Cardiac Diseases and TCM

Treatment of Cardiac Diseases with Traditional Chinese Medicine References: 1.  The Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases with Chinese Medicine,

Simon Becker, Bob Flaws, Robert Casanas, MD

2.  Integrative Cardiology, John Vogel, Mitchell Krucoff

copyright 2012 Tansy Briggs

Cardiovascular System: 3 main functions � 1. Delivery of oxygen and nutrients to

organs and tissues

� 2. Removal of waste from organs and tissues

� 3. Transportation of hormones and distribution of heat around body


Electrophysiology of the Heart �  Sinoatrial (SA) node: right atrial wall – Initiates heartbeat

�  Atrioventricular (AV) node: Interatrial septum – picks up SA node action and passes to AV bundle

�  Atrioventricular (AV) bundle: Top of interventricular septum – picks up action from AV node and passes to bundle branches

�  Bundle Branches: Inverventricular septum – picks up action and passes to conduction

�  Conduction Myofibers: Ventricular Myocardium – picks up action from bundle branches and pass to ventricular mycardial cells


TCM Disease Causes

� External Causes ◦ Wind ◦ Cold ◦  Summerheat ◦ Damp ◦ Heat and Fire ◦ Dry


TCM Disease Causes �  Internal Causes ◦ Deficiency: �  Heart Qi �  Heart Yang �  Heart Blood �  Heart and Gallbladder Deficiency �  Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

◦  Psycho-emotional issues/Lifestyle �  Qi Stagnation �  Blood Stasis �  Phlegm Accumulation �  Heat


TCM Herbal Therapy

� Blood Stasis Transforming Herbs � Phlegm Transforming Herbs � Cold Dispelling and Qi Moving Herbs � Calming Spirit and Orifice Opening Herbs �  Supplementation and Boosting Herbs


Cardiac Arrhythmias 5 main types

� 1. Premature beat ◦  common and mostly benign

� 2. Atrial Fibulation ◦  2 upper atrial chambers quiver erratically: problematic: strokes

� 3. Bradycardia ◦  Slowed heartbeat: problematic: dizzy, feinting

� 4. Tachycardia ◦  Rapid heartbeat: problematic: dizzy, feinting

� 5. Ventricular Arrhythmias ◦  Ventricles go out of control stopping pumping action:

problematic: life threatening


Clinical Signs and Symptoms

�  Symptomatic: ◦  1. Palpitations: aware of heartbeat

described as: skipping, pounding, fluttering, flip flopping, racing, sudden stopping and starting of heart beat

◦ Asymptomatic: ◦ 1. Hemodynamic: fatigue, lightheadedness,

dizzy, syncope


TCM Patterns

� Palpitations Differentiation – see Handout


Integrative Approaches

� Therapeutic Nutrition: Based on Metabolism of the Heart

◦ Magnesium/electrolytes ◦ CoQ10 ◦ D-Ribose ◦  L-Carnitine ◦  Essential Fatty Acids


Integrative Approaches

� Homeopathic Medicine � Energy Medicine �  Stress Management �  Family and Friends Support �  Supporting Western approaches:

surgeries, ablations and medications


Cardiac Diseases and TCM

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