5. Syndrome of Heart-blood deficiency
Manifestations
Main symptoms
Pale complexion, pale lips, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety and shortness of breath.
Secondary symptoms
Tingling of limbs and extremities, poor memory, inability to concentrate, tiredness, insomnia and poor appetite.
Tongue
Cracked, pale or delicate pink, with a white coating.
Pulse
Thready and weak.
Associated disorders in western medicine
Blood loss, weak constitution and chronic diseases, various anemias, malnutrition, hypotension, after a surgical operation or delivery of a baby.
Analysis of the syndrome
• The Heart governs the blood and promotes the blood circulation. If the blood is deficient, it is unable to support the body, and a pale complexion, pale lips and pale tongue may present.
• When the blood is unable to house the Heart-shen, palpitations, anxiety, restless sleep, poor memory, inability to concentrate and insomnia may exist.
• If the Heart-blood is unable to support the Qi in the head and chest, dizziness, headache and shortness of breath may occur.
• When the blood is too weak to circulate, to nourish the body and to carry the Qi, tiredness, poor appetite and tingling of the limbs appear.
• The signs of the tongue and the pulse clearly show the deficiency of the blood.
Treatment principle: Tonify the blood and regulate blood circulation
Herb selection principles and formula composition strategies
• First, herbs that enter the Heart, Spleen and Liver meridians, and can directly tonify the Heart-blood are selected.
• Second, herbs that enter the Spleen and Heart meridians, and tonify the Spleen-Qi so as to support the Heart-Qi and generate the Heart-blood are selected, along with herbs that nourish the blood and calm the mind.
• Third, herbs that stimulate the Qi and blood, and remove phlegm obstruction in the Heart meridian are selected.
Structure of the formula and selection of herbs
Chief: Tonify the Heart-blood
Dang Gui ( Angelicae sinensis radix) and Bai Shao Yao ( Paeoniae radix lactiflora)
Dang Gui is sweet, pungent and warm, and enters the Liver, Heart and Spleen meridians. It is a very commonly used herb to tonify the blood. The strong point of this herb is that it not only tonifies the blood, but also promotes the blood circulation as it has pungent and warm properties. It matches the nature of blood, which prefers warmth and must always be moving. Although it is the first choice for tonifying the Liver-blood, it can tonify the blood of the Spleen and Heart as well. This herb is used mainly in pathological conditions where the Liver-Qi and blood stagnate and disturb the transportation and transformation functions of the Spleen. When the Spleen fails to generate Qi and blood, both the Liver-blood and Heart-blood become weak, resulting in the further stagnation of Qi and blood.
Bai Shao Yao is bitter, sour and slightly cold, and enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It particularly tonifies the substantial part of the blood and increases the Yin. It is often used in the syndrome of blood and Yin deficiency that manifests as palpitations, restlessness, stiffness and cramping pain of the limbs, dry eyes, blurred vision and scanty menstruation due to deficiency of the blood and Yin of the Heart and Liver.
Long Yan Rou ( Longanae arillus) and Da Zao ( Jujubae fructus)
These are two sweet fruits. Long Yan Rou is neutral and Da Zao is warm. Both enter the Heart and Spleen meridians. They can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi, nourish the Heart-blood and calm the mind. As they taste nice and have few side effects, they are often selected in formulas or added to the diet for long-term use in a mild case or a chronic condition of Heart-blood deficiency, such as after a surgical operation or in chronic diseases. They are also used in the formula or diet to prevent Heart-blood deficiency in people who are under persistent mental stress.
Deputy: Tonify the Spleen-Qi and calm the Mind
Buy Membership for Complementary Medicine Category to continue reading. Learn more here
