Traditional & Alternative Medicine

There have been numerous psychological and psychiatric terms recorded in ancient TCM bibliographies, developing a TCM specialty called mental-emotional diseases, in which symptomatology, etiology, psychopathology and various therapeutic approaches have been well established. In TCM practice, herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, scraping, massage, dietary therapy, psychological consultant, aromatic therapy, exercise therapy (such as tai-qi), meditation and mindfulness, humor therapy, and folk music therapy are oft en applied in the management of mental symptoms and wellbeing. Th ese TCM therapies also have been increasingly introduced into today’s clinical practice aimed to enhance the clinical effi cacy, reduce adverse eff ects caused by conventional treatment and comorbid symptoms. Th is fact is further refl ected in an increasing number of research publications, showing the potential benefi ts of herbal medicine, acupuncture and TCMbased exercise therapy in the treatment of various psychiatric symptoms, in particular sleep, anxiety, and mood disorders. Th is talk will provide an overview of the use of TCM in the management of mental-emotional symptoms and related research results.