Shine (DS)™

TCM herbal formula for depression and stress with Liver qi stagnation and Heart fire — antidepressant; anxiolytic; spreads Liver qi; clears Heart fire; safe to use concurrently with antidepressant drugs — no known interactions

⚠️ Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Allergy warning: Shen Qu (Massa Fermentata) contains wheat — persons with wheat allergy should not take this product. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) which invigorates blood — use with caution or avoid with Coumadin (warfarin) or anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising. Discontinuation of antidepressants, particularly abruptly, may cause withdrawal symptoms such as "brain zaps" (electric shock sensations), dizziness, acute depression, and irritability — taper off slowly. Shine (DS) may be used concurrently with antidepressant drugs or during the tapering process.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Depression and stress

* Anxiety, stress, irritability

* Sadness, lack of interest

* Possible chest distension, abdominal bloating, generalized weakness and/or discomfort

* Note: This formula has no known interactions with antidepressant drugs.

Shine vs. Shine (DS):

— Shine is more effective for depression characterized by stagnation (food, qi, blood, and phlegm). Should NOT be used concurrently with antidepressant drugs — contains St. John's Wort (Guan Ye Jin Si Tao).

— Shine (DS) is more effective for depression and stress characterized by Liver qi stagnation and Heart fire. May be used concurrently with antidepressant drugs — no known interactions.

Background: Depression is a mood disorder that encompasses more than just sadness — stress and anxiety are among the most common co-occurring symptoms, and are often difficult to separate from depression itself. Controlling depression with pharmaceuticals is difficult and may require months of trial and error with different medications, often requiring combinations of two or more drugs. In TCM, depression is characterized by stagnation of qi, blood, food, and phlegm. If untreated, these stagnations create heat, causing Heart fire and shen (spirit) disturbance. Optimal treatment requires herbs to relieve stagnation and clear Heart fire. Shine (DS) treats depression characterized by Liver qi stagnation accompanied by interior heat and underlying blood and Spleen deficiencies — often leading to stagnation of blood, phlegm, heat, dampness, and food. When qi is stagnant in the chest and abdomen, chest distension and oppression as well as abdominal fullness and pain may occur.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri): enters the Liver channel; activates qi circulation; relieves qi stagnation; calms and alleviates depression

— Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi): enters the Liver channel; activates qi circulation; relieves qi stagnation; calms and alleviates depression

— Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan): sedates interior heat arising from Spleen and blood deficiencies and from Liver qi stagnation

— Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae): sedates interior heat; significant antidepressant activity — sarsasapogenin markedly increases noradrenaline and serotonin levels in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus

— Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae): sedates interior heat; clears Heart fire; relieves irritability; antihypertensive

— Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong): activates blood circulation; dispels blood stagnation; calms and alleviates depression

— Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba): tonifies yin and blood; contains fire in the body; anti-inflammatory; muscle-relaxant

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis): tonifies yin and blood; contains fire in the body; invigorates blood circulation

— Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae): strengthens the Spleen; dries dampness; clears damp and phlegm stagnation; adaptogenic — facilitates adjustment to mental and physical stress; regulates and restores digestive system and gastrointestinal motility

— Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis): strengthens the Spleen; dries dampness; clears damp and phlegm stagnation; regulates gastrointestinal motility

— Fu Ling (Poria): strengthens the Spleen; dries dampness; clears phlegm stagnation — when the Spleen is strong, the patient is less likely to worry and overthink

— He Huan Pi (Cortex Albiziae): calms the shen; antidepressant via 5-HT1A receptor system — therapeutic effect comparable to Tofranil (imipramine), a tricyclic antidepressant; clinically with Shi Chang Pu and others: 33 patients with depression — 81.8% effective (12 recovery, 15 improvement, 6 no effect)

— Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae): calms the shen; marked antidepressant effect — reverses harmful effects of chronic mild stress on mood and behavior via neuroendocrine and neuroprotective activities and involvement of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system; sedative effect for insomnia

— Shen Qu (Massa Fermentata): promotes digestion; clears food stagnation; relieves digestive symptoms arising from Liver overacting on the Spleen; improves absorption of nutrients

— Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle): harmonizes the entire formula; protects and repairs the intestines

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Antidepressant — Zhi Mu (sarsasapogenin, noradrenaline↑, serotonin↑ in hypothalamus and hippocampus); Yuan Zhi (HPA axis, neuroendocrine, neuroprotective); He Huan Pi (5-HT1A receptor, comparable to imipramine, 81.8% effective in 33 patients)

* Anxiolytic — Chai Hu, Xiang Fu (Liver qi regulation); Zhi Zi, Mu Dan Pi, Zhi Mu (interior heat clearance)

* Gastrointestinal / energy support — Shen Qu (food stagnation↓, digestion↑); Bai Zhu + Cang Zhu (GI motility regulation); Zhi Gan Cao (intestinal protection and repair)

* Adaptogenic — Bai Zhu (mental and physical stress adaptation)

* Sedative — Yuan Zhi (sedative, insomnia)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Spreads Liver qi; relieves qi stagnation (Chai Hu, Xiang Fu)

* Clears Heart fire; sedates interior heat (Zhi Zi, Mu Dan Pi, Zhi Mu)

* Activates blood circulation; dispels blood stagnation (Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui)

* Tonifies yin and blood; contains fire (Bai Shao, Dang Gui)

* Strengthens Spleen; dries dampness; clears phlegm stagnation (Bai Zhu, Cang Zhu, Fu Ling)

* Calms the shen (spirit) (He Huan Pi, Yuan Zhi)

* Clears food stagnation; restores digestion (Shen Qu)

* Harmonizes formula; protects intestines (Zhi Gan Cao)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach. May increase to 6–8 capsules every 4–6 hours as needed.

Supplementary formulas: Stress, anxiety, restlessness, and bipolar disorders (manic-depressives) — add Calm (ES). Purplish tongue, blood stasis, or chronic depression — add Circulation (SJ) in the first month of treatment. Liver blood deficiency and insomnia — add Calm ZZZ. Overthinking or over-worrying from Spleen qi deficiency — add Schisandra ZZZ. Indigestion and bloating — add GI Harmony. More phlegm — add Pinellia Complex. Constipation — add Gentle Lax (Excess) or Gentle Lax (Deficient). Quick boost of energy and vitality — combine with Vibrant. Constant fatigue and lack of energy from deficiency — combine with Imperial Tonic. Loss of sexual desire — combine with Vitality. Overweight or obesity — combine with Herbalite. Heat sensations, irritability, or nightmares from excess fire — add Gardenia Complex. Chronic non-responsive depression — add Circulation (SJ) for two months and re-evaluate.

Nutrition: Depression may be due in part to nutritional deficiency — avoid white bread, flour, saturated animal fats, hydrogenated vegetable oils, sweets, soft drinks, and canned goods as they deplete B vitamins and increase depression risk. Avoid a diet too low in complex carbohydrates as it may cause serotonin depletion and depression. Eat a variety of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables of all colors. Incorporate more high-fiber whole grains and nuts. Drink warm or hot liquids with meals — cold or iced drinks hinder natural peristaltic movements of the digestive system. Foods with antioxidant effects (vitamins A, C, E) are beneficial: citrus fruits, carrots, green leafy vegetables, and green tea. Chew food completely and thoroughly. Always eat breakfast — in TCM, 8–10 a.m. is the optimal time for the digestive system. Allow 2–3 hours between the last meal and bedtime. Avoid fast food, processed foods, junk food, artificial sugars, carbonated drinks, meat, greasy food, alcohol, caffeine, dairy (except unsweetened low-fat yogurt), tap water, iron supplements, and produce with pesticides. Avoid all sugar (cake, dessert, candy, chocolate, canned juice, soft drinks, stevia, corn syrup) — damages the Spleen. Avoid raw or uncooked meats and cooling foods (tofu, tomato, celery, asparagus, bamboo, seaweed, bitter melon, cucumber, watermelon, citrus, banana, papaya) — add ~20 pieces of Gou Qi Zi when cooking these to neutralize their cold property. Avoid warm/hot foods that damage qi and yin: heat-producing fruits (mango, durian), stimulants (coffee, alcohol, energy drinks), and spicy/pungent/aromatic vegetables (pepper, garlic, onions, basil, rosemary, cumin, fennel, anise, leeks, chives, scallions, thyme, saffron, wormwood, mustard, chili, wasabi). Avoid artificial coloring and processed meats (lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages) — nitrites are linked to inflammation and chronic disease.

Lifestyle: Regular use of steam rooms or saunas can help eliminate toxins through sweating. Take a 30-minute walk after meals to stimulate the circulatory and digestive systems. Incorporate some form of cardiovascular exercise. Do not postpone bowel movements — respond to the urge immediately. Sleep by 10 p.m. — in TCM, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. is when yin shifts to yang; the body must be at rest during this time for optimal health. Eliminate things that are unhealthy (alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars, saturated fats) or potentially toxic (chemical-based household cleaners and personal hygiene products).

Related Reading

Also see: Shine – for depression from food, qi, blood, and phlegm stagnation (not for use with antidepressants) | Calm (ES) – for stress, anxiety, restlessness, and bipolar disorders | Circulation (SJ) – for blood stasis or chronic non-responsive depression | Calm ZZZ – for Liver blood deficiency and insomnia | Schisandra ZZZ – for overthinking from Spleen qi deficiency | GI Harmony – for indigestion and bloating | Pinellia Complex – for more phlegm | Gentle Lax (Excess) – for constipation | Gentle Lax (Deficient) – for constipation | Vibrant – for quick energy boost | Imperial Tonic – for chronic fatigue and deficiency | Vitality – for loss of sexual desire | Gardenia Complex – for excess fire and irritability | Stress & Sleep Collection.