This paper summarizes clinical experience in treating depression with a combined approach of acupuncture and herbal medicine under the guiding principle of deficiency and excess. Given the complex pathogenesis of depression， it is proposed that syndrome differentiation based on deficiency and excess should serve as the overarching principle. Acupuncture is prioritized， supplemented by Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture is based on the spirit-regulating protocol； for excess syndromes， it is combined with the calming and restoring protocol， while for deficiency syndromes， it is combined with the five zang organs tonification protocol. In cases of mixed deficiency and excess， the two protocols are alternated， and adjustments are made dynamically throughout the treatment based on syndrome evolution. Herbal prescriptions are also guided by the differentiation of deficiency and excess. For excess patterns， dispersion and clearance should be emphasized， focusing on soothing the liver， clearing heat， relieving irritability， regulating qi， transforming phlegm， and calming the mind； for deficiency patterns， tonification is emphasized， aiming to strengthen the spleen， nourish the blood， calm the spirit， tonify qi， and consolidate the root.