Lung and Heart Qi 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 Lungs in Chinese Medicine The Heart in Chinese Medicine The concept of Qi The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心肺气虚 Pinyin name: Xīn Fèi Qì Xū
Pattern nature: Empty combined pattern
Pattern(s) it combines from: Heart Qi Deficiency Lung Qi Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Qi not Firm Kidney Qi Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Emotional Stress, 2. Overwork
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Coughing Tiredness Weak voice Depression Palpitations and six other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Pale
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, strengthen the Heart and the Lungs, calm the Mind.
Common formulas: Si Jun Zi Tang Bao Yuan Tang
Pathology
In terms of typical manifestations, Heart Qi Deficiency and Lung Qi Deficiency share many common ones such as spontaneous sweating, fatigue and pale face. The combined Deficiency of both Organs is quite common to be seen as a result of emotional stress such as sadness, grief and worry.
Other than that, palpitations are the typical symptom for Heart Deficiency, while slight short of breath and slight coughing are due to Lung Deficiency, because the Lung Qi fails to descend properly. Also, the Lungs control the voice by influencing the Gathering Qi, therefore impaired Lung Qi makes the patients dislike speaking due to a weaker voice.
The patients also don't like cold and is more likely to catch cold or flu due to Lung Deficiency. It is because the Lungs fails to disperse Defensive Qi in the space between skin and muscles and the body is more vulnerable to external Pernicious Evils.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency can derive from Kidney Qi not Firm Kidney Qi Deficiency
Emotional Stress : Heart Qi Deficiency can be the result of emotional problems such as sadness or grief, while Lung Qi Deficiency is often the consequence of worry.
Overwork : Heart and Lungs' Qi can be greatly consumed by overwork, especially for these who need to speak a lot over a long period of time. It will become Yin Deficiency eventually.
Diagnosing Lung and Heart Qi 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): Empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Pale
Main symptoms: Coughing Tiredness Weak voice Depression Palpitations Pale complexion Frequent sighing Aversion to speak Shortness of breath Spontaneous sweating Frequent Colds or Flu
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the spontaneous sweating, pale face, fatigue and emotional problems such as sadness and grief.
Treating Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency
Treatment principle
Tonify Qi, strengthen the Heart and the Lungs, calm the Mind.
Herbal formulas used to treat Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Formula summary
Si Jun Zi Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency, Si Jun Zi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Stomach Qi Deficiency.
Bao Yuan Tang
Formula summary
Bao Yuan Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1624, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Lung and Heart Qi Deficiency, Bao Yuan Tang is also used to treat Heart Qi Deficiency.
Consequence patterns
The Deficiency of Lung and Heart Qi makes it difficult to create enough Blood for the Heart.
The Heart and the Lungs are located in the chest. The Qi Deficiency of these two Organs slows down the flow of Qi in the chest and thus the result of Qi Stagnation. Qi Deficiency and Qi Stagnation can happen at the same time in the chest.
Prolonged chest Qi Deficiency and Stagnation can give rise to Blood Stagnation in the chest.