半刺治疗抑郁症刍议

Depression Treated with Half Needling

抑郁症以显著而持久的心境低落为主要临床特征,是心境障碍的主要类型。研究认为其发病与下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴（HPA轴）功能紊乱有密切联系。从中医学角度看,抑郁症的根本病机在于气机郁滞,从肺论治是治疗抑郁症的主要思路之一。半刺治疗抑郁症临床疗效确切。从半刺对HPA轴及肺的影响两个角度进行探讨,认为半刺治疗抑郁症的可能机制是：（1）半刺抑制了亢进的HPA轴及相关激素促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）、皮质醇/皮质酮（CORT）水平;（2）开宣肺气,助肺调畅气机,从而治疗抑郁症。

Depression,also known as depressive disorder,characterized by significant and prolonged mood depression as the main clinical feature,is the main type of mood disorder. According to some study,the occurrence is closely related to the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis（HPA axis）. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）,the underlying pathogenesis of depression is qi stagnation.Treatment of the lungs is one of the main ideas for the treatment of depression. The clinical efficacy of half needling for depression is good and definite. From the influence of half needling on the HPA axis and the lungs,it is considered that the possible mechanism of half needling for depression is as follows ：（1） Half needling suppresses the hyperactive HPA axis and related hormones like corticotrophin releasing hormone（CRH） and adrenocorticotropic hormone（ACTH）,cortisol/corticosterone（CORT） levels;（2）Half needling disperses lung qi,assist lungs to regulate qi activity,thus playing a role in the treatment of depression.