According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of depression is about 3.1%, and nearly 6% in developed countries, and 10% to 15% of patients can commit suicide as a result. Although the efficacy of western drugs for antidepressants is certain, but at the same time there are also disadvantages such as large adverse reactions. Chinese people have the tradition of consulting Chinese medicine practitioners, and thousands of years of practical experience tell people that there are effective herbal medicines for depression that need to be tapped. With the progress of science and technology, the application of modern pharmacological methods, combined with clinical practice, the search for safe and effective antidepressant Chinese medicine has become one of the current hot topics in the medical field. The following are some of the single antidepressant herbal medicines that have a positive efficacy at present. 1, turmeric Curcumin is a natural active ingredient extracted from the rhizome of turmeric plant of the ginger family. Experimental results show that this compound has antidepressant activity at 20 mg/kg oral dose. It exerts antidepressant effects mainly by inhibiting MAO and enhancing the utilization of monoamine transmitters. Its antidepressant effect is strongly related to 5hydroxytryptamine (5-HT); curcumin can inhibit glutamate-induced damage to rat cortical neuronal cells, and this neuroprotective effect may be related to its activation of certain signaling pathways. 2, calamus Calamus mainly contains volatile oil, amino acids, organic acids and sugars and other components, has the effect of opening the orifice to dispel phlegm, awaken the mind and puzzle, dampness and stomach. Clinical application of Acorus calamus, Yujin combination treatment of 69 cases of depression, before and after treatment using depression state self-assessment scale for assessment, after treatment patients depression score significantly reduced, there is a significant difference between before and after treatment. Animal experiments also demonstrated that a large dose of Acorus calamus aqueous alcoholic solution can enhance 5-HTP-induced head tossing behavior in mice, suggesting that the antidepressant effect of Acorus calamus aqueous alcoholic solution may play an antidepressant role by blocking the reuptake of central 5-HT and other monoamine transmitters, so that the synaptic gap in the bioavailable 5-HT increased. 3. Ginseng Ginseng is a great tonic for the vital energy, the spleen and the lungs, and its main component is ginsenoside, with a content of about 4%. Experimental studies have found that ginsenoside can significantly shorten the immobility time of forced swimming and tail hanging experiments in mice at a dose that does not affect their spontaneous activity, indicating that ginsenoside has a significant antidepressant effect on the mouse model of “behavioral despair”. 4, Chai Hu Chai Hu can change the content of tryptophan and 5-HT in various parts of the rat brain, used for the treatment of refractory depression. The experimental study found that Chai Hu saponin can improve the depression performance of depressed rats, and can protect the neurons in the hippocampus, and increase the content of NE, 5-HT, dopamine (DA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of depressed rats, suggesting that the antidepressant effect of Chai Hu saponin may be related to the regulation of brain monoamine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The antidepressant effect of chaihu saponin may be related to the regulation of brain monoamine neurotransmitters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It has no significant toxic adverse effects and is easily absorbed orally. 5, white peony White peony has the effect of nourishing blood and astringing yin, softening the liver and relieving pain, and calming liver yang, which can nourish liver blood and soften the liver body, most responsive to the characteristics of the liver. Modern research has shown that white peony decoction has antidepressant effect. Through the rat depression model found that peony can significantly improve the behavioral changes of depressed rats, increase the NE, 5-HT content in the brain of rats, suggesting that the modulation of central monoamine neurotransmitters by peony is one of the mechanisms of its antidepressant effect. It is mostly used for the treatment of physical weakness, lumbar and knee pain, and insomnia and dreaminess. Clinical research suggests that Acanthopanax can improve human self-perception, memory, improve human mood and work ability, and make sleep normal, and has reported Acanthopanax has a role in the treatment of depression. Studies on the antidepressant effect of Acanthopanax extract have shown that Acanthopanax extract has a significant antidepressant effect on the depression model of animals with behavioral despair. The clinical effect will be better.