Viral encephalitis according to Chinese Medicine

In Chinese Medicine, viral encephalitis is sometimes associated with Heat invading the Pericardium, a 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" because both concepts arise from totally different ways of seeing the human body.

To understand whether someone's viral encephalitis might be caused by the pattern Heat invading the Pericardium, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from viral encephalitis alone. Indeed if viral encephalitis is caused by Heat invading the Pericardium, patients also experience symptoms such as fever, irritability, restlnessness and general sensation of unease. Similarly, patients with Heat invading the Pericardium typically exhibit fine (Xi), rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a reddish-purple tongue.

We've listed below a more detailed description of Heat invading the Pericardium so that you can have a better understanding of where viral encephalitis might find its root 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 two formulas that can help treat Heat invading the Pericardium.

Heat invading the Pericardium, a "pattern of disharmony" associated with viral encephalitis

The two herbal formulas that might help with viral encephalitis