Heart Yin Deficiency
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 Yin The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心阴虚 Pinyin name: Xin Yin Xu
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Yin Deficiency
Common combinations: Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yin Deficiency Liver Yin Deficiency Heart Blood Deficiency and three other possible precursors
Common causes: 1. Emotional stress, 2. Overwork, 3. External Heat, 4. Lack of sleep
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Night sweats Five palm heat Feeling of heat General sensation of unease
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Fine (Xi), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red or normal tongue with no coating, redder tip with swollen red pointes on tip, deep midline crack
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish Heart Yin, calm the Mind, clear Empty-Heat.
Common formulas: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Pathology
This pattern often derives from Heart Blood Deficiency. Both patterns share similar symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, easily scared, poor memory, restlessness and anxiety.
Blood is a type of Yin element. If Heart Blood get insufficient over a long period of time without being treated, it can eventually develop to the Yin Deficiency. Therefore, middle-aged or elderly patients have more tendency to have Heart Yin Deficiency, while Heart Blood Deficiency is more seem among younger patients, especially young women.
Heart Yin Deficiency may also evolve to Empty-Heat pattern, with typical manifestations of malar flush, five-palm heat and feeling of heat especially in the afternoon or evening.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Heart Yin Deficiency can derive from Kidney Yin Deficiency Liver Yin Deficiency Heart Blood Deficiency Heart Fire blazing Pericardium Fire Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
Emotional stress : Long term anxiety, fear or worry can easily hurt Heart Blood, and eventually the Heart Yin.
Overwork: Overwork in the sense of working long hour without proper rest can easily harm general Yin. The situation get worse if this prolonged overwork is under stress such as anxiety, resulting in disturbed Mind. This situation is fairly common nowadays due to our hectic lifestyle.
External Heat : Prolonged exposure to very hot environment (either in a hot country or a working space) can consume Body Fluids, which is a Yin element. It eventually develops to Heart Yin Deficiency.
Lack of sleep : Lack of sleep, sleeping too late or getting up too early also consumes general Yin, which eventually develops to Heart Yin Deficiency.
Diagnosing Heart Yin Deficiency
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): Rapid (Shu), empty (Xu), fine (Xi) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Red or normal tongue with no coating, redder tip with swollen red pointes on tip, deep midline crack
Main symptoms: Night sweats Five palm heat Feeling of heat General sensation of unease
Diagnosis commentary: The key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the palpitations, mental restlessness, night sweating and tongue without coating.
Treating Heart Yin Deficiency
Treatment principle
Nourish Heart Yin, calm the Mind, clear Empty-Heat.
Herbal formulas used to treat Heart Yin Deficiency
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Nourishes the Blood. Clears Heat. Calms the Mind.
Formula summary
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is a 14-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 16th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
Besides Heart Yin Deficiency, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan is also used to treat Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency or Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency.
Diet recommendations
Avoid spicy foods. If digestion is good, fruit is beneficial, especially berries and purple grapes. If digestion is impaired, eat all cooked foods. Sufficient protein at each meal is important. Do not skip meals. Include black and adzuki beans, soya, tofu and milk in the diet.
As for other therapies, try oil massage, breathing exercises and cupping over the upper back to relieve Stagnation and Deficient Empty-Heat. Try go to bed as early as 9.30 PM and sleep for at least 8 hours. Try work out the emotional stress by taking some hobbies or works that are interesting and fulfilling.
As for sports, avoid intense aerobic exercises. It is better to do light sports such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. It is because they invite the Mind to participate in the Qi and Blood circulation of the body. Other than that, stretching, walking or swimming can be also beneficial.
Special highlight: the link between absence of menstruation and Heart Yin Deficiency
Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) is the key herb for Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a formula used for absence of menstruation caused by Heart Yin Deficiency
Typical symptoms for absence of menstruation caused by Heart Yin Deficiency: Anxiety Insomnia Tinnitus Dizziness Back pain Dry mouth Depression Dry throat Malar flush Poor memory Palpitations Night sweats
Recommended herbal formula: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
The Heart's main function in Chinese Medicine is to govern the flow of Blood, the Blood vessels and to house the Spirit/ Mind. It can be greatly influenced by emotional stress such as sadness, worry, grief and guilt.
The Heart connects to the Uterus and the Kidneys. These three Organs are closely related. Since Blood is a Yin elements, Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency together can dry up the Blood and thus lead to an absence of menstruation.
The treatment principle is to nourish Heart and...Read more about absence of menstruation
Special highlight: the link between postpartum depression and Heart Yin Deficiency
Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) is the key herb for Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a formula used for postpartum depression caused by Heart Yin Deficiency
Typical symptoms for postpartum depression caused by Heart Yin Deficiency: Insomnia Exhaustion Malar flush Palpitations Night sweats Restlnessness Loss of libido Feeling of Heat Low milk supply Feeling of guilt Scanty breast milk Hot palms and soles
Recommended herbal formulas: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang
If Heart Blood Deficiency is untreated for a while, it can worsen into Heart Yin Deficiency combined with Empty Heat. It is more common among mothers who had a pre-existing Yin Deficiency pattern. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency are commonly associated patterns.
Under this pattern, the degree of postpartum depression symptoms are much more severe than in the case of Heart Blood Deficiency. The include strong anxiety, mental restlessness, exhaustion and agitation. Insomnia can be especially...Read more about postpartum depression
Consequence patterns
Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
If left untreated Heart Yin Deficiency can lead to Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized