Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Red with redder tip without coating, midline Heart crack
Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Weak (Ruo), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Palpitations, tinnitus, night sweats and a red tongue with redder tip, without coating and a midline Heart crack are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Heart and Kidneys not harmonized. Together with dizziness, they're the main symptoms of this pattern.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Anxiety, sadness and depression, if felt for a prolonged periods of time or very intensely during a short, can lead to this pattern. The emotional shock and sadness involved in the break-up of relationships are a common cause of Heart Yin Deficiency in this pattern.
Working excessively long hours for many years weakens Kidney Yin and may lead to this pattern
Excessive sexual activity, especially masturbation, depletes Kidney Essence and Kidney Yin.
Depletion of Body Fluids, for instance if they are dried up by Heat after a febrile disease, may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Loss of blood over a long period of time (such as from chronic excessive menstrual bleeding) can cause Liver Blood Deficiency, which, in turn, can lead deplete Kidney Yin.
A long chronic illness may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency.
If Kidney Yang is overstimulated by the administration of hot herbal medicine, Kidney Yin will be injured
Pathological Mechanism
This disharmony happens when Kidney Yin is Deficient and cannot nourish the Heart Yin, which then also become Deficient.
There is a strong relationship between Kidneys and Heart because Essence (Jing) housed in the Kidneys is the foundation for the Mind housed in the Heart. If Essence is Deficient, the Mind suffers. Therefore, patients suffer from some emotional symptoms such as anxiety.
When there is Kidney Yin Deficiency, Heart Yang proportionally becomes excessive and that results in symptoms of Empty-Heat such as mental restlessness, insomnia (waking up several times during the night), dream-disturbed sleep and nocturnal emissions. The feeling of heat in the evening, dark urine, Red tongue and Rapid pulse are also due to the emergence of Empty-Heat.
Poor memory, dizziness, tinnitus and diminished hearing are due to the Deficiency of Kidney Yin and Essence failing to generate Marrow to nourish the brain and to open into the ear.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Nourish Kidney and Heart Yin, clear Heart Empty Heat, calm the Mind.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Avoid spicy and foods that are too hot in nature (such as beef or lamb meat for instance). If digestion is good, fruits are beneficial, especially berries and purple grapes. If digestion is not good, do not eat anything raw. Sufficient protein at each meal is important.
Aerobic exercise is contraindicated since it worsens Yin Deficiency. Favor light exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong. Walking and swimming are also not bad.
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