[Clinical characteristics of Lingnan acupuncture for depression based on the theory of "treating and regulating the mind"].

Based on the theory of "treating and regulating the mind", this paper systematically reviews the academic thoughts and clinical characteristics of Lingnan acupuncture for depression. In contemporary clinical practice, Lingnan physicians take the "unblocking and regulating the mind" as the core, focusing on "soothing the liver and regulating qi ", and"unblocking and regulating the primary qi "; with "caring for the middle and nourishing the mind" as the foundation, Lingnan physicians emphasize the coordinated regulation of the spleen and stomach to generate qi and blood; besides, Lingnan physicians take "regulating the heart and calming the mind" as the key, focusing on nourishing the heart, calming the mind,stabilizing the will, and relieving depression. These three aspects are interlinked, forming an acupuncture diagnosis and treatment system targeting the characteristics of depression in the Lingnan region, which are often marked by dampness,stagnation, consumption of qi, and injury to yin, and providing new ideas for the clinical and practical research of acupuncture for treating depression.