The basic pathogenesis of the depression syndrome is the stagnation of qi movement and the dysfunction of zang-fu viscera. At the beginning, the syndrome is mainly manifested as the liver depression and qi stagnation due to the internal injuries of the seven emotions, resulting in the liver’s failure in conveying qi smoothly. If the syndrome is further aggravated, it will involve the dysfunction of multiple internal organs, yet its core pathogenesis is still the liver qi stagnation. Academician Tong Xiaolin often treats this depression syndrome with a minor prescription consisting of three Chinese medicines: prepared nutgrass galingale rhizome, finger citron and citron fruit. Prepared nutgrass galingale rhizome mainly acts on the liver, good as dispersing the stagnated liver qi for relieving the qi stagnation, regulating qi-flowing for activating the stagnancy, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and its dosage range is mostly 9-15 g. Finger citron, with a comparatively milder effect, acts mainly on the spleen and stomach, adept at dispersing the liver and regulating qi, comforting the stomach and relieving pain in the stomach, eliminating dampness and phlegm, and its dosage range is mostly 9-15 g. The effect of citron fruit is similar to that of finger citron, both of which can harmonize the liver and spleen, whose power of resolving phlegm and relieving cough is slightly better, and its dosage range is mostly 9-15 g. Each of the three medicines has its own emphasis, but they can also be compatible and cooperate with each other to fully play the role of relieving depression and regulating qi.