Cerebrovascular disease 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.
Cerebrovascular disease factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Symptoms: Thirst Amenorrhea Night fever and five other symptoms
Recommended formula: Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Symptoms: Clump Phlegm Chest pain and seven other symptoms
Recommended formula: Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
In Chinese Medicine, cerebrovascular disease 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 cerebrovascular disease can be caused by three different patterns.
To understand whether someone's cerebrovascular disease 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 cerebrovascular disease alone. For instance when cerebrovascular disease is caused by the pattern Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, patients also experience symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, night fever, delirious speech and irritability. Similarly, patients with Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner typically exhibit choppy (Se) or full (Shi) pulses.
We've listed below a description of the three patterns associated with cerebrovascular disease 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 eight formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with cerebrovascular disease, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The three "patterns of disharmony" associated with cerebrovascular disease
The Triple Burner is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Triple Burner in Chinese Medicine
Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Full (Shi)
Recommended herbal formula: Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Amenorrhea Night fever Irritability Dysmenorrhea Restlnessness Delirious speech Lower abdominal pain
Cerebrovascular disease might be due to Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, night fever, delirious speech and irritability. Similarly, patients with Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner typically exhibit choppy (Se) or full (Shi) pulses.
Read more about Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner here
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Recommended herbal formula: Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Symptoms: Clump Phlegm Chest pain Constipation Epigastric pain Clumping in the chest Bitter taste in the mouth Epigastric focal distention Focal distention of the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum
Cerebrovascular disease might be due to Phlegm Heat in the Lungs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as constipation, bitter taste in the mouth, coughing of copious thick yellow sputum and chest pain. Similarly, patients with Phlegm Heat in the Lungs typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, yellow coating.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Red
Recommended herbal formula: Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Symptoms: Vertigo Tinnitus Insomnia Headaches Dizziness Blurred vision Dream disturbed sleep Spasms in the extremities Numbness in the extremities Twitching in the extremities Feeling of heat rushing to the head
Cerebrovascular disease might be due to Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, vertigo and tinnitus. Similarly, patients with Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a red tongue.
Read more about Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising here
The eight herbal formulas that might help with cerebrovascular disease
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Heat and. Eliminates Blood Stagnation.
Why might Tao He Cheng Qi Tang help with cerebrovascular disease?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, a pattern sometimes associated with cerebrovascular disease. If it looks like you might suffer from Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Phlegm. Expands the chest. Dissipates clumps.
Why might Xiao Xian Xiong Tang help with cerebrovascular disease?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, a pattern sometimes associated with cerebrovascular disease. If it looks like you might suffer from Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Source date: 1958 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Calms the Liver. Extinguishes wind. Invigorates the blood. Clears heat. Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys.
Why might Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin help with cerebrovascular disease?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising, a pattern sometimes associated with cerebrovascular disease. If it looks like you might suffer from Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Source date: Qing dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Cools the Liver. Extinguishes Wind. Increases Fluids. Relaxes the sinews.
Why might Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang help with cerebrovascular disease?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with cerebrovascular disease. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Ge Gen Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Releases the Exterior and muscle layer. Forms Body Fluids.
Why might Ge Gen Tang help with cerebrovascular disease?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with cerebrovascular disease. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Symptoms related to cerebrovascular disease
Lower abdominal pain Night fever Delirious speech Irritability Restlnessness Thirst Amenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Constipation Bitter taste in the mouth
