8. Syndrome of Heart-Yin deficiency
Manifestations
Main symptoms
Palpitations, restlessness, chest pain and a stifling sensation in the chest, forgetfulness, insomnia, warm palms and soles, dry throat and tongue, night sweats.
Secondary symptoms
Irritability and anxiousness.
Tongue
Red and dry.
Pulse
Thready and rapid.
Associated disorders in western medicine
Heart diseases, hypertension, mental disorders.
Analysis of the syndrome
The Heart is located in the Upper-Jiao. It is a fire organ in the Five-Element system and it houses the shen, governs the blood circulation and is considered as the chief of the other internal organs.
• When the Yin is too weak to nourish the Heart, support the blood circulation and settle the mind, palpitations, restlessness, chest pain and a stifling sensation in the chest may present.
• If the empty-heat is generated by Yin deficiency, the heat may disturb the Heart-shen and one may have difficulty in falling asleep.
• In a severe or chronic case, the empty-heat of the Heart may cause irritability and forgetfulness due to anxiousness.
• Yin deficiency can lead directly to night sweats, and warm palms and soles.
• A red and dry tongue and a thready and rapid pulse indicate Yin deficiency.
Treatment principle: Tonify the Heart-Yin
Herb selection principles and formula composition strategies
• First, herbs that are sweet and cold, enter the Heart meridian and are able to nourish the Heart-Yin are selected.
• Second, sweet and cold herbs that enter the Kidney and Lung meridians are selected to nourish the Kidney-Yin and Lung-Yin, and control the Heart-heat. It is equally important to prescribe herbs that tonify the Lung-Qi and Spleen-Qi in order to promote Yin generation.
• Third, herbs that reduce or descend the fire and calm the mind are selected.
Structure of the formula and selection of herbs
Chief: Nourish the Heart-Yin
Xi Yang Shen ( Panacis quinquefolii radix)
Xi Yang Shen is bitter, cold and slightly sweet, and enters the Heart, Lung and Kidney meridians. It is quite a strong herb to tonify the Yin and Qi of these organs and is able to reduce heat. It is particularly useful in severe and chronic conditions of Heart-Yin and Heart-Qi deficiency.
Sheng Di Huang ( Rehmanniae radix)
Sheng Di Huang is sweet and cold, and enters the Kidney, Heart and Liver meridians. It is a quite powerful herb to nourish the Yin of these organs and can sufficiently reduce heat. Sheng Di Huang is also a very important herb to relieve anxiousness, chest pain and palpitations because it can cool the blood. As a result, it is often selected as chief in the formula to nourish the Heart-Yin.
Mai Men Dong ( Ophiopogonis radix)
Mai Men Dong is sweet and slightly cold, and enters the Lung, Heart and Stomach meridians. It is often selected in the formula to nourish the Heart-Yin and relieve anxiousness. In addition, it is often used in the anaphase of febrile diseases where the Yin of the Heart and Lung has been injured by heat.
Deputy: Nourish the Kidney-Yin and Lung-Yin and tonify the Spleen-Qi
Bai He ( Lilii bulbus)
Bai He is sweet, bland and slightly cold, and enters the Lung and Heart meridians. It has a moistening and lubricating property. It can moisten the Lung and Heart directly and is particularly selected for treating anxiety and restlessness. It is also used in conditions where the Lung-Yin and Heart-Yin are both consumed by heat in febrile diseases.
Dang Shen ( Codonopsis radix)
Dang Shen
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