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Diseases of the Heart
Crooke, Mikrokosmographia, 1618
The Heart is a principal Organ of the Body and is one of the 5 Yin Organs of TCM.
The Heart distributes blood and Qi throughout the Body via the Arteries. Due to it being the most active organ and responsible for keeping the body warm, it is associated with the Fire Element in all systems. This means that it requires a lot of Yang Energy, and conversely, is easily affected by excess Heat. Due to its high rate of activity, it is also prone to disturbances in its rate which is generally a Wind / Qi disorder. The Heart also works closely with the Kidneys in maintaining balance of Fire and Water within the body. A weakness in either will cause dysfunction in the other.
The Heart is also regarded as the Seat of the Spirit in TCM. There is a close connection with the Heart and Spirit (Consciousness). Therefore, calming the Heart and Spirit is a treatment often used when their is Insomnia, Restlessness, Emotional or Mental disorders. The Gems, Pearl, Coral and Amber are all examples of medicines which work to Cool the Heart and settle the Mind and Spirit.
Treatment of the Heart may require various strategies:
The Heart distributes blood and Qi throughout the Body via the Arteries. Due to it being the most active organ and responsible for keeping the body warm, it is associated with the Fire Element in all systems. This means that it requires a lot of Yang Energy, and conversely, is easily affected by excess Heat. Due to its high rate of activity, it is also prone to disturbances in its rate which is generally a Wind / Qi disorder. The Heart also works closely with the Kidneys in maintaining balance of Fire and Water within the body. A weakness in either will cause dysfunction in the other.
The Heart is also regarded as the Seat of the Spirit in TCM. There is a close connection with the Heart and Spirit (Consciousness). Therefore, calming the Heart and Spirit is a treatment often used when their is Insomnia, Restlessness, Emotional or Mental disorders. The Gems, Pearl, Coral and Amber are all examples of medicines which work to Cool the Heart and settle the Mind and Spirit.
Treatment of the Heart may require various strategies:
- Clear Heart Heat–Pearl, Coral, Violet, Rose
- Warm the Heart–Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Galangal
- Regulate Heart Qi–Valerian, Aloeswood, Rose, Indian Spikenard
- Move the Blood–Saffron, Frankincense, Amber, Salvia Dan Shen
- Regulate the Heart–Hawthorn, Motherwort
- Calm the Heart and Spirit–Balm, Sandalwood, Basil seed, Pearl, Coral
- Strengthen the Heart–Soloman's Seal, Ginseng, Licorice, Mastic
- Nourish Heart Yin–Lily bulb, Asparagus root, Soloman's Seal, Pearl
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Western Tradition
To Comfort the Heart
Wine Egg Yolk Confected Ginger Rob of Currants Conserve of Rose Electuary of Citron Aromaticum Rosatum Diambra Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue) Electuary of Gems Heart Weakness Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia) Syrup of Apple Simple Syrup of Borage Juice Syrup of Rose Solutive Syrup of Water Lily Syrup of Water Lily Flower Compound Sugar of Rose Sugar of Borage Sugar of Rosemary Electuary of Gems (Mesue) Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue) Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue) Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum) Powder of Ambergris (Diambra) (Mesue) Sweet Powder of Musk (Diamoschu Dulce) (Mesue) Comp. Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum) Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum) Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon) Aromatic Musk Compound (Aromaticum Moschatum) Cordial Powder Troches of Gallia Muscata (Mesue) Troches of Gallia Muscata (Nicholas) Troches Gallia Sebellina (Mesue) Troches of Ramich (Mesue) Oil of Myrtle Oil of Cinnamon Strengthen the Heart Cordial Decoction (Florentini) Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia) Rosemary Wine Comp. Galangal Powder (Diagalanga) (Mesue) Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum) Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon) Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis) Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue) Electuary of Gems (Mesue) Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue) Aromatic Musk Compound (Aromaticum Moschatum) Heart Disease Syrup of Balm (Fernelius) Tincture of Saffron Tincture of Musk Tincture of Foxglove Rosemary Wine Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum) Troches of Aloeswood (Mesue) Common Pills Heart Heat / Fire 1. Camomile boiled in Pomegranate juice 2. Rose, Violet, Pearl Cordial Decoction (Florentini) Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia) Syrup of Pomegranate Syrup of Sorrel The Heavenly Cardiac Syrup of Rose Water Syrup of Dried Rose (Fernel) Syrup of Borage Syrup of Violet Compound Syrup of Violet (De morbus internis curandis) Alterative Syrup of Apples (Fernel) Syrup of Apples Purgative (Mesue) Exhilarative Syrup (Laurent) Confection of Hyacinth Cooling Powder of Gems Powder to Cool the Heart (Augustana) New Rose Powder (Rosata Nouvelle) Electuary of Gems (Mesue) Aloeswood 8 (Tibetan Medicine) Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder Heart Cold Wine of Cinnamon Syrup of Cinnamon Electuary of Gems (Mesue) Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue) Aromatic Musk Compound (Aromaticum Moschatum) Comp. Cinnamon Powder (Diacinnamonum) (Mesue) Comp. Galangal Powder (Diagalanga) (Mesue) Warming Powder of Gems (Mesue) Warming Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Calidum) (Avic.) Heart–Melancholy of Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia) Powder of Happiness (Letificans Galeni) Powder for Evil Complexion of the Heart (Isaac) Electuary of Gems (Mesue) To make the Heart Merry Cordial Decoction (French Pharmacopoeia) Powder of Happiness (Letificans Galeni) Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis) Electuary of Gems (Mesue) |
TCM Classification
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency
Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, excess dreaming, poor memory, pale complexion, short of breath, spontaneous sweating, pale lips and tongue, fine and weak pulse. More paleness and cold symptoms=Blood deficiency More shortness of breath, paleness and tiredness=Qi deficiency Heart Qi and Yin Deficiency
Palpitation, anxiety, breathless, tired but with insomnia and mental restlessness, sweating on exertion, dry mouth, night sweats, forceless pulse Heart Yin Deficiency
Palpitation, insomnia, excess dream, poor memory, restlessness, dry mouth and throat, feels hot at night, floating, empty pulse Heart Yang Deficiency
Palpitation, shortness of breath, sweating, discomfort, restlessness, feels cold, cold hands, pale face, floating, deep, weak and slow pulse and a pale tongue
Heart Qi Stagnation
Palpitations, pressure of the chest, may feel like a lump in the Throat, short of Breath, sighing, poor appetite, emotional or irritable, maybe insomnia, pale, weak pulse Heart Fire
Palpitations, thirst, mouth ulcers, restless, agitated, insomnia, excess dreaming, night sweats, red face with bitter taste, Red tongue with red tip, rapid pulse
Heart Blood Stasis
Palpitations, pricking or sharp, stabbing pain in the chest maybe radiating to the shoulder or left arm, pressure feeling in the chest, breathless, a look of distress, pale or dull color, cyanosis of lips and nails, cold hands, purplish tongue, choppy or knotted pulse Heart Wind
Tibetan Medicine recognises Heart Wind as a disease. Wind in the upper body affects the Heart, Mind and Spirit. There will be chest pain and oppression, poor memory and concentration, nervousness, fatigue, mental unrest, shortness of breath, insanity. It overlaps TCM diagnosis of Heart Qi Stagnation and Internal Wind. Bi Ma La (Tibetan Medicine) The Syrian "Book of Medicine" (translated by Wallis Budge, 1913) included several medicines for Heart Wind: 1. Dill seed in infusion mixed with Honey 2. Cumin, Terebinth gum, boiled in Goat Milk 3. Dill, Fennel, Rock Parsley, boiled in Goat Milk |