Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
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.
Pathology
Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys gives rise to such diverse symptoms as dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia and palpitations (as well as thirteen others).
To diagnose a pattern, analyzing a patient's pulse as well as their tongue is common practice. In the case of Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys patients tend to exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), fine (Xi) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as a red tongue.
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as menopausal syndrome.
Diagnosing Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), fine (Xi) or floating (Fu)
Tongue color: Red
Main symptoms: Anxiety Tinnitus Insomnia Dizziness Dry mouth Dry throat Dry stools Poor memory Hot flushes Malar flush Palpitations Night sweats Constipation Restlessness Blurred vision Weakness and aching in the knees Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Treating Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Herbal formulas used to treat Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Formula summary
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Yin Deficiency.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Nourishes the Blood. Clears Heat. Calms the Mind.
Formula summary
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is a 14-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 16th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
Besides Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is also used to treat Heart Yin Deficiency or Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Special highlight: the link between menopausal syndrome and Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) is the key herb for Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a formula used for menopausal syndrome caused by Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
Typical symptoms for menopausal syndrome caused by Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys: Anxiety Tinnitus Insomnia Dizziness Dry mouth Dry throat Dry stools Poor memory Hot flushes Malar flush Palpitations Night sweats Constipation Restlessness Blurred vision Weakness and aching in the knees Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Recommended herbal formulas: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
This pattern is sometimes not listed as a separate pattern under menopausal syndrome by many TCM gynecology books, because it is another variation of Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Heart Heat.
Emotional stress is one of the most critical reasons leading to menopausal syndrome, especially when the high level of stress lasts for a long period of time. The situation is made worse if the patient also overworks and is exhausted as a result. Worry, fear and anxiety harm the Kidneys and result in...Read more about menopausal syndrome