Abstract

Bipolar disorder represents a significant global health challenge, marked by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Traditional treatments often exhibit limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the potential efficacy of Chaihu-Shugan-San, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in managing bipolar disorder symptoms. 90 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder underwent 2 w intervention, randomly assigned to Chaihu-Shugan-San and placebo group. Symptom severity was rigorously assessed using established scales, such as Hamilton depression and anxiety rating scales, brief psychiatric rating scale and young mania rating scale. To further validate these findings, an animal model induced bipolar disorder-like symptoms with ouabain. The results revealed a significant improvement in symptom scores across all measures in the Chaihu-Shugan-San group compared with the placebo group, suggesting a promising role for Chaihu-Shugan-San in addressing the complexities of bipolar disorder. Chaihu-Shugan-San treatment exhibited a multifaceted impact, not only reducing manic-like behaviors and locomotor activity but also mitigating depression-like behaviors. This dual modulation of manic and depressive symptoms depicts Chaihu-Shugan-San as a potential holistic therapeutic approach for bipolar disorder. Exploration of Chaihu-Shugan-San introduces a novel avenue, emphasizing the importance of integrating traditional herbal medicine into psychiatric care. Chaihu-Shugan-San emerges as a promising, fostering choice for improved management strategy in bipolar disorder.