Heat in Pericardium
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 concept of Heat The Pericardium in Chinese Medicine The concept of Exterior
Key attributes
Chinese name: 热入心包 Pinyin name: Rè Rù Xīn Bāo
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Precursor patterns: Lung Heat Bright Yang Stomach Heat Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines and two other possible precursors
Common causes: External pathogenic factor
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Delirium Fever at night Mental confusion Incoherent speech Cold hands and feet
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Dry and red tongue without coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear Heat at the Nutritive Qi Level.
Common formulas: Qing Ying Tang Zhi Bao Dan
Pathology
According to the Four Levels theory, pathogenic Heat can penetrate four levels of depth in the human body: Wei (卫，the defensive Qi level), Qi (气）, Ying (营，Nutritive Qi) and the deepest level Blood. The deeper Heat penetrates within the levels, the more severe the condition.
As for the pattern of Heat in Pericardium, its the Heat entering the third severe level of Ying. It can also be called Heat at the Upper Burner stage.
At this level, the pathologic Heat starts to harm Yin and dry up the Body Fluids. Therefore, the tongue is dry without coating. The Heat mists the Mind which then lose its residence at the Heart and it cause delirium, mental confusion and incoherent speech. One other key characteristic symptom is the severe night fever.
Despite of the intense Heat invading the body, the hands and feet are cold. It is because the Qi circulation to the limbs are damaged due to the true Heat itself. Therefore, the cold of hands and feet is empty in nature.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Heat in Pericardium can derive from Lung Heat Bright Yang Stomach Heat Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines Gallbladder Heat Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen
External pathogenic factor: Wind-Heat invades the body and penetrates the first two level of Wei and Qi, arriving at the Ying level. In this process it gets transformed into Interior Heat.
Diagnosing Heat in Pericardium
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) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Dry and red tongue without coating
Main symptoms: Delirium Fever at night Mental confusion Incoherent speech Cold hands and feet
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are fever at night, delirium and red tongue without coating.
Treating Heat in Pericardium
Treatment principle
Clear Heat at the Nutritive Qi Level.
Herbal formulas used to treat Heat in Pericardium
Qing Ying Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Nutritive level Heat. Relieves Fire Toxin. Removes Heat. Nourishes Yin.
Formula summary
Qing Ying Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear nutritive-level Heat.
Besides Heat in Pericardium, Qing Ying Tang is also used to treat Heat in Nutritive Qi level or Heat in the Blood.
Zhi Bao Dan
Source date: 1075
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Resolves toxicity. Transforms Phlegm .
Formula summary
Zhi Bao Dan is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1075, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and open sensory orifices.
Besides Heat in Pericardium, Zhi Bao Dan is also used to treat Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium.
Consequence patterns
When Exterior Heat invades the Pericardium, it can then develop and enter the Blood. As a result, Internal Wind may occur and lead to symptoms like convulsions.
Heat victorious agitating Blood
If left untreated Heat in Pericardium can lead to Heat victorious agitating Blood
If left untreated Heat in Pericardium can lead to Heat victorious stirring Wind
Empty-Wind agitating in the Interior
If left untreated Heat in Pericardium can lead to Empty-Wind agitating in the Interior
If left untreated Heat in Pericardium can lead to Collapse of Yin
If left untreated Heat in Pericardium can lead to Collapse of Yang