Abstract：Depression is a mental disorder with persistent low mood as its core symptom，which is categorized into the scope of depression syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. With "stagnation and obstruction of sweat pores" as the theoretical core， this study combines the characteristics of acrid herbs to systematically explore the mechanism and application of acrid herbs in the treatment of depression. As the micro-channels for the circulation of qi and body fluids in the human body， the stagnation and obstruction of sweat pores can lead to qi stagnation， phlegm obstruction，and blood stasis，eventually resulting in the dysfunction of vital activity. This pathological process is highly consistent with the modern pathological mechanisms of depression， such as neuroinflammation and microcirculatory disturbance. Endowed with the properties of "being able to disperse，move，unblock，transform，and moisten"，acrid herbs can open the sweat pores， smooth the flow of qi， and resolve phlegm and stasis， thereby restoring the normal operation of vital activity. By sorting out the origin and development of the sweat pore theory and summarizing the rules of syndrome differentiation and compatibility of acrid herbs， this study aims to provide new ideas for the treatment of depression.