Internal Medicine Heart Disorders

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Always Tired
Angina
Depression and Manic Psychosis
Insomnia
Palpitation
Acupuncture treatment of Chest pain
Important: as with all items posted on TCM Health-info, it is
very strongly recommended that you seek proper advise from
your healthcare professional before administering any form of
treatment to yourself. This website is for informational
purposes and does not replace the proper diagnosis of your
physician.
Overview Of Heart Function:
The heart governs blood in two different ways. It is the area
where food Qi (Gu Qi) is transformed into blood. The heart Qi
is the main organ responsible for moving blood within the blood
vessels in order to transport blood to all tissues of the body.
The heart houses the bodys Shen. Shen indicates the
mentality of an individual while it also shows the emotional and
spiritual aspects. So it not only relates to the heart but it
includes emotions, mentality and spirituality of the bodies
overall constitution. Disorders of the heart include, excessive
tiredness, angina, insomnia, depression, manic psychosis and
palpitations.
Click here for more TCM Heart Foundations: Functions of the
TCM Heart

Always Tired Duo Mei

Top of the Document
The patient can sleep anywhere or anytime no matter how
much sleep they have received. They may wake up in the
morning and keep on sleeping through out the day, fatigue is so
bad that patient will be unable to work. Is usually caused by
Yang Qi Deficiency.
Western Medicine
Chronic fatigue, Bi polar or Narcolepsy
May Be Caused By:
Accumulation of Phlegm and Damp:
Phlegm & Dampness (yin pathogens) block
yang Qi
Spleen Qi Deficiency:
Creates Qi & Blood deficiency body not nourished, whole body
becomes flaccid
Kidney Yang Deficiency:

Old age/chronic illness bones, mind, essence

and spirit all become weak
Traumatic Injury/Blood Stasis:
Qi & Blood do not circulate creating deficiency
Sudden Shock/Fear:
Causes Qi stagnation- Qi doesnt ascend to
brain
Damp Accumulation (blocks spleen Qi)
Heaviness in head and limbs, edema, poor appetite,
fullness in chest, nauseous
T greasy, swollen
P soft
Treatment:
Dry Dampness and strengthen Spleen
Qi
Formula
Tai Wu Shen Zhu San
Turbid Phlegm Stagnation
Heaviness in head and limbs, poor appetite, fullness in chest,
nauseous, over weight
T greasy, swollen, sticky
P
slippery
Treatment:
Eliminate Phlegm and invigorate Spleen.
Formula
Wen Dai Tang
Spleen Qi Deficiency
Unable to stay awake after meals, poor appetite, soft stools,
spleen Qi deficiency symptoms
T pale, puffy, teeth marks
P
soft, weak
Treatment:
Strengthen spleen Qi and eliminate dampness
Formula
Xiang Sha Lu Jun Zi Tang
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (spleen Qi sinking)
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms with cold symptoms, lack of
concentration, poor memory
T pale
P
deep, thin
Treatment:
Nourish Kidney Yang
Formula
Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang
Blood Stasis
History of traumatic injuries, H/A, sleepiness with
cloudy dizziness
T purple
P uneven
Treatment:
Promote blood circulation and remove
blood stasis
Formula
Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang

Angina Heart Pain Xin Tong

Top of the Document

Angina is a cramping pain in the chest which can radiate to the

shoulder blade, down the left arm and up the throat to the
teeth. Heart pain can also be accompanied by palpitations,
shortness of breath and a distended or fullness feeling behind
chest.
Western Medicine:
Angina is a lack of oxygen supply to the heart itself
causing pain. This is often caused by coronary Heart disease
causing Heart Attacks or inflammatory heart diseases.
May Be Caused By:
External Pathogen Invasions:
stagnates Heart meridian Qi

-Ext. Cold-

-Summer
Heat Injures Heart meridian Qi
Emotion
-over thinking,
worry, anger, joy, sad, fear
Diet
-injures spleen
producing Phlegm which blocks Heart meridian Qi.
Deficiency
-chronic illness & over
work injures Qi & Blood
-Liver and Kidney
Deficiency injures Heart
Differential Diagnosis:
ST Ache
-lower pain which does not radiate into the chest
and down the left arm. Accompanied by belching, flatulence,
acid regurgitation
Hypochondriac-Chest Pain
-related with cough and febrile disease history,
accompanied by liver Qi stagnation symptoms.

Heart Meridian Blocked By Cold

Sudden onset of heart pain which radiates to back, usually in
cold season or sudden cold weather, cold body with cold sweat,
palpitations.
T slight purple, thin white coat
P
tense
Treatment:
expel cold and remove stagnation to relieve
pain
Formula
Dang Gui Si Ni Tang
Stagnated Fire Attacking Heart
Burning heart pain, thirsty, irritable, rough breathing,
fever, constipation.
T- red, yellow coat
P rapid
Treatment:
Purge fire, clear heat to remove stagnation and
promote blood circulation.
Formula
Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Qi Stagnation in Heart

Fullness in chest and Heart with moving dull pain. Pain agg. By
emotional stress. Accompanied by Qi stagnation symptoms.
T pale, purple, red tip
Pwiry
Treatment:
soothe liver and regulate Qi to relieve pain.
Formula
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Blood Stasis
Severe heart pain, stabbing, squeezing fixed pain
T purple veins under tongue
P uneven, irregular
Treatment: promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis
to relieve pain
Formula
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Phlegm Stasis
Heavy oppression in chest, difficult breathing, agg. During
damp weather, productive cough, soft stool, sticky sensation,
nautious, phlegm/damp symptoms
T purple, thick greasy coat
P wiry
Treatment:
Eliminate phlegm, clear heat/wind, invigorate
Qi to relieve pain.
Formula
Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang
Wan Dan Tang Phlegm Heat dry
stool, dysphasia
Di Dan Tang
- Phlegm Wind
numbness/dizziness
Heart Qi Deficiency
Dull pain, short of breath, agg. By activity, pale complexion,
spontaneous sweat
T pale
P weak, deep
Treatment:
Nourish heart Qi
Formula
Bao Yuan Tang
Heart Yin Deficiency
Dull burning pain, insomnia, dysphasia, palpitations
T red tip, scanty coat
P rapid, thin
Treatment:
Nourish heart Yin
Formula
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Heart Yang Deficiency
Pain and palpitations, almost cant function, fatigued, cold, agg
by cold and exertion
T pale
P weak, deep
Treatment:
Nourish yang Qi and invigorate heart
Yang
Formula
Ren Shen Tang
+ Shen Qi Wan - KD yang def.
+ Zhen Wu Tang - edema

Depression And Manic Psychosis Bipolar

Dian Kuang
Top of the Document
Depression (Dian) is the emotional state of being sad or
extreme feelings of dejection, lack of worth and emptiness.
Signs of depression (Dian) range from lack of motivation,
failure to concentrate, lack of expression on ones face, quiet,
and in severe conditions body functions can be effected. Manic
Psychosis or Mania (Kuang) is a mood disorder where there is
excess excitement, nervousness, excess talking, loud talking,
and possible violent destructive or self-destructive behaviour.
May be caused by:
Qi Stagnation
-Liver/Spleen stagnation produces
phlegm & blood stasis blocking Heart meridian and blocks the
mind
Phlegm
-blocks mind
Fire
-more for Kuang behaviour- fire effects
(St/LV/GB) which then attacks Heart and blocks the mind.
Blood Stasis
-blocks healthy Qi & Blood from
nourishing Heart & mind.
Depression - Dian
Phlegm Stagnation
Lack of expression, retarded mental activity, paranoid, talk to
themselves, suicidal, poor appetite
T white/greasy coat
P wiry,
slippery, deep
Treatment:
Soothe liver Qi and eliminate phlegm to clear
mind
Formula
Xiao Yao San & Di Tan Tang or Er Chen Tang
Qi Deficiency With Phlegm Stagnation
Very quiet, dull yellow complexion, soft stools, lack of
expression, retarded mental activity, paranoid, talk to
themselves, suicidal, poor appetite
T pale, swollen, white/greasy coat
P weak, soft, slip.
Treatment:
Strengthen spleen Qi and eliminate phlegm to
clear mind
Formula
Si Jun Zi Tang + Di Tang Tang
Qi & Blood Deficiency
Pale, fatigued, lack of concentration, easily shocked,
palpitations, easily sad, easily cry, no courage, disturbed
sleeping patter, HT/SP deficient patterns
T pale, teeth marks, thin/greasy coat
P
weak, thin
Treatment:
Nourish Qi/Blood/Heart & spleen to clear mind
Formula
Yang Xin Tang
Manic Psychosis - Kuang

Phlegm Fire
Acute onset, insomnia, H/A, irritable, red complexion, red eyes,
angry eyes Severe case violent, sweating, shouting
T red, yellow/greasy coat
P
slippery, rapid
Treatment:
Induce vomit then Purge bowel movement to
eliminate phlegm
Formula
San Sheng Tang = induce vomit
Xie Xin Tang + Gun Tan Wan = purge phlegm
Yin Deficiency With Hyperactive Fire
Fatigued with irritability, anxious, insomnia, easily shocked, red
complexion, emaciation
T red, thin coat
P thin, rapid
Treatment:
Nourish yin and descend fire to calm
the mind
Formula
Er yin Jian + Din g Zhi Wan
Qi & Blood Stagnation
May occur after traumatic injury or related to menses, H/A,
heavy menses with clots, severe PMS, abdominal pain,
irritability, insomnia, red complexion
T purple, thin/yellow coat
P
thin, wiry, rapid
Treatment:
Promote blood circulation and regulate Qi to
relieve stagnation
Formula
Dian Kuang Meng Xing Tang + Tao Hong Si Wu
Tang (mild)
Or + Da Huang Zhi Cong Wan (severe)

Insomnia Shi Mian

Top of the Document
Insomnia is the chronic inability to sleep not being able to
achieve deep sleep. Most people who suffer insomnia will be
unable to sleep through out the night with ought waking
frequently. The primary organ affecting sleep is the heart,
which is usually accompanied by a secondary organ which is
dysfunctional.
May Be Caused By:
Emotions:
All 7 emotions may cause dysfunctionJoy
(HT)has most impact on sleep
HT Joy shen/spirit doesnt calm at night
HT looses control
LV Anger cant store blood liver turns to
fire attacking HT
SP Worry/Sad SP Qi stagnates and cant
T&T Blood to nourish HT
Spleen Deficiency:
Caused by diet/poor digestion or over working cant produce
blood to nourish HT

Heart & Kidney Disharmony:

Causes a disharmony between kidney water
and heart fire
Liver Blood Deficiency:
Liver cant store ethereal soul soul becomes
active and eyes will not shut
Heart & Gall Bladder Qi Deficiency:
Impairs heart function GB cant ascend or
disperse timid person
Phlegm Heat in the Liver / Heart:
Phlegm heat entraps heart and mind
Disharmony of Stomach Qi:
Follows divergent meridian impairing heart
Heart & Spleen Deficiency
Difficulty falling asleep, excessive dreaming, easily awakened,
hard
to fall back to sleep, HT blood def. symptoms with SP Qi def.
symptoms
T pale, white coat
P
weak, thin
Treatment:
Nourish Heart and Spleen to calm the mind
Formula
Gui Pi Tang
Liu Jun Zi Tang more SP Qi def. symptoms
Suan Zao Ren Tang more HT Blood def.
symptoms
Heart Yin Deficiency with Hyperactive Fire
Difficult sleeping with irritability, chest dysphoria, yin def.
symptoms, dry throat, thirsty, mouth sores, cankers
T red, dry coat
P
thin, rapid
Treatment:
Nourish Yin, clear Heart fire and calm the mind
Formula
Tian Wang Wu Bu Xin Dan
Heart and Kidney Disharmony
Difficult sleeping with dysphoria, reproductive disorders, lower
back/knee weakness and pain, KD essence def. symptoms.
T red tip, scanty coat
P
thin rapid
Treatment:
Strengthen Kidney to balance Kidney and
Heart to calm mind
Formula
Jiao Tai Wan
Liver Blood Deficiency
Difficult sleeping, wakes frequently with great difficulty falling
back asleep, excessive dreaming, easily angered,
hypochondriac/chest pain/fullness, liver stagnation symptoms
T red sides, white/yellow coat
P wiry, rapid
(if heat)
Treatment:
Nourish Liver Blood and sooth Liver to calm the
mind
Formula
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San + calming herbs (Liver Heat Turns to fire)

Heart & Gall Bladder Qi Deficiency

Difficult sleeping, timid character, always thinking, cant make
decisions, depression, spontaneous sweat, palpitations, short of
breath
T pale
P
thin, wiry
Treatment:
Nourish Ht and Gall Bladder Qi to calm the
mind
Formula
An Shen Ding Zhi Wan + Ren Shen + Fu Ling
(to nourish Qi)
Phlegm Heat
Difficult sleeping with dizziness, blurred vision, fullness in
chest, bitter taste, nauseous, phlegm vomit, belching,
overweight
T red, greasy yellow coat
P
slippery, rapid
Treatment:
Eliminate Phlegm and clear Heat to
calm the mind.
Formula
Wen Dan Tang
Stomach Qi Disharmony
Difficult sleeping, nauseous, vomit, bloating, irregular bowel
movement, abdominal distension/pain, irregular diet
T greasy coat
P
slippery
Treatment:
Remove Stagnation in Stomach, promote
digestion and harmonize ST Qi to calm the mind.
Formula
Bao He Wan + Chen Qi Tang (constipation)
Palpitations Xin Ji
Top of the Document
Palpitations are the pounding or racing of the heart and may be
accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue and an irregular
pulse which may be short and fast or rapid. Palpitations are
usually due to lack of support from another organ creating a
Heart deficiency or an external pathogenic factor blocking the
Heart meridian.
May Be Caused By:
Primary Causes
General Body Qi Def - giving rise to HT deficiency
Emotional Stress
- causes LV Qi Stag impairs HT
function
- causing LV Qi Stag blood stag. blocks HT meridian
impairs HT function
-dysfunction of SP damp/phlegm blocks meridian SP cant
produce blood to nourish HT
Chronic Illness
-consumes HT Qi & Yin
Secondary Causes
Chronic Bi Syndrome - pathogens follows meridian and
enters HT

Acute/Chronic Bleeding
- blood Def. HT isnt
nourished
Epidemic Febrile Disease
- Toxic heat attacks HT
Chronic Cough/Asthma
-LU Qi/Yang Def. with Phlegm
creates HT Qi Def.
Differentiate Between:
Running Piglet Syndrome
feeling starts in L.
Jiao and goes up to throat
- Kidney Disorder
Heart Qi Deficiency
Heart cant push blood and cant nourish itself
Palpitations with shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue,
spontaneous sweat, agg. by activity and amel. By rest.
T pale
thin, weak
Treatment:
Nourish heart Qi and nourish Yin
Formula
Wu Wei Zi Tang

Heart Yang Deficiency

Palpitations, aversion to cold, scanty urine, edema, cold
symptoms, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, spontaneous
sweat
TP
deep
Treatment:
Warm and Strengthen Heart Yang
Formula
Bao Yuan Tang
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang induce diresis if
edema
Heart Yin Deficiency
Palpitations induced by fear with insomnia, dysphoria, 5-centre
heat sensation, fever, night sweat, yin def. symptoms
T red, scanty dry coat
P thin, rapid
Treatment:
Nourish heart Yin and calm heart to relieve
palpitations
Formula
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Heart and Spleen Deficiency
Palpitations with shortness of breath, dizziness, insomnia, poor
appetite, soft stools, pale face
T pale, puffy
P
weak
Treatment:
Nourish heart & spleen
Formula
Gui Pi Tang
Heart Qi / Blood Deficiency
Palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, short of
breath, pale
Treatment:
Nourish heart Qi & Blood
Formula
Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

Palpitations with insomnia, 5-centre heat sensation, back/knee

ache/weakness, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, reproductive
disorders, LV/KD Yin Def. Symptoms.
T red, thin coat
P
thin, rapid
Treatment:
Nourish Liver Kidney & Heart to calm the
mind
Formula
Yi Guan Jian - nourish liver & kidney
+ Suan Zao Ren Tang - nourish heart
Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Palpitations with fatigue, tired, aversion to cold, cold limbs, cold
body, poor appetite, soft stool, scanty urine
T swollen, pale, white coat
P
deep, thin, retarded
Treatment:
Warm Spleen and Kidney and Induce
diresis to calm heart
Formula
Li Zhong Tang + Zhen Wu Tang
(induce diresis)
Heart and Gall Bladder Qi Deficiency
Palpitations with fear, timid person, lots of dreams, fearful of
lights and sounds, poor appetite
T - pale
P
thin, wiry
Treatment:
Nourish Heart and Gall Bladder Qi to calm the
mind
Formula
Ping Bu Zhen Xin Dan
Wen Dan Tang
Turbid Phlegm Stagnation
Palpitations due to poor diet or over thinking causing
dysfunction of spleen, shortness of breath, fullness/distended
chest, easily nausea, bloated, poor appetite, heavy feeling
T teeth marks, slippery/greasy coat
P
wiry, slippery
Treatment:
regulate Qi to transform phlegm
Formula
Dao Tan Tang
Wen Dan Tang (phlegm heat)
Blood Stasis
Palpitations with shortness of breath, dysphoria, fullness in
chest, slight pain in
head
T purple veins under tongue
P irregular
Treatment:
promote blood circulation, remove
blood stasis
Formula
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang