Postpoartum Depression

by Tawfeeq Abu-Zaynab

                                                Postpartum Depression

 

 Worldwide about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. In developing countries this is even higher, i.e. 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% after child birth. Below are three imbalances of this type of depression along with it's clinical manifestations,principle treatment and the prescription for each category.  The imbalances are based on TCM's theory.

˹He is˺ the One Who provides me with food and drink.And He ˹alone˺ heals me when I am sick. وَٱلَّذِى هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِى وَيَسْقِينِ وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِين 

   

 

 

  1. 1. Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency

 

Clinical Manifestations: Postnatal depression, anxiety, palpitations, dizziness , insomnia, poor memory, dull-pale complexion, blurred vision, floaters, numbness/tingling of limbs, scanty menstruation and a pale tongue.

     Treatment Principle:

  • Nourish Liver Blood
  • Nourish the Heart 
  • Calm the Shen

 Prescription

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  1. Liver and Heart -Yin Deficiency

Clinical Manifestations: Postnatal depression, poor memory, anxiety, mental restlessness, scanty breast milk, loss of libido, occasional palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, night sweating, dry throat, numbness/tingling of the limbs, blurred vision, floaters, dry eyes, scanty menstruation or amenorrhea, dull-pale complexion, withered and brittle nails, dry skin and nails, and a tongue without a coating.

Treatment Principle

  • Nourish Yin  Clear Heat
  • Reinforce the Heart and Liver
  • Calm the Shen

Prescription

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  1. Heart-Blood Stasis

 

Clinical Manifestations: Poor memory,  palpitations worse at night, occasional chest pain, worse at night,  dizziness, chronic, prolonged vertex headache,  heaviness or tightness in the chest,  boring pain under the ribs, pain that is fixed, stabbing and /or severe pain is worse with pressure, dark complexion , irritability , restlessness,  easily angered, depression,   fixed, palpable masses, bleeding with clot ,purple lips, purple nail, purple sclera, purple conjunctiva, dry skin,  blue, dark or purplish discoloration of skin in small or large areas,  varicose and spider veins, cold hands and feet, and  tendency to hemorrhage dark blood or clots

    Tongue:

  • Purple, possible purple or red spots
  • Red purple if there is Heat
  • Blue purple if there is Cold

    Coating of the Tongue: White

    P: Choppy or Wiry and choppy

 

Treatment Principle

  • Invigorates the Blood
  • Breaks up Stagnation 
  • Nourishes the Blood

Prescription: Rx. Ginseng -Tonifies Heart Energy and calms the Mind.

Herba Schizonepetae (Japanese Catnip) -Releases the Exterior, dispels Wind and relieves postpartum muscle spasms.

Herba Lycopi- Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis.

Chinese Motherwort Invigorates the Blood, dispels Stasis, regulates menstruation and reduces masses

 Rhizoma Chuanxiong- Invigorates the Blood, promotes the movement of Qi/Energy, expels Wind and alleviates pain.

Radix Glycyrrhizae- Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs

 

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