Postpartum Depression

A significant number of patients with postpartum depression exhibit anxiety more prominently than sadness. Typical examples include repeatedly checking to see if the baby has stopped breathing even when they are sleeping well, or having a persistent fear that they will be a bad mother. When this is compounded by insomnia—difficulty falling asleep or waking up frequently even after falling asleep—a vicious cycle is created where sleep deprivation amplifies anxiety. Such anxiety and insomnia fall within the spectrum of postpartum depression and are addressed together within the same treatment framework. In Korean medicine, it is believed that a deficiency in "heart blood" prevents the mind from settling properly, leading to anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia. At Dongjedang, we facilitate sleep using an Ansin prescription that adds Sanjoin, Wonji, and Boksin to herbal medicines that nourish both the mind and the spleen/stomach. Additionally, we treat both anxiety and insomnia by using acupuncture to calm the overly excited energy of the heart.