABSTRACT

Treatment of mental diseases by acupuncture and herbal medicine

Nguyen Thi Tan, MD, PhD
Dean of Faculty of Traditional Medicine
Hue College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue,Viet Nam
1. OVERVIEW ABOUT TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN HUE VIET NAM
Traditional medicine (TM) is an ancient medical practice that existed in human
societies before the application of modern science to health. Although modern
medicine is now widely spread, TM still exists and more and more developes, not only
in ASIAN but also all over the world. Interest in TM has increased over the last decade
and seems likely to continue.
In Viet nam, TM existed for a long time, 4000 years ago. Hai thuong lan ong,
in the Hau Le Dynasty, is known as the ancestor of Vietnamese TM TM in Viet nam is
based on Eastern philosophical theory including the Theory of Yin - Yang, the Five
Elements, the human body Meridian system, Zang Fu organ theory, the Qi, Blood,
Jing ( Kidney essence or semen), the soul or spirit.. Diagnosis and treament are
conducted with reference to these concepts
TM treatments consist of herbal medicine or acupuncture as the primary
method, with other method such as massage, qigong, or food therapy playing a
secondary role. Illness in TM is seen as a lack of harmony, and the goal of all
traditional treatment is to assist the body to regain balance of the body.
Herbal Medicine have been used for centuries. The first herbalist in Vietnam tradition
is Tue Tinh, who found out 580 herbal medicines in the Tran dynasty.
2.TREATMENT OF MENTAL DISEASES BY ACUPUNCTURE AND
HERBAL MEDICINE IN VIET NAM
Mental disease affects a significant number of people. One of most popular mental
disease is neurasthenia.
Neurasthenia is characterized by general lassitude, irritability, lack of concentration,
worry, and hypochondria. The term was introduced into psychiatry in 1869 by G. M.
Beard, an American neurologist.
Depend on type of this disease, Traditional medicine divides neurasthenia into 4 types
in clinic:
1. Stagnation of the Liver Qi
2. Deficiency both the Heart and Spleen Qi
3. Deficiency both the Liver and Kidney-Yin
4. Deficiency both Kidney Yin and Yang
1. Stagnation of the Liver Qi
Main manifestation: Headache on the top of the head., pain in one side or
bilateral hypochondriac regions, get in angry,sighing, menstrual disturbance,
digestive disturbance, thin coating, string taut pulse.
Treatment:
Acupuncture: Reducing method is applied for the points: Baihui (DU20),
Taichong (LR3), Reinforcing for the points: Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20),
Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen(HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6).

Herbal Medicine: Jia Wei Xiao Yao tang (gia vi)

Ingredients:
Chai Hu
Bupleurum
8-10g
Dang Gui
Angelica
12-16g
Bai Shao Yao
White Peony
12-16g
Bai zhu
White Atractylodes
12-16g
Fu ling
Hoelen/Poria
10-12g
Bo he
Peppermint
4g
Zhi Gan Cao
Baked Licorice
4-6g
Xiang fu
Cyperus rotundus
8-10g
Jing pi
Citrus deliciosa Tenore
8-10g
Hei Zao ren
ZiZyphus JuJuba Lamk
10-12g
Yuan zhi
Polygalaceae
4-6g
2. Deficiency both the Heart and Spleen Qi
Main manifestation: difficulty in falling asleep, palpitation, poor memory,
lassitude, anorexie, headache, vertigo, distending pain in the epigastric region
after eating, white coating, flabby tongue, weak pulse
Treatment:
Acupuncture: Reinforcing for the points: Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20), Xin
Shu(BL15), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen(HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
Herbal Medicine: Jia Wei Gui pi tang (gia vi)
Ingredients:
Ren shen
Ginseng
6-8g
Huang Qi
Astragalus
12-16g
Bai zhu
White Atractylodes
12-16g
Dang Gui
Angelica
12-16g
Da zao
Jujube
3-5pcs
Fu shen
Hoelen/Poria
10-12g
Long yan rou
Longan
10-12g
Hei Zao ren
ZiZyphus JuJuba Lamk
10-12g
Yuan zhi
Polygalaceae
4-6g
Zhi Gan Cao
Baked Licorice
4-6g
3. Deficiency both the Liver and Kidney-Yin
Main manifestation: dull and weakness in the lumbar- knee region, deafening,
dazzie the eyes, nocturnal emission of sperm, menstrual disturbance, insomnia,
headache, numbness of the limbs, pale tongue, deep pulse
Treatment:
Acupuncture: Reinforcing for the points: Shenshu (BL23), Ganshu (BL18),
Taixi (KI3), Taichong (LR3), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen(HT7), Sanyinjiao
(SP6).
Herbal Medicine: Jia wei Liu wei gui shao
Ingredients:

Shu Di Huang
Cooked Rehmannia
32g
Shan Zhu Yu
Dogwood Fruit
16g
Shan yao
Dioscorea
16g
Fu ling
Hoelen/Poria
12g
Ze xie
Alisma
12g
Mu Dan Pi
Moutan Bark
12g
Dang gui
Angelica
12-16g
Hei Zao ren
ZiZyphus JuJuba Lamk
10-12g
Ju Hua
Chrysanthemum
10-12g
Bai Shao Yao
White Peony
12-16g
Yuan zhi
Polygalaceae
4-6g
4. Deficiency both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Main manifestation: Dull pain and weakness in the lumbar region, lassitude,
repeated attack, pain aggravated by strain and alleviated by rest in bed.
In case of kidney -Yang deficiency, cold hands and feet, cramp in the lower
abdomen, feeling cold in the lumbar region, impotent, enuresis, obes and large tongue,
deep and slow pulse.
In case of kidney -Yin deficiency, feverish in chest, palms and soles, irritability,
insomnia, nocturnal emission of sperm, dry mouth and throat, red tongue, thready and
rapid pulse.
Treatment:
Acupuncture: Moxibustion for the points Taixi (KI3), Guanyuan (RN4), Qihai
(RN3), Mingmen (DU4), Zhishi(BL52)
Reinforcing for the points: Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen(HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
Herbal Medicine:
In case of kidney -Yang deficiency: Liu wei di huang tang
Ingredients:
Shu Di Huang
Cooked Rehmannia
32g
Shan Zhu Yu
Dogwood Fruit
16g
Shan yao
Dioscorea
16g
Fu ling
Hoelen/Poria
12g
Ze xie
Alisma
12g
Mu Dan Pi
Moutan Bark
12g
In case of kidney -Yang deficiency: Liu wei di huang tang jia wei
Ingredients:
Shu Di Huang
Cooked Rehmannia
32g
Shan Zhu Yu
Dogwood Fruit
16g
Shan yao
Dioscorea
16g
Fu ling
Hoelen/Poria
12g
Ze xie
Alisma
12g
Mu Dan Pi
Moutan Bark
12g
Rou gui
Cinnamomum loureirii
4 -8g
Fu zi zhi
Aconitum fortunei
4 -8g
Qian shi
Euryale ferox salisb
12-16g
Jin ing zi
Rosa laevigata Michx
10-12g