Heart Pathologies Flashcards
(26 cards)
Palpitations awareness of heartbeat that is worse during the day, when tired and on exertion
Heart Qi Xu
Qi is the commander of Blood. If Qi of the Heart is deficient it fails to control Blood. Qi is too weak to adequately move blood leading to palpitations.
Inappropriate joy or lack of joy
Heart Qi Xu
The Heart houses the Shen, if Heart Qi is deficient, the Shen will be deficient and a deficient Shen results in a lack of Joy. If Heart Qi is deficient the Shen will be less anchored and there will be emotional instability including inappropriate joy.
Palpitations/awareness of the heartbeat which is worse when tired, cold or on
exertion
Heart Yang Xu
Heart Qi Deficiency symptoms (as Qi is part of Yang). Blood is the mother of Qi and Qi is the commander of blood: if Heart-Blood is deficient, Heart-Qi also becomes deficient, Qi is not strong enough to adequately move blood. In the case of Heart-Yang deficiency, the palpitations will occur more when tired, cold or occur on exertion.
Feeling cold
Heart Yang Xu
Feeling of cold and cold hands are
due to Heart Yang not transporting Blood to extremities to warm them.
Tongue: Pale, slightly wet.
Heart Yang Xu
Heart-Yang cannot transport enough Blood to the tongue, and it is slightly wet because Heart-Yang cannot transform the fluids, which therefore accumulate on the tongue.
Pulse: Deep-Weak, in severe cases Knotted
Heart Yang Xu
The Deep and Weak pulse reflects the deficiency of Yang. A Knotted pulse (a Slow pulse that stops at irregular intervals) might be found in severe cases.
Bright white complexion
Heart Yang Xu
Qi is part of yang and a pale face is a general sign of Qi Xu—Heart Qi is responsible for moving Blood, and when it is weak, Blood does not reach the face effectively. The ‘bright white’ is due to deficient yang failing to warm the complexion.
Mild stuffy feeling in heart area
Heart Yang Xu
Mild stuffy feeling in chest
is due to Heart Yang failing to move Qi leading to Qi stagnation in chest
Slightly dark lips
Heart Yang Xu
Lips may be slightly dark because deficient Yang fails to move Qi and Blood which leads to slight Blood stasis
Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep)
Heart Blood Xu
One function of Shen is Sleep, it gives us the ability to sleep well. The Heart houses the Shen and governs Blood, if Blood is deficient the Heart suffers as the Shen is deprived of its place of
Residence. A disturbed Shen results in insomnia.
Palpitations/awareness of the heartbeat which is worse during the afternoon and evening and when at rest and when anxious
Heart Blood Xu
Blood is the mother of Qi and Qi is the commander of blood: if Heart-Blood is deficient, Heart-Qi also becomes deficient, causing palpitations. If the Blood of the Heart is deficient it fails to nourish Qi and then Qi is not strong enough to adequately move blood leading to palpitations.
In the case of Heart-Blood deficiency, the palpitations will occur more in the evening, even at rest, and with a slight feeling of uneasiness in the chest or anxiety.
dull pale complexion
Heart Blood Xu
Due to Blood deficiency
If Blood is deficient, the complexion will be pale or dull white
Insomnia (waking up during the night)
Heart Yin Xu
One function of the shen is sleep and the capacity to sleep well. The Heart governs Blood: if Blood is deficient the Heart suffers and the Shen is deprived of its ‘residence’, leading to insomnia.
Fidgeting
Heart Yin Xu
Empty-Heat causes a vague mental restlessness that is worse in the evening, anxiety with fidgeting
fidgeting indicates a relative excess of Yang.
Red Face, Feeling hot, Thirst—HFB
thirst with a desire to drink cold liquids—SIFH
Heart Fire Blazing
Small Intestine Full Heat
Symptoms of Heat/ fire, Fire dries up the body’s fluids leading to thirst
Tongue ulcers which are red and painful—HFB
Tongue/mouth ulcers—SIFH
Heart Fire Blazing
Small Intestine Full Heat
Ulcers due to Heat rising up to the tongue from the Heart.
Bitter taste after a bad night’s sleep—HFB
bitter taste—P/FHH
Heart Fire Blazing
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
Heart opens into the tongue and controls taste therefore Heat may lead to a bitter taste.
pronounced mental restless, panic attacks, agitation, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep—HFB
Severe mental restlessness, insomnia—SIFH
Heart Fire Blazing
The Shen is responsible for emotions, sleep and houses the other spirits.
Shen is deprived of its place of residence due to Fire in the Heart and the Hun will also be agitated which is not rooted because the Shen is disturbed, so that it ‘comes and goes’ too much causing anxiety, pronounced mental restless, panic attacks, agitation, insomnia, dd sleep.
Strong palpitations/awareness of the heartbeat which may be worse when agitated.
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
Palpitations due to the Heart orifices being obstructed by Phlegm.
Qi is the commander of Blood. If Qi of the Heart is obstructed it fails to control Blood and fails to adequately move blood leading to palpitations.
severe mental restlessness and agitation, sometimes alternating with depression and dullness,
confusion, manic behaviour, feeling of oppression in the chest
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
The Heart houses the Shen and the other spirits. Mental symptoms due to the Heart orifices being obstructed by Phlegm and disturbed by Fire.
Feeling of oppression of the chest, expectoration of phlegm, rattling sound in the throat—P/FHH
rattling sound in throat, heavy feeling chest, vomiting of phlegm—PMH
Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart
Accumulation of phlegm in the chest/ throat. Phlegm obstructs.
Spleen deficiency or external Dampness → impaired transformation of fluids
Fluids accumulate and transform into Phlegm
Phlegm rises to the chest and throat, obstructing normal Qi flow and orifices
Very dull eyes, confusion and depression
Phlegm Misting the Heart
The Heart houses the Shen and the other spirits. Mental symptoms due to the Heart orifices being obstructed by Phlegm. Phlegm leads to lack of clariy and can block the Clear Yang (refined, uplifting Qi extracted by the Spleen) from rising to the head.
Palpitations/awareness of the heartbeat
Phlegm Misting the Heart
Palpitations are due to the Heart orifices being obstructed by Phlegm.
Qi is the commander of Blood. If Qi of the Heart is obstructed it fails to control Blood and fails to adequately move blood leading to palpitations.
lethargic stupor
Spleen deficiency → fails to transform fluids → accumulation of Dampness.
Dampness congeals into Phlegm, which becomes turbid and heavy.
This turbid Phlegm obstructs the Heart orifices.
As a result, clear Yang cannot ascend to the head, and the Shen is clouded.
This causes dullness of the mind, lethargy, and stupor — a kind of “misting over” of the spirit.
