Heart Blood Stagnation
Heart Blood Stagnation
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Diagnostic Signs
Purple entirely or just on the side
Knotted (Jie)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
The key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the stabbing pain in the chest, purple lips and purple tongue.
Chest pain is the key symptom of this pattern, which only occurs to this pattern and to Heart vessel obstructed.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Prolonged emotional stress such as grief, worry, or anxiety are ultimately the cause since they harm the Heart's functions of controlling Blood and Blood vessels. It eventually leads to the patterns that are precursors to Heart Blood Stagnation.
Since the Heart house the Mind (Shen), this may become a self-reinforcing loop since a disturbed Mind may in turn cause emotional stress.
Pathological Mechanism
It is characterized by symptoms such as palpitations, chest pressure and stiffness as well as sharp stabbing pain in the chest, which can spread to the inner area of the left arm or to the shoulder. Since the Blood doesn't flow smoothly, it reflected by the purple or dark color on lips, face, tongue and nails.
The Stagnant Blood also blocks the Gathering Qi flow in the chest, which then fails to move Lung and Heart Qi to the hands, hence the symptoms of cold hands.
This is a severe pattern that mostly derives from other Heart patterns, normally Heart Yang or Blood Deficiency, or Heart Qi Stagnation. Other than these, Heart Fire or Heart Qi Deficiency can also be the precursors. The symptoms and signs will vary depending on the origin of the pattern.
If it is due to the Heart Yang or Blood Deficiency, it causes chest pain which feels like a constriction. The intensity of the pain varies from a mild pricking sensation to an intense stabbing pain. The pain typically comes in repeated bouts and is elicited by exertion or cold weather.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Move Blood, eliminate stagnation, tonify and warm Heart Yang, calm the Mind
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat a balanced diet including Dang Gui, lamb and ginger soup, bone marrow soup, milk, black and adzuki beans and congee. Eat only cooked foods and do not skip meals.
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