Heart pain 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.
Heart pain can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like heart pain here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here heart pain is often associated with palpitations, shortness of breath and depression in the pattern “Heart Vessel obstructed”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause heart pain.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of heart pain we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat heart pain.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause heart pain
In Chinese Medicine heart pain is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Vessel obstructed
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Knotted (Jie), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to heart pain, other symptoms associated with Heart Vessel obstructed include palpitations, shortness of breath and depression.
Heart Vessel obstructed is often treated with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates the Blood".
Chinese Plums (Wu Mei) is the king ingredient for Wu Mei Wan, a formula used for Terminal Yin stage
Terminal Yin stage
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
In addition to heart pain, other symptoms associated with Terminal Yin stage include feeling of energy rising to the chest, cold limbs and diarrhea.
Terminal Yin stage is often treated with Wu Mei Wan, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Chinese Plums - Wu Mei - as a key herb). Wu Mei Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that expel parasites", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Organs".
Five herbal formulas that might help with heart pain
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Dispels blood Stagnation. Spreads the Liver Qi. Unblocks the channels.
Why might Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang help with heart pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Vessel obstructed' of which heart pain is a symptom.
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Source date: 1602
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood. Alleviates pain. Harmonizes Blood.
Why might Chai Hu Shu Gan San help with heart pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Vessel obstructed' of which heart pain is a symptom.
Di Tan Tang
Source date: 1470 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Removes Phlegm. Opens the sensory orifices. Tonifies Qi.
Why might Di Tan Tang help with heart pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Vessel obstructed' of which heart pain is a symptom.
Dang Gui Si Ni Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Channels. Disperses Cold. Nourishes the Blood. Unblocks the Blood vessels.
Why might Dang Gui Si Ni Tang help with heart pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart Vessel obstructed' of which heart pain is a symptom.
Wu Mei Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Organs. Drains Heat. Calms roundworms. Drains the Liver. Calms the Stomach.
Why might Wu Mei Wan help with heart pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Terminal Yin stage' of which pain and heat sensation in heart region is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for heart pain
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat heart pain
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with heart pain?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat heart pain as a symptom, like Dang Gui Si Ni Tang or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might White Peony Root (Bai Shao) help with heart pain?
Because White Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat heart pain as a symptom, like Dang Gui Si Ni Tang or Chai Hu Shu Gan San for instance.
White Peony Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with heart pain?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat heart pain as a symptom, like Dang Gui Si Ni Tang or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Bupleurum Root (Chai Hu) help with heart pain?
Because Bupleurum Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat heart pain as a symptom, like Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Bupleurum Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Harmonizes exterior and interior. Smoothes the Liver and upraises the Yang.
Why might Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with heart pain?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat heart pain as a symptom, like Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Other symptoms often associated with heart pain
Palpitations Shortness of breath Depression Feeling of oppression of the chest Chest pain Phlegm Feeling of heaviness Aversion to speak Cold hands and feet Frequent sighing