Heart Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory
Below you will find the TCM Disharmonies related to the Heart Meridian. Each pattern contains a brief description of associated signs and symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and a list of acupuncture points that may be used to treat the disharmony.
Excess Patterns
- HT Fire - excess pattern:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Palpitations, thirst, tongue/mouth ulcers, restlessness, red complexion, bitter taste in the mouth (esp. if after a poor night of sleep, if during day may be more LV), other heat signs
- Tongue:
Red w/yellow coat, red points on tip
- Pulse:
Full, rapid, overflowing (esp. in HT position)
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modfications and additions
- HT 9 - dispersing HT excesses
- HT 8 - cool the HT
- HT 7 - more for HT Blood & Yin Deficiency but has a positive effect on nearly all heart disharmonies
- CV 15 - calm the spirit
- SP 6 - protect the Yin (could leave out)
- KD 6 - protect the Yin (could leave out)
- PC 8 - cool heat in the heart
- PC 7 - cool heat
- If LV Fire Blazing - LV 2
- If LV Yang Risigin - GV 20
- Phlegm Fire - excess pattern:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
More serious than HT Fire, mental confusion, lack of mental clarity, palpitations, restlessness, incoherent speech, rash behavior, tendency towards hitting a/or scolding people, uncontrollable laughter a/or crying, manic depression, asphasia (in extreme cases)
- Tongue:
Red w/yellow greasy coat, possibly red points on tip a/or a deep midline crack running to the tip
- Pulse:
Full, slippery
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- PC 5 - empirical point for phlegm misting the HT
- HT 9 - dispersing HT excesses
- HT 8 - cool the HT
- HT 7 - more for HT Blood & Yin Deficiency but has a positive effect on nearly all heart disharmonies
- PC 7 - empty fire or heat in the HT, alternating laughing/crying
- CV 15 - calm the spirit
- UB 15 - HT Shu
- CV 12 - ST Mu, resolve phelgm
- ST 40 - resolve phlegm
- GV 20 a/or Yintang - clear the mind
- Phlegm Misting the Mind (Heart) - excess pattern:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Phlegm signs w/o heat, mental confusion, unconsciousness, rattling sound in the throat, asphasia, vomiting
- Tongue:
Thick greasy coat
- Pulse:
Slippery
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- HT 9 - jing well, restore consciousness
- PC 5 - empirical point for phlegm misting the HT
- UB 15 - HT Shu
- ST 40 - resolve phlegm
- CV 12 - ST Mu, resolve phlegm
- UB 20 - SP Shu, useful in more chronic patterns to tonify SP and resolve dampness
- GV 26 - clear the mind a/or restore consciousness
- GV 20 - assist GV 26 to clear and move the mind
- HT Blood Stagnation - excess pattern:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Angina, chest oppression, HT Pain which may radiate down to the left arm or to shoulder (emotionally a/or physiologically related), palpitations, cyanosis of the lips (in more severe cases)
- Tongue:
Purplish
- Pulse:
Knotted
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- PC 6 - open and relax the chest, calm spirit
- PC 4 - xicleft, move stagnant Blood in the chest
- HT 7 - benefit HT, calm the spirit
- CV 17 - PC Mu, hui meeting of Qi, move stagnant Qi in the chest
- UB 14 - PC Shu
- UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
- SP 10 - move Blood
- Could use SP 4 w/PC 6 (above) to influence Blood via the Chong Mai
Deficiency Patterns
- HT Blood Deficiency:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, anxiety, easily startled, poor memory, poor concentration, dull pale complexion, lips are likely to be pale
- Tongue:
Pale, possibly thin and maybe dry
- Pulse:
Thin or choppy (many times felt in the HT position)
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- HT 7 - calm the spirit
- PC 6 - calm the spirit
- CV 14 - HT Mu, effect HT Blood
- CV 15 - calm the spirit
- CV 4 - tonify Blood, grounding point
- UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
- UB 20 - SP Shu
- Could add UB 15 - HT Shu, tonify HT Blood
- Could add SP 6 - tonify SP, nourish Blood
- HT Qi Deficiency:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Palpitations on exertion, spontaneous sweating, fatigue
- Tongue:
Pale, possibly a midline crack down to the tip
- Pulse:
Empty
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- HT 5 - luo point, tonify HT Qi
- PC 6 - w/HT 5 can tonify HT Qi, useful for regulating the Qi of the HT
- UB 15 - HT Shu
- CV 17 - PC Mu, tonify upper warmer (can use moxa)
- CV 6 - tonify Qi
- HT Yin Deficiency:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Similar to Blood Deficiency but with more anxiety and restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, easily startled, poor memory, fidgeting, mallor flush, night sweats, heat in the 5 palms, dry mouth
- Tongue:
Red or peeled w/no coat
- Pulse:
Floating, empty or Thin, fast
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- HT 7 - tonify HT Yin
- PC 6 - calm the spirit
- CV 14 - HT Mu
- CV 15 - calm the spirit
- CV 4 - tonify Yin
- SP 6 - tonify Yin
- HT 6 - empirical point for night sweats
- KD 6 - tonify Yin
- KD 7 - tonify KD
- Yintang - calm the spirit, aid insomnia and dizziness
- GV 20 - clear the mind, aid memory and concentration
- HT Yang Deficiency & Yang Collapse:
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Similar symptoms to HT Qi Deficiency (palpitations on exertion, fatique, spontenous sweating) but with cold limbs, feeling of cold, bright pale face
- HT Yang Collapse: more serious, patient needs to go to the hospital, severe palpitations, weak and shallow breathing, cyanosis of the lips
- Tongue:
Pale, wet & swollen - (HT Yang Collapse - Pale or Purple)
- Pulse:
Deep, weak, possibly knotted - (HT Yang Collapse - Hidden, minute or very knotted)
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- HT Yang Deficiency (same as HT Qi Deficiency above with the addition of GV 14 w/moxa to tonify HT Yang
- HT 5 - luo point, tonify HT Qi
- PC 6 - w/HT 5 can tonify HT Qi, useful for regulating the Qi of the HT
- UB 15 - HT Shu
- CV 17 - PC Mu, tonify upper warmer (can use moxa)
- CV 6 - tonify Qi
- HT Yang Collapse (use lots of moxa to restore yang)
- CV 4 - tonify Qi
- CV 6 - tonify Qi
- CV 8 - tonify Qi
- GV 4 - tonify Yang
- UB 23 - KD Shu, tonify KD Yang
- ST 36 - tonify Qi
- PC 6 - tonify Qi in the upper warmer
- UB 15 - HT Shu
- GV 14 - tonify yang of the body