Viral myocarditis 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.

Viral myocarditis factsheet

Possible causes and remedies:

Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat

Symptoms: Thirst Toothache Headaches and three other symptoms

Recommended formula: Yu Nu Jian

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Symptoms: Anxiety Vertigo Sweating and twenty nine other symptoms

Recommended formula: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and five other formulas

In Chinese Medicine, viral myocarditis can be associated with two so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here viral myocarditis can be caused by two different patterns.

To understand whether someone's viral myocarditis might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from viral myocarditis alone. For instance when viral myocarditis is caused by the pattern Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat, patients also experience symptoms such as toothache, headaches, loose teeth and bleeding gums. Similarly, patients with Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat typically exhibit floating (Fu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.

We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with viral myocarditis so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.

Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below six formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with viral myocarditis, depending on which pattern fits your profile.

The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with viral myocarditis

The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine

Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat

Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Slippery (Hua)

Tongue coating: Yellow coating

Tongue color: Red

Recommended herbal formula: Yu Nu Jian

Symptoms: Thirst Toothache Headaches Loose teeth Irritability Bleeding gums

Viral myocarditis might be due to Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as toothache, headaches, loose teeth and bleeding gums. Similarly, patients with Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat typically exhibit floating (Fu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.

The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)

Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating

Tongue color: Red

Tongue shape: Cracked

Recommended herbal formulas: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan, Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang, Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan, Yu Nu Jian

Symptoms: Anxiety Vertigo Sweating Tinnitus Insomnia Back pain Tiredness Lassitude Dizziness Bone ache Depression Infertility Malar flush Poor memory Constipation Night sweats Little sperm Restlnessness Five palm heat Lower back pain Evening anxiety Poor constitution Diminished hearing Nocturnal emissions Scanty dark urination Premature ejaculation Menopausal hot flushes Excessive sexual desire Dry mouth and throat at night Feeling of heat in the evening Low-grade fever in the afternoon Thirst with desire to drink in small sips

This pattern often accompanies Kidney Essence Deficiency, as Kidney Yin includes Essence. When both element are depleted in the Kidneys, not enough Marrow is generated to fill the Brain, thus the symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo and poor memory. The dizziness is mild and the tinnitus is often gradual and slow, like a rushing water sound. Marrow is also essential for nourishing the bones, thus the pattern also leads to symptoms like back and bone pain.

Essence Deficiency also gives rise to symptoms like nocturnal emissions, infertility or little sperm.

Body Fluids is also a form of Yin, therefore Yin Deficiency causes some degree of Dryness, resulting constipation, scanty dark urine as well as a dry mouth and throat, especially at night.

When Kidney Yin Deficiency proceed for a long time without being treated properly, it can develop some Empty Heat symptoms such as night sweats, five palm heat, feeling of heat or fever in the afternoon or evening, malar flush, thirst but only with desire to drink in small sips and anxiety in the evening.

The six herbal formulas that might help with viral myocarditis

The top herbs in Yu Nu Jian are Gypsum (Shi Gao), Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu)

Yu Nu Jian

Source date: 1624 AD

Number of ingredients: 5 herbs

Key actions: Clears stomach Heat. Nourishes Kidney Yin.

Why might Yu Nu Jian help with viral myocarditis?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat and Kidney Yin Deficiency which are sometimes associated with viral myocarditis. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).

Zhi Zi Chi Tang

Source date: 220 AD

Number of ingredients: 2 herbs

Key actions: Clears Heat. Alleviates restlessness and irritability.

Why might Zhi Zi Chi Tang help with viral myocarditis?

Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with viral myocarditis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).