Research reveals positive impacts of traditional chinese medicine on depression management, highlighting pharmacological mechanisms and safety.
Depression is a common affective disorder characterized by significant and persistent low mood. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) attributes depression to emotional disturbances, classifying it as a mood disorder. Chinese herbal formulas have unique advantages and higher safety profiles in treating depression, despite challenges such as complexity in herb combinations, varying efficacy, and potential side effects. Currently, Chinese patent medicines and decoctions are widely used in the clinical treatment of depression, yielding positive results. This article summarizes recent research on the pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal formulas and single herbs with antidepressant properties, analyzing them from three aspects: chemical composition, pharmacological mechanism, and adverse reactions. The aim is to provide references for the clinical application of Chinese herbal formulas in treating depression and to suggest directions for future research.
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Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.
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