Analysis and Prospects of the Rapid Antidepressant Mechanism of Nasal Administration Based on the Theory of Opening Orifices with Aromatic Medicinals
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.18.018
- VernacularTitle:基于芳香开窍理论经鼻给药快速抗抑郁机制解析与展望
- Author:
You LI
1
;
Haiyu ZHANG
2
;
Xiaowen ZHANG
2
;
Xunjia ZHANG
3
;
Aoxuan ZHANG
4
;
Hao ZHANG
5
Author Information
1. School of acupuncture，moxibustion and Massage，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Jinan，250355
2. School of Health，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
3. School of Pharmacy，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
4. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
5. Institute for Chinese Medicine and Brain Science，Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
depression;
nasal administration;
rapid antidepressant;
opening orifices with aromatic medicinals
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(18):2020-2026
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Addressing the current clinical problems of conventional antidepressants， such as delayed onset of action and prominent adverse reactions， this paper explores the theoretical basis， mechanism of action， and application prospects of nasal administration as a novel rapid antidepressant strategy. By clarifying the conceptual connotation of rapid antidepressants， elucidating their clinical demands and application advantages， and explaining the physiological basis of nasal-to-brain delivery， it is proposed that the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways can bypass the blood-brain barrier to achieve rapid targeted delivery of drugs to brain tissue. On this basis， combined with the theory of opening orifices with aromatic medicinals in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） as well as related research in modern aromatherapy， the ancient and modern clinical evidence of nasal administration in regulating emotions was systematically reviewed. Furthermore， this article discusses the application advantages of nasal administration in special populations such as the elderly， children， and pregnant women， and analyzes the practical bottlenecks such as mucosal clearance， limited formulation volume， and safety evaluation. Nasal administration is expected to become an important supplementary means for rapid antidepressants， and the integrated model of "TCM aromatic medicinals plus nanopreparations plus nasal administration" can provide new ideas for research on the integration of TCM and western medicine in treating depression.
