ARTICLE
Volume 4,Issue 3
28 May 2025
Research Progress on the Treatment of Depression with Chinese Herbal Medicine
Yongjie Wang ,
Jibao Deng ,
Yaju Li ,
Hequn Li ,
Xiaolong Yang ,
Xirong Qiao ,
Jun Feng ,
Longfeng Wang ,
Xiaoning Huo
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1
First Clinical Medical College of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China; Lanzhou Third People’s Hospital, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China,
2
First Clinical Medical College of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China,
3
Lanzhou Third People’s Hospital, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China,
CNR 2025 , 3(2), 1–8;
https://doi.org/10.26689/cnr.v3i2.10549
© 2025 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract
Depression is a common affective disorder characterized by significant and persistent low mood. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) attributes depression to emotional disturbances, classifying it as a mood disorder. Chinese herbal formulas have unique advantages and higher safety profiles in treating depression, despite challenges such as complexity in herb combinations, varying efficacy, and potential side effects. Currently, Chinese patent medicines and decoctions are widely used in the clinical treatment of depression, yielding positive results. This article summarizes recent research on the pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal formulas and single herbs with antidepressant properties, analyzing them from three aspects: chemical composition, pharmacological mechanism, and adverse reactions. The aim is to provide references for the clinical application of Chinese herbal formulas in treating depression and to suggest directions for future research.
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