Rheumatic Heart Diseaseaccording to TCM
Symptom family: Rheumatic and Arthritic Disorders
Parent symptom: Rheumatic Fever
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is a serious cardiac condition that is a complication of rheumatic fever, often stemming from an inadequately treated infection with group A streptococcal bacteria. The disease is characterized by damage to the heart valves and heart muscle, leading to complications such as valve stenosis and heart failure. Its progression and impact on the cardiac function can vary greatly, with some individuals experiencing severe symptoms, while others may be asymptomatic for years.
How does TCM view Rheumatic Heart Disease?
From the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, rheumatic heart disease is seen as a condition where internal imbalances and disharmonies lead to heart disturbances. TCM does not directly correlate symptoms with the streptococcal infection; instead, it looks at how disharmonies affect Qi, the vital energy, and Blood, disrupting heart functions.
Identifying the specific pattern of disharmony is essential in TCM, as this diagnosis informs the personalized treatment plan aimed at rebalancing the body's energies and restoring heart health.
Causes of Rheumatic Heart Disease According to TCM
In TCM, the root causes of rheumatic heart disease can be traced back to patterns of imbalance such as Heart Blood Deficiency or Heart Qi Deficiency, which lead to a compromised heart function.
Another pattern might involve the Stagnation of Blood, resulting in obstruction and pain. TCM theory posits that emotional distress or external pathogenic factors can also contribute to these Deficiencies and Stagnations, highlighting a more holistic view of heart health that encompasses emotional well-being and environmental factors.
TCM Herbal Formulas for Rheumatic Heart Disease
TCM addresses rheumatic heart disease with a variety of formulas tailored to the identified patterns of disharmony. For Heart Blood and Qi Deficiencies, formulas like Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang with key herbs such as Biota Seeds are used to nourish the heart and calm the mind. To manage symptoms like Oedema, formulas such as Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang, which include Stephania Roots, promote urination and leach out Dampness.
When Blood Stagnation is present, practitioners may prescribe Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, with Peach Kernels, to invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. These formulations are chosen to not only alleviate symptoms but to address the underlying disharmonies that are at the core of the disease according to TCM principles.
Explore below some TCM herbal formulas used to address rheumatic heart disease, organized by formula type.
- By Formula Type
- Formulas that nourish the heart and calm the mind
- Formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness
- Formulas that clear wind-Cold
- Formulas that tonify qi and blood
- Formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation
Formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these formulas when it stems from a disharmony between the heart and the mind, often manifesting as emotional disturbances or sleep issues.
One such formula is Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang 1, with biota seeds as a key herb.
Formulas that promote urination and leach out Dampness
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these formulas when it is caused by an accumulation of dampness in the body, requiring diuretic actions to promote fluid balance.
One such formula is Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang, with stephania root as a key herb.
Formulas that clear Wind-Cold
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these formulas when it stems from external pathogenic influences characterized by cold and wind symptoms.
One such formula is Xiao Qing Long Tang, with ephedra as a key herb.
Formulas that tonify Qi and Blood
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these formulas when there is a combined deficiency of both Qi and Blood, requiring comprehensive tonification.
One such formula is Zhi Gan Cao Tang, with liquorice as a key herb.
Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these formulas if it arises from poor blood circulation or stagnation of blood, which often manifests in pain or swelling.
One such formula is Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, with peach kernel as a key herb.
TCM Herbs for Rheumatic Heart Disease
Explore below some TCM herbs used to address rheumatic heart disease, organized by herb category.
- By Herb Category
- Herbs that invigorate the blood
- Tonic herbs for qi deficiency
- Warm/Acrid herbs that release the exterior
- Herbs that nourish the heart and calm the spirit
- Herbs that clear heat and dry dampness
Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these herbs when it stems from stagnation or poor circulation of blood, helping to improve blood flow and alleviate related discomfort.
One such herb is Peach Kernels (Tao Ren), a key herb in some formulas recommended for rheumatic heart disease, like Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang.
Other herbs of this category are listed in the table below.
"Herbs that invigorate the Blood" recommended for rheumatic heart disease
| Herb | Formulas they belong to (if applicable) |
|---|---|
| Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) | Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang |
| Safflowers (Hong Hua) | Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang |
| Szechuan Lovage Roots (Chuan Xiong) | Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang |
Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these herbs when stemming from a lack of vital energy or Qi, helping to boost energy and overall vitality.
One such herb is Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi), a key herb in some formulas recommended for rheumatic heart disease, like Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang 1.
Other herbs of this category are listed in the table below.
"Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency" recommended for rheumatic heart disease
| Herb | Formulas they belong to (if applicable) |
|---|---|
| Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) | Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang 1 | Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang |
| Liquorice (Gan Cao) | Zhi Gan Cao Tang |
Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these herbs when there is a need to dispel external cold and warm the body, especially in cases where there is insufficient Yang energy internally.
One such herb is Ephedra (Ma Huang), a key herb in some formulas recommended for rheumatic heart disease, like Xiao Qing Long Tang.
Other herbs of this category are listed in the table below.
"Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior" recommended for rheumatic heart disease
| Herb | Formulas they belong to (if applicable) |
|---|---|
| Ephedra (Ma Huang) | Xiao Qing Long Tang |
| Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) | Xiao Qing Long Tang |
Herbs that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these herbs when it is linked to deficiencies in heart nourishment, addressing both physical and emotional imbalances.
One such herb is Biota Seeds (Bai Zi Ren), a key herb in some formulas recommended for rheumatic heart disease, like Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang 1.
Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Rheumatic heart disease can be treated by these herbs when caused by excessive dampness and heat within the body, aiming to restore balance by drying dampness and clearing heat.
One such herb is Stephania Roots (Fang Ji), a key herb in some formulas recommended for rheumatic heart disease, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang.