Cheung Wan Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Northampton

Learn about how Chinese medicine views Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine might help.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The NHS defines Post-traumatic stress disorder as:

“an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.”

Traumatic situations can include:

serious road accidents

violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery

serious health problems

childbirth experiences

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Caused by repeated experience of traumatic situations, such as severe neglect, abuse or violence.

Treatment

depends on the severity of symptoms and how soon they occur after the traumatic event and generally consist of:

monitoring symptoms only,

antidepressants or;

psychological therapies

Chinese Medicine view of the Psyche & connection to body

In modern TCM, emotion related disorders are categorised as qingzhi bing 情志病 or qingzhi lei jibing情志类疾病 , which are generally considered loosely to include a group of illness patterns stemming from ‘internal damage attributable to excessive emotions’

Basic theory sees the whole psyche comprising of five spirits – Shen Mind/Spirit; Yi Imagery/Intellect; Po Sense or mortal soul; Zhi Memory/Will; Hun Soul or immortal soul

The whole psyche and condition of the psyche impacts the health of the whole body and vice versa due to their relationship with the Zang fu or 5 organ systems.

The body and psyche is internally affected by the ‘7 passions’ and ‘5 emotions’ qiqing wuzhi 七情五志. This includes emotional shock.

The body and psyche is externally affected by factors such as climate and pathogens.

The bodies resistance to illness is affected by our constitution and how well we maintain it. E.g. genetics, and diet

Other factors affecting the body and psyche include excessive exertion from work, exercise etc, incorrect treatment, drugs and physical trauma experienced by the body.

Chinese Medicine View of PTSD

As with other western disease classifications, PTSD can be viewed and treated in many ways depending on the presentation of signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms enable the patient to be classified into patterns of dysfunction.

The unity of body and mind in TCM is harmonious in healthy people. The 5 organs regulate the emotions. Changes in the status of the 5 organs will lead to mood changes accordingly and vice versa. E.g. the Lung regulates sadness & grief, a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one will lead to the depletion of Lung Qi, and may result in stagnation of the chest leading to symptoms such as chest tightness and shallow shortness of breath. Other factors that will affect the manifestation of symptoms include how the 5 organs interact with each other, condition of the constitution and other factors previously mentioned.

Therefore, it can be seen in Chinese Medicine that the same traumatic experience may manifest in different ways in 2 people. For example, where the traumatic experience in one person might affect the Kidneys and lead to manifestations of fear with kidney pattern symptoms such as sexual dysfunction e.g. libido problems; but in another might affect the Liver leading to manifestations of anger with Liver pattern symptoms such as severe migraines, moodiness or chest oppression. This is further complicated by mixed patterns and the application of concepts of Qi, Jing, Blood and Fluids in Chinese medicine!

The classification of PTSD, based on the clinical symptoms reported tends towards primarily involving the Liver; and Heart/Kidney, involving heat and phlegm obstruction.

Chinese Medicine treatment of PTSD

Acupuncture

In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms such as regulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. This promotes physical and emotional well-being.

Research for acupuncture tends to be limited by constraints such as small studies and methodology issues. Because of this, evidence supporting effectiveness of acupuncture tends to require further research. However, the British Acupuncture Council provide the following summary of some of the research for the effects of acupuncture for anxiety and PTSD:

Research has shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically benefit anxiety disorders and symptoms of anxiety and stress by:

Acting on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the analytical brain, which is responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010);

Regulating levels of neurotransmitters (or their modulators) and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, neuropeptide Y and ACTH; hence altering the brains mood chemistry to help to combat negative affective states (Lee 2009; Zhou 2008);

Stimulating production of endogenous opioids that affect the autonomic nervous system (Arranz 2007). Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, while acupuncture can activate the opposing parasympathetic nervous system, which initiates the relaxation response; Reversing pathological changes in levels of inflammatory cytokines that are associated with stress reactions (Arranz 2007);

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)

CHM is not as well known as acupuncture for treating anxiety and PTSD. However, research has shown:

CHMs antidepressant constituents act through modulation of the neuroendocrine-immune network. (Li et al, 2021)

Effects of various formulas on the body. Si Ni San for example, has been shown when combined with paroxetine to increase the level of 5-HT, and reduce the level of cortisol, with a better therapeutic effect than paroxetine alone in the treatment of depression (Lili et al, 2019)

Recent studies on the use of herbal medicines in earthquake survivors and covid-19 survivors have demonstrated significant reductions in symptoms for formulas such as Bai He Di Huang Tang, Suan Zao Ren Tang and Zhizi Chi Tang.