What is the basic concept of melancholia?

Melancholia is a complicated morbid condition manifested as emotional depression, restlessness,distending pain in hypochondriurn,irritability,being apt to cry, feeling,something checking the throat and insomnia caused by stagnation of functional activities of Qi and mental depression.

What are the respective etiologies and pathogeneses,symptoms,treatments and recipes of stagnation of the liver-Qi and deficiency of both the heart and spleen?

(1) Stagnation of the liver-Qi

[Etiology and Pathogenesis] Melancholia caused by depression and anger, dysfunction of the liver and its failure in dispersing.

[Symptoms] Gloomy mind,restlessness,susceptibility to signing,distending pain in chest and hypochondrium with unfixed painingspot,eructation,fullness in stomach, abdominal distention,poor appetite,or vomiting,without menses in women,greasy and thin fur,and wiry pulse.

[Treatment] Soothing the liver and regulating the circulation of Qi.Relieving mental depression.

[Recipe] Chai Hu Shu Gan San

(2)Deficiency of both the heart and spleen

[Etiology and Pathogenesis] Lasting stagnation will injure the spleen causing reduced diet and inadequate production of Qi and blood and deficiency of Qi and blood in the heart and spleen.

[Symptoms] Over-anxiety,palpitation,timidness,insomnia,amnesia,pale complexion, dizziness,listlessness,poor appetite,pale tongue,and thready and weak pulse.

[Treatment] Invigorating the spleen,nourishing the heart and replenishing Qi and blood.

[Recipe] Gui Pi Tang