Autonomic dystonia according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Autonomic dystonia factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat
Symptoms: Anxiety Palpitations Slight thirst and seven other symptoms
Recommended formula: Wen Dan Tang
Symptoms: Dizziness Incontinence Forgetfulness and six other symptoms
Recommended formula: Sang Piao Xiao San
In Chinese Medicine, autonomic dystonia can be associated with three so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here autonomic dystonia can be caused by three different patterns.
To understand whether someone's autonomic dystonia might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from autonomic dystonia alone. For instance when autonomic dystonia is caused by the pattern Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, dizziness or vertigo, dream disturbed sleep with strange or unusual dreams and palpitations. Similarly, patients with Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with yellow coating.
We've listed below a description of the three patterns associated with autonomic dystonia so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below nine formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with autonomic dystonia, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The three "patterns of disharmony" associated with autonomic dystonia
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Recommended herbal formula: Wen Dan Tang
Symptoms: Anxiety Palpitations Slight thirst Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or vertigo Bitter taste in the mouth Indeterminate gnawing hunger Focal distention of the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum Dream disturbed sleep with strange or unusual dreams
Autonomic dystonia might be due to Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, dizziness or vertigo, dream disturbed sleep with strange or unusual dreams and palpitations. Similarly, patients with Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with yellow coating.
Read more about Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat here
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Bladder Deficiency with Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Recommended herbal formula: Sang Piao Xiao San
Symptoms: Dizziness Incontinence Forgetfulness Disorientation Lower back pain Feeling of cold Frequent urination White urethral discharge Urine the color of rice water - grey and cloudy
Autonomic dystonia might be due to Bladder Deficiency with Cold if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as disorientation, forgetfulness, incontinence and lower back pain. Similarly, patients with Bladder Deficiency with Cold typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue with thin white coating.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Fine (Xi), Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Recommended herbal formula: Jiao Tai Wan
Symptoms: Anxiety Insomnia Irritability Restlnessness Coolness of the lower limbs Severe and continuous palpitations
Autonomic dystonia might be due to Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as irritability, restlnessness, severe and continuous palpitations and coolness of the lower limbs. Similarly, patients with Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency typically exhibit fine (Xi) or rapid (Shu) pulses as well as a red tongue with partial absence of coating.
Read more about Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency here
The nine herbal formulas that might help with autonomic dystonia
Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wen Dan Tang help with autonomic dystonia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat, a pattern sometimes associated with autonomic dystonia. If it looks like you might suffer from Qi Stagnation in Gallbladder and Stomach with Phlegm Heat, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Sang Piao Xiao San
Source date: 1116 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys. Stabilizes the Essence. Stops leakage.
Why might Sang Piao Xiao San help with autonomic dystonia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Bladder Deficiency with Cold, a pattern sometimes associated with autonomic dystonia. If it looks like you might suffer from Bladder Deficiency with Cold, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Jiao Tai Wan
Source date: 1522 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Restores the functional communication between the Heart and the Kidneys.
Why might Jiao Tai Wan help with autonomic dystonia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency, a pattern sometimes associated with autonomic dystonia. If it looks like you might suffer from Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xiao Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach). Tonifies Qi. Relieves spasmodic pain.
Why might Xiao Jian Zhong Tang help with autonomic dystonia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with autonomic dystonia. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1852 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Hot Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder Heat. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang help with autonomic dystonia?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with autonomic dystonia. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
