Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

In conventional medicine, it is not so clear that what causes depression, but most experts believe there's a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors that contribute to depression risk. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it.

In conventional medicine, medications and psychotherapy are effective for most people with depression. Your primary care doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms. However, many people with depression also benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. Medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), these drugs possibly could relieve depression temporarily, but most patients need long-term or life-long medications with serious side effects below:

Common side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs can include:

• Feeling agitated, shaky or anxious
• Feeling and being sick
• Indigestion and stomach aches
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Not sleeping well (insomnia), or feeling very sleepy
• Headaches
• Loss of libido (reduced sex drive)
• Difficulties achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation
• Difficulties obtaining or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)

Common side effects of TCAs can include:

• Dry mouth
• Slight blurring of vision
• Constipation
• Problems passing urine
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Excessive sweating (especially at night)
• Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), such as noticeable palpitations or a fast heartbeat (tachycardia)

In natural health, LG(Liver & Gallbladder) energy flow stasis with a weak body from energy deficiency is the main mechanism of depression, it is from excessive worry, anger, panic, or failure of life, long-term emotional problems will make organ systems damage, blood blockage will happen too. To help patients to find out the emotional reasons and persuade patients to give up that bad emotional habits is the first important step for healing depression, and then according to different syndromes to apply different methods including acupuncture, herbal supplements, exercise and other possible natural remedies. There are five syndromes of depression in natural health below:

• ​Chief Manifestations: ​Sentimental, pessimistic, world-weary, emotionally unstable, sighing, bloated stomach, abdominal distension and diarrhea, tired body, pale red tongue with thin and white coating.
• Therapeutic Methods: To ​replenish SS energy, smooth LG energy flow is the key rule for the treatment of this kind of depression.

• Chief Manifestations: Depression, suicide attempt, irritability, slow thinking association, slow movement, dull complexion, hypochondrium pain, amenorrhea in women. The tongue is dark purple or has purple dots with white coating.
• Therapeutic Methods: To smooth LG energy flow and improve circulation of the body is the key rule for the treatment of this kind of depression.

HS(Heart & Small Intestine) and SS(Stomach & Spleen) energy low:

• Chief Manifestations: Insomnia and forgetfulness, lack of interest, palpitations, easy crying, lassitude, pale or sallow complexion, abdominal fullness, loose stools, pale tongue with white coating.
• Therapeutic Methods: To replenish HS and SS energy is the key rule while combining with smoothing LG energy flow and improve circulation for the treatment of this kind of depression.
  

​KB(Kidney & Bladder) and SS(Stomach & Spleen) fire energy low:

• Chief Manifestations: Mental depression, low mood, sleepiness and lack of movement, upset and panic, palpitations, insomnia, pale complexion, anorexia and loose stools, thin leucorrhea in women, pale fat tongue or scalloped edges with white coating.
• Therapeutic Methods: To replenish KB and SS fire energy is the key rule while combining with smoothing LG energy flow and improve circulation for the treatment of this kind of depression.
  

KB(Kidney & Bladder) water energy low, fire toxin high:

• Chief Manifestations: Emotional restlessness, irritability, irritability, accompanied by palpitations, insomnia, dreaminess, dysphoria and fever, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with little coating.

• Therapeutic Methods: To replenish KB water energy, clear fire toxin is the key rule while combining with smoothing LG energy flow and improve circulation for the treatment of this kind of depression.