Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h
ISSN 2975-9323 |eISSN 2975-9552
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025:3(3). doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799 ins i u op c.com/jou nal-complemen a y- he apies
Re iew
Dep ession, T adi ional Chinese Medicine and Acupunc u e:
Wha a e he Bene i s in T ea ing Dep ession?
A Na a i e Re iew o he Li e a u e.
Ema Simões Calçada1*, and Liliana Sampaio dos San os1,2 .
1 ABS – A lân ico Business School, Vila No a de Gaia, Po o, Po ugal;
2 IPB – Poly echnic Ins i u e o B agança, B agança, Po ugal.
* Co espondence: ema. [email protected]
Abs ac
Dep ession is one o he mos p e alen men al diso de s in he wo ld, and al hough he e a e a -
ious ea men s, hey a e no always e ec i e. Fo his eason, in e es in al e na i e and comple-
men a y app oaches has been g owing, pa icula ly acupunc u e. This s udy aims o conduc a na -
a i e li e a u e e iew o in es iga e he impac o T adi ional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acu-
punc u e in ea ing dep ession. This wo k includes 16 s udies published be ween 2015 and 2024,
which he esea che s sea ched in he PubMed and ScienceDi ec da abases. The esul s show ha
TCM and acupunc u e can ha e a posi i e impac on educing dep essi e symp oms and can be an
e ec i e he apeu ic in e en ion, ei he as a single ea men o as a complemen a y in e en ion
o he pha macological he apy cha ac e is ic o Wes e n medicine. Based on he indings, esea ch-
e s can conclude ha TCM and acupunc u e a e bene icial in he ea men o dep ession and cause
no side e ec s o he indi idual.
Keywo ds: Dep ession; T adi ional Chinese Medicine; Acupunc u e; T ea men .
1. In oduc ion
Dep ession is cu en ly one o he mos p e alen men al diso de s in he wo ld, a -
ec ing millions o people o all ages, gende s, and social backg ounds 1,2.
Acco ding o he Po uguese Socie y o Psychia y and Men al Heal h 3, dep essi e
diso de s a e he hi d leading cause o global disease bu den. Howe e , he leading cause
in de eloped coun ies, and by 2030, hey a e expec ed o become he leading cause
wo ldwide, wi h a possible inc ease in he co ela ed a es o suicide and pa asuicide.
Al hough he e a e a ious ea men s o his men al diso de , om psychological
he apy o pha macological he apy 4, he ea men s a e no always e ec i e, ei he be-
cause o he side e ec s o he d ugs o because he he apeu ic esponse may no be su -
icien o some indi iduals wi h dep ession 5. In ac , an inc easing numbe o people
diagnosed wi h dep ession a e seeking complemen a y he apies in o de o a oid o min-
imise he side e ec s o d ug he apy and imp o e hei quali y o li e 6.
The ac ha dep ession is he leading cause o disabili y and psychosocial depend-
ence (11,8% o neu opsychia ic illnesses) 3, a ec ing he quali y o li e o hose a ec ed
by i , is a g owing challenge o socie y in gene al and he heal h sys ems in pa icula .
This is because we can see he “g owing bu den o men al diso de s [including dep es-
sion] and hei nega i e impac on indi idual pe o mance, business cos s, and social se-
cu i y spending. Men al diso de s a e among he leading causes o absence om wo k,
low labou p oduc i i y, ea ly e i emen , and acciden s” 7.
Ci a ion: Calçada E.S., dos San os
L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese
medicine and acupunc u e: Wha a e
he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A
na a i e e iew o he li e a u e.
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies
in Heal h. 2025;3(3) 10.5281/ze-
nodo.17535799
Academic Edi o : Jo ge Rod igues
Recei ed: 2 Ap il 2025
Re iewed: 18 Augus 2025
Re ised: 22 Oc obe 2025
Accep ed: 3 No embe 2025
Published: 5 No embe 2025
Publishe ’s No e: IPTC s ays neu al
wi h ega d o ju isdic ional claims in
published maps and ins i u ional a -
ilia ions.
Copy igh : ©2025 by he au ho s.
Submi ed o open access publica-
ion unde he e ms and condi ions
o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion
(CC BY) license (h ps://c ea i ecom-
mons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/).
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 2 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
Agains his backd op, esea che s and heal hca e p o essionals ha e inc easingly
shown in e es in al e na i e and complemen a y app oaches, explo ing hei applica ion
in he ea men o dep ession. These app oaches encompass ac ions o p ac ices no yp-
ically a ailable in Wes e n medicine 8, such as TCM and, in pa icula , acupunc u e as a
echnique wi hin TCM.
Gi en he social and clinical ele ance o dep essi e diso de , along wi h he sea ch
o e ec i e and accessible ea men s, i is c ucial o iden i y and unde s and he bene i s
o TCM, in gene al, and acupunc u e, in pa icula , in elie ing and ea ing dep essi e
symp oms. Fo hese easons, his s udy aims o ca y ou a na a i e li e a u e e iew o
in es iga e he impac o TCM and acupunc u e in he ea men o dep ession, in he be-
lie ha his could p o ide impo an empi ical e idence o he use o al e na i e and
complemen a y p ac ices in he a ea o men al heal h.
1.1. Dep ession
Dep ession is one o he oldes men al heal h diso de s 9. Gi en i s p e alence wo ld-
wide, oge he wi h i s associa ion wi h se e e disabili ies, pa hologies, and dea h, i is
now conside ed a public heal h p oblem wi h an impac on pe sonal, p o essional, and
social le els 10, as men ioned abo e.
Co yell 5 cha ac e ises dep ession as a eeling o sadness and/o dec eased in e es o
pleasu e in pe o ming ac i i ies ha becomes a diso de when i is in ense enough o
a ec he pe o mance o unc ions. I may a ise a e a ecen loss o o he sad e en , bu
i is disp opo iona e o he e en and las s longe han no mal. I is, he e o e, a pa ho-
logical s a e cha ac e ised by conscious psychic su e ing and guil , in which a lack o in-
e es in ac i i ies con ibu es o a educ ion in psychomo o and o ganic ac i i y, as well
as a dis ega d o pe sonal alues 11.
Howe e , acco ding o he Diagnos ic and S a is ical Manual o Men al Diso de s
(DSM-5-TR) 10, he e a e a ious ypes o dep ession, which is why we alk abou dep es-
si e diso de s, which he li e a u e classi ies as: dis up i e mood dys egula ion diso de ;
majo dep essi e diso de ; pe sis en dep essi e diso de ; p emens ual dyspho ic diso -
de ; subs ance/medica ion-induced dep essi e diso de ; dep essi e diso de due o an-
o he medical condi ion; o he speci ied dep essi e diso de ; and unspeci ied dep essi e
diso de 10. The cha ac e is ic sha ed by hese diso de s is he p esence o a sad, emp y, o
i i able mood, accompanied by ela ed al e a ions ha s ongly a ec he indi idual’s
unc ional capaci y, and wha dis inguishes hem is he du a ion, ime, o p esumed ae i-
ology 10.
The e o e, indi iduals a ec ed by his men al diso de show a con inuous eeling o
sadness, accompanied by a loss o in e es in ac i i ies and a ious emo ional, cogni i e,
and physical symp oms ha a ec hei day- o-day li es and hei quali y o li e. As a as
he ea men o dep ession is conce ned, since he e a e di e en dep essi e diso de s, i
can be complex due o he se e i y o he symp oms, du a ion, iming, and p esumed e i-
ology10, as well as he speci ic needs o each pa ien . Howe e , he main means o ea -
men a e psycho he apy ocused on dep ession, complemen a i y be ween psycho he -
apy and pha macological he apy, pha maco he apy, and soma ic he apies such as elec-
ocon ulsi e he apy and ansc anial magne ic s imula ion 12.
1.2. T adi ional Chinese Medicine
TCM bases i s p ac ices on i es, ules, and p inciples ha wise ances o s s udied o e
many millennia o eaching and knowledge, which p ac i ione s s ill apply oday 13. I ep-
esen s he mode n b anch o classical Chinese medicine and e e s o a speci ic s yle en-
do sed by he Chinese s a e, which builds upon he ounda ions and concep s o classical
medicine 14. The o igins o TCM go back cen u ies wi h classics wi h mo e han 2000 yea s,
such as he Huangdi Neijing, which da es back o 206 b.C o 220 a.C; Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing,
da ing om 215 o 282 a.C; o e en Shennong Bencaojing o he Shanghan Lun 15.
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 3 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
TCM is a medical sys em in which he indi idual is subjec ed o a holis ic assessmen
o iden i y he phenomena o igina ing in he unc ional and o ganic al e a ions con ib-
u ing o symp oms and signs 16. I di e s due o cha ac e is ics such as i s holis ic ision,
mind-body con inuum, heal h-disease dicho omy, di e en ia ion o synd omes, e minol-
ogy, indi idualisa ion, and p e en ion 17.
This medical sys em builds upon he idea ha illness a ises due o he inadequa e
low o he i al o ce - Qi - which is e-es ablished h ough he balance o opposing o ces
- Yin and Yang - and which mani es hemsel es in he body as cold and hea , in e nal and
ex e nal, and de iciency and excess 18,19. Acco ding o Con a o e e al. 14, TCM desc ibes he
body’s i ali y (Qi) based on he biological p ocesses cha ac e is ic o Wes e n medical
hough . Thus, he sou ces o i ali y would be he pa en s, ood, and ai , uling ou he
exis ence o any o he sou ce ha escapes ma e iali y and a ional unde s anding.
TCM adop s a pa icula e minology, whe e he concep s o Qi, Xue, Shen, and Yin
and Yang a e cen al:
• Qi: ep esen s he i al ene gy/ o ce ha ci cula es h ough he body and is he basis
o all he body’s unc ions. The o iginal Qi is he i al ene gy ha o igina es in he
Yin (Kidney) and is he o ce behind he c ea ion o he phase ec o s and is p ocessed
in o de o o m he unc ions o he o gans and hei ele an signs o diagnosis;
De ensi e Qi is ound ou side he condui s in he issues and i s dis ibu ion is he
esponsibili y o he Lung; As well, he e is he Qi ha comes om ood 20;
• Xue: ep esen s he blood and is assumed o be he o m o unc ional capaci y (en-
e gy) linked o he body’s luids, wi h he unc ions o hea ing, hyd a ing, c ea ing
Qi, and nou ishing he issues, and is mo ed by he Qi in he sys em o channels 20;
• Shen: ep esen s consciousness, mind and spi i , i.e. spi i ual ene gy, and is associ-
a ed wi h he indi idual’s psychic, emo ional and psychological unc ions. I is he
mos enuous mani es a ion o Qi, ansla ing in o he unc ional capaci y o es ablish
o de in men al associa ion and emo ions, leading o men al p esence 20;
• Yin and Yang: hei concep and ela ionship a e he basis o Chinese science and
medicine, whe e Yin ep esen s he da k side o a moun ain, and Yang is i s b igh
side 20.
The ounda ions o TCM a e he Yin-Yang heo y, he heo y o he i e mo emen s
and o gans (Zang-Fu), he heo y o ene gies ( i al subs ances and o he s), and he heo y
o channels and acupunc u e holes 17.
The Yin-Yang heo y bases i s app oach on he idea ha he wo ld esul s om he
ecip ocal ac ion o wo opposing and complemen a y o ces (Yin and Yang), and ha all
changes in he uni e se esul om he mo emen o hese opposi es. I is hough o ha e
i s o igins in empi ical obse a ions o day and nigh cycles, wi h he idea ha day (Yang)
would gi e way o nigh (Yin), and ice e sa” 17.
In u n, he heo y o he i e mo emen s and o gans ocuses on he mo emen s o
i e, ea h, wood, me al, and wa e , conside ed o be he i e indispensable ma e ials o
building he wo ld unde he in luence o he cosmos and a e symbolic o he cha ac e is-
ics and pa e ns o mo emen o all phenomena, being in balance and close ela ionship
wi h each o he , and ha ing he powe o cause all he changes and mo emen s ha occu
in na u e 17.
In he ligh o he heo y o ene gies, he e a e h ee o ms o ene gies ha a e ans-
o med and a e cen al o he indi idual - he h ee easu es (San Bao), which co espond
o Jing (essence), Qi ( i al ene gy), and Shen (spi i ual ene gy) 17. Fu he mo e, acco ding
o da Sil a 17, in addi ion o hese, Xue (blood) and Jinyie (bodily luids) a e ene ge ic ele-
men s in he cons i u ion o he human body.
Las bu no leas , he heo y o channels and acupunc u e holes e e s o he physi-
ology o he Me idian Sys em (Jing Luo Xi Tong), a sys em o in e connec ed channels,
whe e Qi and Xue ci cula e and which is in close ela ionship wi h he Zang-Fu and o he
membe s o he body, connec ing hem in o one. The sys em comp ises channels (Jing),
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 4 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
longi udinal and deep, and colla e al channels (Luo), ans e se and supe icial, which
connec he Jing wi h he skin and connec i e issue. Toge he , hese a e called Jingluo 17.
Conce ning TCM, Mills ine 19, based on a ious sys ema ic e iews and me a-anal-
yses o s udies, mos o hem ca ied ou in China, poin s ou he e ec i eness o TCM in
a ious diseases, namely:
• Symp oms o Tou e e’s synd ome;
• Ch onic kidney disease, when combined wi h Wes e n medicine;
• Pos -s oke dep ession, when combined wi h Wes e n medicine;
• Dep ession du ing menopause and pe imenopause when combined wi h acupunc-
u e;
• Some ou comes in COVID-19, when combined wi h Wes e n medicine;
• Acu e gou y a h i is;
• Quali y o li e and symp om con ol in lung cance .
1.3. Acupunc u e
Acupunc u e is a he apeu ic p ac ice ha o igina ed in China o e 3000 yea s ago
and is now one o he echniques used in TCM 21. I s pu pose is o es o e and p omo e he
indi idual's ene gy balance and well-being, o p e en and/o ea disease by inse ing
needles in o speci ic poin s on he body 22-25.
These speci ic poin s a e called acupoin s and in o ien al medicine li e a u e hey a e
he channels; he inse ion o needles s imula es hese poin s, p omo ing he balance o
he body’s ene gy, he ci cula ion o ene gy in he ene gy channels and he o gans and
isce a, hus main aining heal h and ha monising he body 26,27. I is in he channels ha
he i al o ce, Qi, passes h ough and by s imula ing ( oning) o p essing (seda ing) he
acupoin s, he ci cula ion o i al ene gy is al e ed, as well as he low o blood (Xue) in
he body 28. In addi ion o Qi and Xue, he i e i al subs ances include essence (Jing),
bodily luids (Jin Yie), and mind (Shen) 29. The acupoin s, he places whe e he needles a e
inse ed, a e loca ed on he channels, he ene gy channels, and a e ound be ween issues,
bones, and endons o so o igid pa s o he issues, and can ha e a sys emic, local, o
dis an ac ion 27.
The ou undamen al concep s ha guide acupunc u e ea men a e he Ying/Yang
heo y, he i e mo emen s, he Zang-Fu, concep and he ene gy me idians 30.
In he Yin/Yang heo y, Yin ep esen s mass o ma e , and Yang ep esen s mo e-
men and ene gy 27; hey main ain a ela ionship o opposi ion, in e dependence, mu ual
consump ion, and in e ans o ma ion 29. Yin and Yang complemen and ans o m each
o he , and when hey a e ou o balance, illness a ises 27.
The i e mo emen s a e he i e basic elemen s ound in na u e: wood, i e, me al,
ea h, and wa e 27,29. This heo y plays a c ucial ole in TCM in ha he phenomena o
physiology and disease a e classi ied and analysed acco ding o hei in e ela ionships 31.
The concep o Zang-Fu ocuses on he o gans and isce a o he human body, each
ep esen ed by one o he i e mo emen s, i.e., he hea ep esen s i e, he kidney wa e ,
he lung me al, he li e wood, and he spleen and panc eas ea h 27. Zang-Fu heo y, in-
cluding he yin e yang classi ica ion. The Yin (Zang) o gans e e o he hea , li e , lungs,
spleen, and kidneys, which s o e essen ial subs ances (Qi, essence, blood and body luids).
The Yang (Fu) o gans a e he small and la ge in es ines, gallbladde , s omach, bladde ,
and iple hea e , which ecei e and ans o m ood and liquids o p oduce Qi and Xue 27.
Fu he mo e, conside ing he i e isce al en i ies, i should be no ed ha each o gan
is associa ed wi h an en i y: he hea wi h Shen, he li e wi h Hun, he lung wi h Po, he
spleen and panc eas wi h Yi, and he kidney wi h Zhi 32. Shen, Hun, Po, Yi, and Zhi pe -
o m he men al and spi i ual unc ions o TCM, wi h Shen being associa ed wi h i e and
he hea , Hun wi h wood and he li e , Po wi h me al and he lung, Yi wi h ea h and he
spleen and panc eas, and Zhi wi h wa e and he kidney 32.
1.4. Dep ession in o ien al medicine
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 5 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
In TCM, dep ession is cha ac e ised by an ene gy imbalance, which can include one
o mo e pa e ns o imbalance be ween he o gans and isce a (Zang Fu), a ying acco d-
ing o he symp oms p esen ed by he pa ien 18. This is because he e is no sepa a ion
be ween men al illnesses and physical/biological illnesses, whe e dep ession esul s om
an ene gy imbalance ha is no necessa ily ela ed o he unc ioning o he b ain 18,33.
The signs and symp oms o dep ession can be associa ed wi h a de iciency o s ag-
na ion o Qi o wi h pa e ns o Yin-Yang disha mony, in pa icula , he disha mony o
li e Qi, which is esponsible o he ee low o emo ions 18. The e o e, in he case o
dep ession, i he o hopa hy ( he body’s abili y o sel - egula e) o he Hea is weakened
and he e a e simul aneous de iciencies Qi and Xue, he p esence o he pa hological agen
Wind and/o pa hological emo ions will lead o an imbalance in he sys em. As a esul ,
he e will be a blockage o Qi, which, i le un ea ed, will a ec he Li e and be ans-
mi ed o he Hea 34.
Acco ding o Soa es Be na do 18 and Se a 35, TCM has been success ul in ea ing
dep ession o o e 2000 yea s h ough di e en combina ions o acupunc u e, he bal
medicine, die , and, in some cases, li es yle, always aking in o accoun he indi idual’s
pa e n o imbalance.
Looking a dep ession in he ligh o he heo y o he i e mo emen s, i can be ex-
plained ha :
• Wa e : in his mo emen , he indi idual shows symp oms such as apa hy, lack o
con idence in hei abili y o sol e p oblems, and a sense o powe lessness;
• Ea h: dep ession esul s om an imbalance o he in ellec , in which he indi idual
wo ies oo much, can become unsympa he ic, and has p oblems concen a ing;
• Fi e: he dep essed indi idual shows a lack o joie de i e, li le en husiasm, lack o
inspi a ion and judgmen , so dep ession is associa ed wi h a ec i e p oblems, such
as ejec ion and disappoin men in in e pe sonal ela ionships;
• Me al: cha ac e ised by symp oms such as pessimism and eelings o guil , his ype
o dep ession a ises in esponse o ma e ial losses;
• Wood: The main symp oms a e us a ion, i i abili y, g ie , and loss o pu pose in
li e, which po ay ambi ious and ha d-wo king indi iduals who ha e suddenly los
mo i a ion and di ec ion.
• Fu he mo e, o he au ho s elabo a e on his in e p e a ion.
Acco ding o Cas o 36, dep ession due o de iciency can be ela ed o a single syn-
d ome, such as dep ession esul ing om Kidney Qi and Yang de iciency. Howe e , de-
p ession can also be associa ed wi h mo e han one sys em, which is why Cas o 36 poin s
ou a de iciency o he Kidney and Li e , which can be seen in a lack o ini ia i e, lack o
a i ma ion, poo ly de ined goals, unce ain y abou iden i y o which pa h o ollow in
li e; De iciency o he Kidney and Hea , which can be seen in apa hy, lack o ini ia i e,
lack o ene gy, lack o in e es in wo k, li e, sex, and pe sonal ela ionships; De iciency o
he Hea and Spleen, shown by he need o a ec ion and ca e, di icul y in main aining
ela ionships due o eelings such as lack o lo e and soli ude.
Dep ession caused by s agna ion can mani es in i e ways: Hea Qi S agna ion,
Spleen Qi S agna ion, Lung Qi S agna ion, Kidney Qi S agna ion, and Li e Qi S agna ion.
In his case, dep ession a ises om he complain o i edness, bu i is mo e associa ed
wi h a sensa ion; howe e , i can also o igina e om he combina ion o a de iciency and
a s agna ion 36. The mos common cases a e De iciency and s agna ion o Qi and Kidney,
whe e he e is li le ene gy and willpowe and he pe son is unable o achie e hei goals;
De iciency and s agna ion o Li e Qi, caused by a lack o planning and unwise decisions
causing p oblems which, in u n, lead o he de elopmen o dep ession wi h a eeling o
obs uc ion and an inabili y o ind al e na i e solu ions; De iciency and s agna ion o
Hea Qi, whe e he e is a need o a ec ion, along wi h di icul y in communica ing and
ha ing ela ionships, so he pe son eels hey ha e no way ou 36.
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 6 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
As a as acupunc u e is conce ned, i has been inc easingly s udied and used as a
complemen a y ea men o dep ession 35.
2. Resea ch Me hodology
Fo his s udy, a na a i e li e a u e e iew me hodology was adop ed, since i is e y
use ul o desc ibing and discussing exis ing e idence on a gi en subjec om a heo e i-
cal o con ex ual pe spec i e 37. Mo eo e , Co dei o e al. 38 s a e ha he na a i e li e a-
u e e iew a ely s a s om a speci ic, well-de ined ques ion, equi ing no igid p o ocol
o i s p epa a ion; he sea ch o sou ces is no p ede e mined o speci ic, and is o en less
comp ehensi e. The selec ion o a icles is a bi a y, p o iding he au ho wi h in o -
ma ion subjec o selec ion bias, wi h signi ican in e e ence om subjec i e pe cep ion.
As men ioned abo e, he esea ch ques ion, i.e., he ques ion o which an answe is
sough does no necessa ily ha e o be igo ous, Howe e , in o de o gi e his na a i e
li e a u e e iew g ea e quali y and consis ency, he PICO s a egy was used – Pa ien ,
In e en ion, Compa ison, Ou come – as i is a me hodology ha suppo s he o mula-
ion o esea ch ques ions 39 and ha in eg a es essen ial componen s ha suppo biblio-
g aphic esea ch 40: Pa ien – pa ien s wi h dep ession; In e en ion – TCM and acupunc-
u e; Compa ison – no in e en ion, psycho he apy o d ug he apy; Ou come – any ype
o bene i p o ided by TCM and acupunc u e o he ea men o dep ession.
2.1. Inclusion and exclusion c i e ia
Selec ion c i e ia a e used o assis in choosing he s udies o be included in he na -
a i e li e a u e e iew and include inclusion c i e ia, aspec s ha mus be p esen in he
s udies o be in eg a ed, and exclusion c i e ia, aspec s ha in alida e he use o he s ud-
ies because hey a e no sui able o his s udy.
The e o e, he inclusion c i e ia o his na a i e li e a u e e iew a e a icles pub-
lished in he las 10 yea s (2014-2024), wi h ee and comple e access, published in English
and Po uguese ha emphasise TCM and acupunc u e in he ea men o dep ession. In
u n, he exclusion c i e ia a e a icles published mo e han 10 yea s ago, wi hou ee
access, published in o he languages, and ha add ess he bene i s o TCM and acupunc-
u e in he ea men o o he men al diso de s, o example, anxie y.
2.2. Explana ion o he esea ch me hod
Sea ch was ca ied ou on Medical Subjec Headings (MeSH), as hese we e c ea ed
o classi y in o ma ion and acili a e bibliog aphic esea ch 41, con igu ing a con olled o-
cabula y ha allows he use o common e minology o indexing and e ie ing scien i ic
a icles in da abases 41. Fou keywo ds we e selec ed o he sea ch – dep ession, TCM,
acupunc u e and ea men – a e sea ching and analysing he desc ip o s, six we e se-
lec ed: dep ession, dep essi e diso de , adi ional Chinese medicine, acupunc u e he -
apy, acupunc u e, and ea men ou come. The nex s ep consis ed o cons uc ing wo
Boolean ph ases o ca y ou wo sea ches – one ocusing on TCM and he o he ocusing
on acupunc u e – in he PubMed and ScienceDi ec da abases:
1) ((dep ession) OR (dep essi e diso de )) AND (Chinese, adi ional medicine) AND
( ea men ou come);
2) ((dep ession) OR (dep essi e diso de )) AND ((acupunc u e he apy) OR (acupunc-
u e)) AND ( ea men ou come).
3. Resul s
The i s sea ch ocused on TCM and in he sea ch o e idence in PubMed, 360 e-
sul s we e ob ained and a e he in oduc ion o he selec ion c i e ia, i e a icles pub-
lished be ween 2015 and 2024 we e selec ed 42-46. In Science Di ec , om a o al o 11690
esul s and mee ing he selec ion c i e ia, ou a icles published be ween 2017 and 2024
we e chosen o in eg a e his na a i e li e a u e e iew 23,47-49.
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 7 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
In he second sea ch ( ocused on acupunc u e), om he PubMed sea ch, 542 esul s
we e ob ained and a e en e ing he inclusion c i e ia, i e a icles published be ween
2019 and 2023 we e selec ed: 50-54. In ScienceDi ec , a e inse ing he p e iously o mu-
la ed Boolean ph ase, app oxima ely 1,000,000 esul s we e ob ained, so o limi he
sea ch, he Boolean ph ase was e o mula ed o dep ession AND acupunc u e he apy,
ob aining 7832 esul s. A e en e ing he inclusion c i e ia, wo a icles published be-
ween 2022 and 2024 we e selec ed 55,56.
The ollowing igu e is he lowcha ha e eals he en i e esea ch p ocess ocusing
on TCM and acupunc u e. This na a i e li e a u e e iew includes 16 a icles, nine on
TCM and se en on acupunc u e.
In o de o gi e his na a i e li e a u e e iew g ea e scien i ic igo , and al hough
i is no cha ac e is ic o his ype o li e a u e e iew, he PRISMA lowcha is p esen ed
below, as i explains he en i e p ocess o esea ch and da a ex ac ion (Figu e 1).
Figu e 1. PRISMA Flowcha
As can be seen om he PRISMA lowcha p esen ed, his na a i e li e a u e e iew
includes a o al o 16 s udies published be ween 2015 and 2024. Nine s udies we e selec ed
o he esea ch ha ocused on TCM (2015-2024). The ollowing able (Table 1) p esen s
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 8 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
a summa y o he nine a icles, aking in o accoun : iden i ica ion o he au ho s, jou nal,
objec i e, me hod, sample, esul s, and conclusion.
Table 1. Summa y o s udies ocusing on TCM
Wang e al. 42 – Scien i ic Repo s
Objec i e/Sample
- To e alua e he e ec o adi ional Chinese exe cise on quali y o li e and dep ession o
ch onic diseases;
- 4311 pa ien s in 60 andomised clinical ials.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e s udy;
- Me a-analysis.
Resul s
- T adi ional Chinese exe cise can imp o e he esul s o he SF-36 (sho o m) physical unc-
ion subscale in he sho and medium e m and he Cen e o Epidemiologic S udies dep es-
sion scale in he sho and medium e m.
Conclusion
- T adi ional Chinese exe cise can signi ican ly imp o e he quali y o li e and dep ession o pa-
ien s wi h ch onic diseases.
Chen e al. 46 – Chinese Jou nal o In eg a i e Medicine
Objec i e/Sample
- To e alua e he e icacy and sa e y o Jianpi Jieyu Decoc ion (JJD) in he ea men o pa ien s
wi h mild o mode a e dep ession o Xin (hea ) and Pi (spleen) de iciency synd ome (XPD);
- 140 pa ien s wi h mild o mode a e dep ession o XPD synd ome, dis ibu ed in o wo g oups:
JJD g oup and pa oxe ine g oup.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e me hod;
- Mul icen e, andomised, con olled s udy.
Resul s
- The esul s o he Hamil on Dep ession Ra ing Scale and he Hamil on Anxie y Scale de-
c eased in he g oup subjec ed o (JJD) and in he g oup subjec ed o pa oxe ine. On he T adi-
ional Chinese Medicine Symp om Scale, sco es also dec eased in bo h g oups, wi h a mo e sig-
ni ican dec ease in he JJD g oup.
Conclusion
- Compa ed wi h pa oxe ine, JJD was associa ed wi h a lowe incidence o ad e se e en s in pa-
ien s wi h mild o mode a e dep ession o XPD synd ome. Howe e , no signi ican di e ence
was ound in he le el o e icacy a he six h week.
Tao e al. 43 – F on ie s in Psychia y
Objec i e/Sample
- To in es iga e he e icacy and unc ional magne ic esonance imaging ou comes o Tuina
he apy in pa ien s wi h pos -s oke dep ession (PSD);
- 84 pa ien s wi h PSD we e dis ibu ed in o g oups: he Tuina he apy g oup and he ou ine
ehabili a ion con ol g oup.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e me hod;
- Single-cen e, andomised, con olled clinical ial.
Resul s
- Pa ien s in he Tuina he apy g oup showed be e esul s on he Hamil on Dep ession Ra ing
Scale and he Mini Men al S a e Examina ion.
Conclusion
- Tuina he apy, adminis e ed 10 imes o wo weeks, is sa e and can alle ia e symp oms o de-
p ession and imp o e cogni i e unc ion in pa ien s wi h PSD. The esul s ob ained in Tuina
he apy can be jus i ied by he ac ha i has an e ec on he ac i a ion and unc ional connec-
i i y o he hippocampus.
Feng e al. 44– Medicine
Objec i e/Sample
- To e alua e he he apeu ic e ec o adi ional Chinese exe cise on dep ession h ough ne -
wo k me a-analysis;
- 1605 cases in 25 s udies.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e me hod;
- Me a-analysis wi h andomised con olled s udies.
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 9 o 17
Calçada E.S., dos San os L.S. Dep ession, adi ional Chinese medicine and acupunc u e:
Wha a e he bene i s in ea ing dep ession? A na a i e e iew o he li e a u e doi:10.5281/zenodo.17535799
Resul s
- The esul s demons a e ha each exe cise (ou o a o al o h ee – Baduanjin, Tai Chi and
Wuqinxi) had a signi ican e ec on dep essi e symp oms, as sco es on he Hamil on Dep es-
sion Scale, Hamil on Anxie y Scale, Beck Dep ession In en o y and Sel -Ra ing Dep ession
Scale dec eased wi h all exe cises.
Conclusion
- The h ee exe cises we e e ec i e o dep ession, wi h Baduanjin and Tai Chi being he ones
ha p esen ed he bes esul s o dep ession and anxie y.
Lin e al. 45 – Medicine
Objec i e/Sample
- To assess he e ec i eness o he li e Qi s agna ion me hod in elie ing dep ession in pa-
ien s wi h pos ope a i e papilla y hy oid ca cinoma;
- 72 pa ien s wi h pos ope a i e papilla y hy oid ca cinoma wi h dep ession.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e me hod;
- Randomised con olled clinical ial.
Resul s
- The es g oup showed be e esul s han he con ol g oup in he Hamil on Dep ession Scale
sco es, as well as a be e o e all quali y o li e, educing symp oms o a igue and insomnia.
Conclusion
- The Li e Qi S agna ion Calming Me hod con ibu es o inc easing se um 5-hyd oxy yp a-
mine le els, dec easing in lamma o y ac o s ela ed o dep ession, and esul ing in he alle ia-
ion o dep ession in pa ien s wi h pos ope a i e papilla y hy oid ca cinoma.
Facai e al. 47 – Jou nal o T adi ional Chinese Medicine
Objec i e/Sample
- To e alua e he clinical e icacy and sa e y o music he apy in i e phases in pa ien s wi h de-
p ession a e ischemic s oke;
- 92 pa ien s wi h pos -s oke dep ession, dis ibu ed in o h ee g oups: con ol g oup (basic
he apy o ce eb al in a c ion + 50 mg o o al se aline hyd ochlo ide daily); ea men g oup
A (basic he apy o ce eb al in a c ion + needling a Baihui (GV 20) + acupunc u e injec ion a
Yanglingquan (GB 34) daily), and ea men g oup B (basic he apy o ce eb al in a c ion + nee-
dling a Baihui (GV 20) + acupunc u e injec ion a Yanglingquan (GB 34) daily + music he apy
de i ed om he i e phases o TCM heo y wice a day).
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quan i a i e me hod;
- Clinical ial.
Resul s
- T ea men g oup B showed he bes esul s on he Hamil on Dep ession Scale.
Conclusion
- Fi e-phase music he apy, along wi h acupunc u e poin needling and injec ion, may imp o e
symp oms in pa ien s wi h pos -s oke dep ession.
Gu e al. 48 – Biomedicine & Pha maco he apy
Objec i e/Sample
- Assess he use o phy o he apy in he ea men o dep essi e diso de ;
- 28 s udies.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quali a i e me hod;
- Sys ema ic e iew.
Resul s
- T ea men wi h Chinese he bal medicine signi ican ly al e ed me abolic diso de s associa ed
wi h dep ession.
Conclusion
- Phy o he apy p omo es he eo ganisa ion o he me abolic ne wo k by es o ing key me abo-
li es and me abolic pa hways and may cons i u e he main basis o he phy o he apy ea men
mechanism o dep ession.
Rod igues e al. 23 – B ain Beha io and Immuni y In eg a i e
Objec i e/Sample
- Analyse he e idence on he e ec i eness o TCM o men al heal h;
- 32 s udies.
Me hod/Type o
S udy
- Quali a i e me hod;
- SLR.
Resul s
- TCM can be bene icial in ea ing ce ain men al illnesses, such as dep ession, and imp o e
pa ien s' quali y o li e.
Conclusion
- TCM can ha e a posi i e impac on he ea men o some men al illnesses and be bene icial
o pa ien s who do no ha e access o con en ional he apies.
Huang e al. 49 – Complemen a y The apies in Medicine
Jou nal o Complemen a y The apies in Heal h 2025: 3(3). 16 o 17
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