From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the heart system has a broad range
of functions that span from the physical to the psychological. Some of
these functions are related to the physical functions of the heart itself, but
others are related to connections made by the heart meridian and other
relationships.
The heart, then, technically houses the shen. Shen is loosely translated as
our spirit or consciousness and proper shen will result in the ability to
think and feel clearly, a strong memory, and the ability to relax and sleep.
Imbalances in this function can result in insomnia, memory problems,
depression, schizophrenia and the entire range of psychological issues.
Opens into the tongue:
The organs in Chinese Medicine are known as the Zang-Fu. Zang organs
such as the Heart, Kidneys, Spleen, etc. are solid and yin in nature.
Each meridan/organ system has a yin/yang pairing so each zang/yin
organ has a paired fu/yang organ. The zang counterparts, also known as
the fu organs such as the Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, and Stomach
respectively, are hollow and yang in nature. All of the zang organs
have a sensory organ connected to them. In the case of the heart it is the
tongue. This relationship is important for proper speech, taste, and a
healthy tongue overall (as indicated by tongue diagnosis). An imbalance
in this connection may result in the loss of taste, speech disorders, pale
tongue, and more.
before they turn into full pledged conditions. This pattern diagnosis is
also what gives Chinese Medicine the flexibility to treat many poorly
understood conditions and/or those that do not respond well to western
and/or other methods of medical intervention.
In the case of the heart system, patterns generally fall into two
categories: Yang deficiency (heat, movement, force) and Yin deficiency
(coolness, relaxation, clarity). Physical heart problems may be diagnosed
as Heart Blood Stagnation whereas the emotional aspects may be
diagnosed as Heart Yin Deficiency. Within the heart system, there are
also some unique diagnoses such as one pattern known as phlegm
misting the mind which is discussed below.
Heart Yang Deficiency is a further development of heart qi deficiency
which often moves from symptoms such as palpitations on exertion,
fatique and spontaneous sweating to those symptoms plus cold limbs, a
sensation of cold and a bright pale face. This diagnosis may indicate
physical heart problems such as heart disease, coronary blockage, etc.
Heart Yin Deficiency anxiety and restlessness, palpitations, insomnia,
dream disturbed sleep, easily startled, poor memory, fidgeting, mallor
flush, night sweats, heat in the 5 palms (hands, feet and face) and/or dry
mouth. This pattern may indicate any number of western psychological
conditions.
Phlegm Misting The Mind this rather unique diagnosis has to do with the
hearts circulation to the brain/mind and may be diagnosed in conditions
where people lose consciousness and/or an ability to know who or where
they are. Traditional signs are mental confusion, unconsciousness, a
rattling sound in the throat, asphasia and/or vomiting.
For a full list of all of the Heart related patterns and their symptoms, you
can see the Heart Related Disharmonies page within our Chinese
Medicine theorysection.
* Organ
Heart
Spleen
Lungs
Kidneys
Liver
* Season
Summer
Late Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
* Emotion
Joy
Worry/Pensiveness
Grief/Sadness
Fear
Anger
As you can see from the chart above, the heart system is related to the
season of summer and to the emotion of joy. This means that the heart
system is strongest and aided by the summer season (warmth helps
circulation) and that a healthy heart will lead to the ability to feel and
express joy. As with any relationship, however, there is a counterpoint.
Extreme heat will harm the heart (too much heat makes us agitated and
can lead to heat stroke, for example). On the emotional side too much joy
can cause issues and a complete lack of joy in our lives can also lead to
problems, perhaps even transferring to physical problems (palpitations
under extreme anxiety, depression after a failed relationship, etc.).
To help aid our hearts and put some direct self-help advice into this
asleep. SP 10 and LI 11 are good points for clearing heat from the body
generally and can make you feel more comfortable when the heat starts
to get to you. Finally, GV 26 is a good point to learn to help anyone who
has fainted or appears to be slipping from consciousness. You can click on
any of the points listed to find their locations and usages. GV 26 in
particular must be held fairly firmly, often with the thumb.
There are a variety of herbal formulas that are helpful for heart system
imbalances both yang and yin. Within this article I am going to mention
some of the more helpful formulas that relate to Heart Yin Deficiency. This
is in part because they are an important aspect of treatment in many
cases. The yin of the body can be difficult to rebuild from the
accumulations of stress and anxiety that contributes to these issues and
relatively short-term usage of herbal medicine can be very useful.
The Emperors Tonic or Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan works to replenish the
yin and blood of the heart system. This formula is commonly used for
insomnia, anxiety, and related conditions.
Licorice, Triticum & Jujube Pills or Gan Mai Da Zao Wan works to
nourish the heart and calm the mind. This formula is used for insomnia,
nightsweats, depression, and related conditions.
Finally, Chinese Herbal Medicine has a very long history of trial and error
which gives us many formulas that are many hundreds of years old with
long tract records of success. One aspect of herbal medicine to aid in
calming and focusing the mind is the use of shells in Chinese Medicine.
These may be oyster shells, clam shells, etc. and they are incorporated in
with appropriate herbs to calm the mind in a non-narcotic way. This allows
people to feel calm but mentally more focused instead of sleepy and hazy
like many medications. Two formulas that are worth mentioning are listed
below. One is fairly strong and used for more chronic/clinical
psychological issues and the other is safely used with children,
particularly with add/adhd.
For Children with add/adhd, behavioral issues, and/or anxiety, our Pearl
Kuding Tea Lozenges is a safe and helpful formula. This formula is one of
the few times in Chinese Medicine where you use a single herb (in this
case pearl powder). Pearl powder is a safe way of helping to calm and
focus the mind without side effects of any kind.
Bupleuri, Dragon Bone & Oyster Combo Pills or Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li
Wan strongly calms the mind, again using shells. This formula is used for
more severe cases of anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other psychological
conditions.
Well for one respect the relationships that each organ system has with
each season. Summer is a time for outward energy, being active,
expressing ourselves and experiencing joy. Summer is a great time to
increase activity levels. It is also a great time to decrease the amount of
food we eat, as the summer heat provides us with warmth and
nourishment we can focus on lighter dishes and more fruits specifically.
With even minor increases in activity and lighter dishes we can eliminate
some of the weight which naturally builds up over the winter and go into
the fall in much better shape.
So enjoy the summer, use the extended daylight hours to be outside
more, and use the happiness which everyone feels to at least some
degree when it is sunny and warm to engage more with others and your
community. Your heart will thank you on all of the levels that we discussed
above and more
Well, now its time to relax. Winter is the season of the kidneys which
means it is time to calm our minds, rest, and build our energy. Winter is a
great time to honor our energy and take more time to regenerate
ourselves, spend time with family and friends, and hibernate as best as
we can. If we give our body this time, we can literally spring up with the
trees and flowers as we all come out of our slumber rested, strong, and
more at peace.
So if you have any of the symptoms listed above working to improve the
functioning of the liver system is in your best interest. With a free flowing
liver system your joints will be smooth, your eyes bright, and the energy
in your body (both physical and emotional) will flow freely. Liver Qi
Stagnation in particular is a very common imbalance found in our modern
western society. Being aware of the more mild signs of the imbalance and
working now to correct them can avoid more serious issues later and help
us to live better in the present.
This is the fifth and final edition in my general introductory series to the
five main organ systems (5 elements) in Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). As we are heading into fall we are entering into the Lung phase of
our bodys seasonal cycle. Similar to previous articles on
the Liver, Kidney, Heart, and Spleen systems, this article will discuss in
detail what the lung system means within Chinese Medicine and the
relationships it has to specific mental states, diseases, and your ability to
maintain health. Hopefully after reading this article the next time your
acupuncturist says you have Lung Qi Deficiency you wont stare back
and think what is this crazy acupuncturist talking about
More important than regaining the image of your acupuncturist as a sane
person however, is regaining awareness of these connections between
seasons, our emotions, our health and our lifestyle. While life is
unpredictable certainly working against the normal ebbs and flows of the
world will bring about imbalance, while working with the natural world in
as much as possible will bring us greater health. Out of all of our systems
of medicine, Chinese Medicine has the living tradition within which these
relationships are explained and utilized.
As discussed previously within this series, Chinese Medicine uses organ
names to describe an entire system of connections within the body. The
lung system from a Chinese perspective describes the physical lungs,
the lung acupuncture meridian, lung system related disharmonies (or
patterns) and any number of western conditions
from allergies and asthma to frequent colds and flus todepression and
grief.
our muscles, lungs and blood vessels. The sensors help to regulate when
certain tissues need more oxygen (such as during exercise) or when the
air is unhealthy for us to breath (chemical irritants, various allergies, etc.).
Part of allergies, asthma, sneezing, and coughing are related to these
sensors.
This function describes the critical role of the lungs in both bringing in qi
(energy) from the air we breath and in being a principle force for the
nourishment of all of our muscles, tendons, organs and tissues through its
role in oxygenating our blood. A weakness in this function can lead to lung
related conditions such as shortness of breath but also generalized
fatigue of the entire body.
down (if ever so slightly) to harness our energy as we will need it for the
winter months. It is a good time to be more introspective and to work on
resolving, or at least coming to terms with, any underlying emotional
issues. Walks in the crisp dry air with deep breaths will aid this immensely.
Chinese Medicine you will see the terms stomach and spleen used far
more interchangeably due to the complex relationships between these
organs. The spleen ultimately refers to the spleen/pancreas system so
an understanding of both of these organs is important to grasp the range
of health issues that may be contributed to by imbalances in these
systems.
spleen. The pancreas produces various chemicals which allow for proper
digestion of food. The chemicals help us to digest protein, break down
carbohydrates and break down fats into fatty acids and cholesterol.
I dont understand, I drink a gallon of water daily, eat salads at lunch, and
am working out and I still cannot lose weight
From a Chinese Medicine perspective they may simply have a weak
transformative function within their spleen system. This is actually
contributed to if not outright caused by the intake of too many fluids and
too many damp foods (raw foods, juicing, salads in particular, see diet
article) they are literally drowning their spleen. So what may look
like it should be helpful is actually contributing to the underlying cause.
This helps to explain why so many people who appear to be doing the
right things do not lose weight.
All in all these patterns indicate our need for regulation. As all systems
have relationships to the seasons, the spleen system relates to the earth.
The earth element in Chinese Medicine provides us with our stability,
groundedness and our root. Without a strong root nothing can grow. When
you drown a plant with water it dies, when it is too hot it wilts and dies, if
you overfeed your plant it dies and if you dont feed your plant it dies
we are no different except the process takes longer and goes through
many different avenues.
Blood stasis due to long time poor blood circulation. The patient may complain of
body aches, cold limbs, leg cramps, poor memory, and numbness or tingling sensations
in their body.
2.
Phlegm toxin is produced by the excessive liver Qi invading the spleen Qi. The
spleen Qi is unable to control the normal body liquid metabolism. Therefore, dampness
or phlegm toxin is formed in the body. As this occurs, the patient may experience
dizziness, light-headedness, numbness, tingling sensations, and throat mucous or postnasal drip.
In a clinical setting, a patient is most likely to have high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis problems while the
blood stasis and phlegm toxins are being formed. As a direct result of these conditions, the patient has
increased risk of developing a stroke or heart attack.
The goal of TCM treatment is to bring all these organs back into balance and harmony and keep the
bodys Qi flowing freely and smoothly.
The treatment process utilizes both acupuncture and a formula of appropriate Chinese medicinal herbs.
High blood pressure is a common condition in this country. The effective treatment of high blood pressure is essen
preventing related complication, in particular coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and renal disease. Al
high blood pressure has been on the decline in many Western nations over the past few decades, there has been incre
concern about the long-term health risks of prescription blood pressure drugs. According to the American Heart Associati
50% of people taking drugs for blood pressure problems stops within six months, largely because of the unpleasant side
these drugs cause. In this article we will discuss the possible side effect of the drugs and introduce the Chinese system to
blood pressure with all natural products and therapies.
Side Effect of Prescription Blood Pressure Drugs
Many of the drugs are very effective to lower blood pressure because they are efficient inhibitors in certain pathways in th
These drugs work by blocking or inhibiting natural processes in the body with an unnatural way. This seems to be one
reasons why their negative effects can build up to become life-threatening problems over time. They completely block
pathways, which may be necessary for normal functioning of the body. There are different types of the prescription blood pr
drugs. Most of them have known short-term side effects on heart and possible long-term effects on heart, brain and kidne
Table for details).
The Negative Effects of Blood Pressure Drugs
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Forms
Type
Common names
Known short-term
effects
Possible long-term
effects
Calcium-channel
blockers (block
calcium to stop
vessel narrowing)
Norvasc, Procardia,
Cardizem, Plendil
Constipation,
nausea, dizziness,
headache, fatigue,
hypotension
Digestive diseases,
brain impairment,
cancer
Tenormin, Lopressor,
Inderal, Normodyne
Heat problems,
sexual dysfunction,
clinical depression
Alpha Blockers
(block vessels'
nerve response to
decrease pressure)
Cardura, Minipress,
Hytrin
Dizziness, fainting,
drowsiness,
headache, rapid
heartbeat
Brain impairment,
heart problems
ACE inhibitors
(block formation of
an enzyme that
narrows blood
vessels)
Lotensin, Capotin,
Vasotec, Accupril
Breathing problems,
heart problems
Lasix, Esidred,
Aldactone, Dyrenium
Increased urination,
potassium loss,
muscle loss
Kidney failure,
bone/joint damage
Centrally acting
(decrease brain
nerve responses)
Catapres, Aldomet
Drowsiness,
dizziness, mental
slowness, edema,
constipation, cancer
Brain impairment,
kidney failure,
digestive diseases
Cholesterol is a type of waxy lipid (fat). We need some cholesterol in our blood and
in the cell membrane of every cell of the body. We also need cholesterol to make
vitamin D and all of the steroid hormones, including cortisol, testosterone,
estrogen, and progesterone.
However, unless you were born with the rare genetic Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome
(SLOS) that affects only 1 in 20,000 births, your liver and body cells can produce all
the cholesterol you need on a daily basis from other nutrients. Except for infants
who require breast milk (which contains cholesterol), there is no dietary
requirement for cholesterol during any stage of life, including childhood,
adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, lactation, or late in life.[1]
In short, since dietary cholesterol is not a required nutrient, there is no such thing as
dietary cholesterol deficiency. For everyone other than people who have SLOS and
infants before the age of 1 year, dietary cholesterol is excess cholesterol. In 1985,
Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein received a Nobel Prize in Medicine for
demonstrating the mechanism by which high blood cholesterol derived from diet
promotes atherosclerosis.[2]
Except for coconut and palm oils, animal fats are also the richest sources of
saturated fats.
Some people are claiming that for most people dietary cholesterol does not raise
blood cholesterol. These claims are based on egg-industry funded, rigged studies
that involved feeding cholesterol-rich foods to people who are already eating animal
products and already have elevated cholesterol. When people who already have high
cholesterol intakes and high blood cholesterol are given more cholesterol-rich food,
the additional cholesterol has little effect.
However, if you take people who eat whole foods plant-based diets and have a very
low cholesterol, then feed them foods rich in cholesterol such as whole eggs, the
dietary cholesterol causes a very large increase in blood cholesterol.[3] Also, if you
put people on a zero cholesterol diet for a couple of weeks, their cholesterol
plummets, and when you add cholesterol back to their diets, their blood cholesterol
rises dramatically.[4]
Whole plant foods contain so little cholesterol that for practical purposes it is
negligible. Further, whole plant foods contain many components that increase the
elimination of cholesterol, including fiber and phytonutrients. This is why all