Heart Yang Deficiency
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Heart in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yang
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心阳虚 Pinyin name: Xīn Yáng Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Yang Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yang Deficiency Heart Qi Deficiency Stomach Yang Deficient and Cold
Common causes: 1. Excessive emotions, 2. Blood loss
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Cold hands Palpitations Feeling of cold Bright-pale face and four other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Knotted (Jie), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale, slightly wet, sometimes swollen
Treatment
Common formulas: Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Pathology
Some of the symptoms are the same as for Heart Qi Deficiency (palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating and pale face): this is because Heart Qi Deficiency could be considered as included within Heart Yang deficiency. In other words, it is not possible to have a Deficiency of Yang without a Deficiency of Qi.
Feelings of cold and cold hands are due to Heart Yang not transporting Blood to the extremities to warm them. The slight feeling of stuffiness in the heart region is due to Heart-Yang not moving Qi in the chest and hence leading to a slight Qi Stagnation in the chest.
The bright-pale face is typical of Yang Deficiency (in Blood Deficiency the face would be dull-pale). The lips are slightly dark because deficient Heart Yang fails to move Qi and Blood and this may cause a slight Blood Stasis. Please note that this sign would appear only in severe and advanced cases of Heart Yang Deficiency.
The tongue is Pale because Heart-Yang cannot transport enough Blood to it, and it is slightly wet because Heart-Yang cannot transform the Fluids, which therefore accumulate on the tongue.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Heart Yang Deficiency can derive from Kidney Yang Deficiency Heart Qi Deficiency Stomach Yang Deficient and Cold
Excessive emotions: Excessive or prolonged emotions, particularly sadness or grief.
Blood loss: Sudden blood loss (from a traumatic injury for instance) or chronic blood loss from a health condition such as menorrhagia.
Diagnosing Heart Yang Deficiency
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): Deep (Chen), knotted (Jie) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale, slightly wet, sometimes swollen
Main symptoms: Fatigue Cold hands Palpitations Feeling of cold Bright-pale face Slightly dark lips Spontaneous sweating Shortness of breath on exertion Slight feeling of stuffiness in the heart
Diagnosis commentary: The pulse is normally Deep-Weak but it can be Knotted in severe cases. The key characteristic symptoms here are the palpitations, the cold hands and the Deep-Weak pulse.
Treating Heart Yang Deficiency
Herbal formulas used to treat Heart Yang Deficiency
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Rectifies relationship between Yin and Yang. Harmonizes Heart and Kidney. Stabilizes and secures Essence.
Formula summary
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Yin and Yang.
Diet recommendations
In terms of diet it is essential to only eat cooked foods and warm drinks. Lamb and beef are beneficial as are spicy foods. Avoid cold, refrigerated, raw and iced drinks and foods, including salads. Do not skip meals.
It is important to work on and resolve any emotional issues that might have caused Heart Qi Deficiency, especially sadness and grief.
Avoid excessive work and excessive sexual activity and get plenty of rest.
Consequence patterns
Deficient Heart-Yang fails to move Qi in the chest. This may lead first to Heart-Qi stagnation and then to Heart-Blood Stasis (since Qi moves Blood). This pattern is clinically important because it is involved in Western medical diseases such as angina pectoris and coronary heart disease.
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
If Water also overflows to the Heart (which can be seen if the patient suffers from palpitations, breathlessness and cold hands), Heart Yang Deficiency may be the cause behind Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing.