HU Dongsen,WANG Liyuan,WANG Weiguang,et al.ZHAI Shuangqing's Clinical Experience in Treating Mental Disorders with Anthelmintic Herbs Based on the Pathogenesis of Depression,Phlegm,and Toxin[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2025,66(20):2092-2097.
HU Dongsen,WANG Liyuan,WANG Weiguang,et al.ZHAI Shuangqing's Clinical Experience in Treating Mental Disorders with Anthelmintic Herbs Based on the Pathogenesis of Depression,Phlegm,and Toxin[J].Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2025,66(20):2092-2097.DOI: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.20.004.
ZHAI Shuangqing's Clinical Experience in Treating Mental Disorders with Anthelmintic Herbs Based on the Pathogenesis of Depression,Phlegm,and Toxin
This paper summarizes Professor ZHAI Shuangqing's clinical experience in using anthelmintic herbs to treat mental disorders from the perspectives of depression , phlegm, and toxin. He proposes that the pathogenesis of mental disorders involves an evolving process characterized by depression, phlegm, and toxin, corresponding to three progressive stages. Drawing on classical texts and clinical practice, he further interprets the concept of "worms" as a metaphor for pathogenic factors that deplete essence and corrode the body like parasites. Anthelmintic herbs are therefore summarized to function in regulating
qi
, resolving phlegm, and detoxifying. In clinical application, treatment is mainly based on self-formulated prescriptions such as
Tiaoshen Kaiyu Decoction
(调神开郁汤),
Huatan Tiaoshen Decoction
(化痰调神汤),
Jiedu Tiaoshen Decoction
(解毒调神汤) and
Tiaozhong Decoction
(调中汤), with flexible use of anthelmintic herbs such as Binglang (
Arecae Semen
), Shijunzi (
Quisqualis Fructus
), Wumei (
Mume Fructus
), Feizi (
Torreyae Semen
) and Leiwan (
Omphalia
). From three therapeutic perspectives of regulating
qi
, harmonizing the middle, and relieving depression, resolving phlegm, calming wind, and clearing fire, as well as strengthening the body, tonifying deficiency, and eliminating toxin, Professor ZHAI treats different stages of mental disorders, thereby providing valuable insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in traditional Chinese medicine.
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