I had the opposite problem of you.....I had horrible side effects to every med out there. Every time my pdoc wanted to try a different med, I ended up in the hospital due to the side effects.......so had to deal with my major depression without any meds.

Tried accupuncture for the migraines I ended up with after all the meds they tried me on seemed to migraines as a side effect also. Nothing got rid of the migraines either.....that's a whole other story.

My pdoc specialized in clinical trials & in that, alternative treatments. One suggestion that worked for me.....I could really feel the difference was the very high dose of the EPA Omega 3 (not the DHA). EPA doseage for my small body had to be a minimum of 1800mgs/day (about 2 tablespoons of the fish oil I am now taking). Of course, every Omega 3 has both the EPA & the DHA in it along with the others. I found that it was not only good for my depression, but for my blood pressure that goes sky high with my anxiety goes up & also for the anxiety & it helps my memory.....with my anxiety, my mind shuts off & I forget where I put things.....with the Omega 3's, it helps my mind focus better & remember better when I'm reading....just all over help for my body along with the depression.

It's not TCM.....but it works for me & many others who have tried it accorting to my pdoc's trials.