Heart Blood Stagnation
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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Heart in Chinese Medicine The concept of Blood The concept of Blood Stagnation
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心血阻滞 Pinyin name: Xīn Xuè Zǔ Zhì
Pattern nature: Full/Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Blood Stagnation
Common combinations: Heart Vessel obstructed
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver Qi Stagnation Heart Yang Deficiency Heart Yang Collapsing and one other possible precursors
Common causes: Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Chest constriction Stabbing chest pain Feeling of oppression of the chest
Pulse type(s): Knotted (Jie)
Tongue description: Purple entirely or just on the side
Treatment
Treatment principle: Move Blood, eliminate stagnation, tonify and warm Heart Yang, calm the Mind
Common formulas: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Pathology
It is characterized by symptoms such as palpitations, chest pressure and stiffness as well as sharp stabbing pain in the chest, which can spread to the inner area of the left arm or to the shoulder. Since the Blood doesn't flow smoothly, it reflected by the purple or dark color on lips, face, tongue and nails.
The Stagnant Blood also blocks the Gathering Qi flow in the chest, which then fails to move Lung and Heart Qi to the hands, hence the symptoms of cold hands.
This is a severe pattern that mostly derives from other Heart patterns, normally Heart Yang or Blood Deficiency, or Heart Qi Stagnation. Other than these, Heart Fire or Heart Qi Deficiency can also be the precursors. The symptoms and signs will vary depending on the origin of the pattern.
If it is due to the Heart Yang or Blood Deficiency, it causes chest pain which feels like a constriction. The intensity of the pain varies from a mild pricking sensation to an intense stabbing pain. The pain typically comes in repeated bouts and is elicited by exertion or cold weather.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Heart Blood Stagnation can derive from Liver Qi Stagnation Heart Yang Deficiency Heart Yang Collapsing Heart Qi Stagnation
Emotional stress: Prolonged emotional stress such as grief, worry, or anxiety are ultimately the cause since they harm the Heart's functions of controlling Blood and Blood vessels. It eventually leads to the patterns that are precursors to Heart Blood Stagnation. Since the Heart house the Mind (Shen), this may become a self-reinforcing loop since a disturbed Mind may in turn cause emotional stress.
Diagnosing Heart Blood Stagnation
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Knotted (Jie)
Tongue description: Purple entirely or just on the side
Main symptoms: Chest constriction Stabbing chest pain Feeling of oppression of the chest
Diagnosis commentary: The key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the stabbing pain in the chest, purple lips and purple tongue. Chest pain is the key symptom of this pattern, which only occurs to this pattern and to Heart vessel obstructed.
Treating Heart Blood Stagnation
Treatment principle
Move Blood, eliminate stagnation, tonify and warm Heart Yang, calm the Mind
Herbal formulas used to treat Heart Blood Stagnation
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Dispels blood Stagnation. Spreads the Liver Qi. Unblocks the channels.
Formula summary
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1830 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation.
Besides Heart Blood Stagnation, Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang is also used to treat Heart Vessel obstructed or Qi And Blood Stagnation.
Diet recommendations
Eat a balanced diet including Dang Gui, lamb and ginger soup, bone marrow soup, milk, black and adzuki beans and congee. Eat only cooked foods and do not skip meals.
Special highlight: the link between postpartum depression and Heart Blood Stagnation
White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) is the key herb for Xiao Tiao Jing Tang, a formula used for postpartum depression caused by Heart Blood Stagnation
Typical symptoms for postpartum depression caused by Heart Blood Stagnation: Mania Delusions Aggressiveness Hallucinations Suicidal thoughts Destructive thoughts Blaming oneself and others Lack of bonding with the newborn
Recommended herbal formula: Xiao Tiao Jing Tang
Heart Blood Stagnation is the most severe pattern causing postpartum depression. The Stagnant Heart Blood troubles and obstructs the Mind (which is housed in the Heart) so much that the mother become aggressive, obsessive, neurotic, phobic and/or psychotic. In some rare cases they can even develop a form of schizophrenia. They can be not only depressed but also have delusions and hallucinations as well as suicidal thoughts and dangerous ideas toward their newborn.
As for treatment principles,...Read more about postpartum depression
Consequence patterns
Both Blood and Phlegm are types of Body Fluids and they have direct influence over each other. Heart Blood Stagnation can lead to the formation of Phlegm.
Prolonged Blood Stagnation can cause Dryness, especially among the elderly.