Pericardium Blood 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 Pericardium in Chinese Medicine The concept of Blood The concept of Deficincy
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心包血虚 Pinyin name: Xīn Bāo Xuè Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Blood Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Qi Deficiency Heart Blood Deficiency Spleen Blood Deficiency
Common causes: Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Insomnia Chest pain Poor memory Palpitations Chest fullness and one other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale, thin and slightly dry tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish Blood, invigorate Qi and Blood in the chest, strengthen the Heart and Pericardium.
Common formulas: Shen Qi Si Wu Tang
Pathology
Pericardium is the guard of the Heart and it is the first layer of defense to be attacked in case of any pathologic influences. Therefore, it is more sensitive than the Heart.
The Mind resides in both the Heart and the Pericardium. When Blood Deficiency occurs in both Organs, the Mind loses its residence and get agitated. As a result, the patients are easy to be scared and have insomnia, dream disturbed sleep and poorer memory.
The Pericardium channel can be stagnated if Qi and Blood are not able to circulate properly. This can cause the feeling of chest fullness, discomfort and pain.
As the Blood is Deficient, this pattern can lead to the shortness of breath as the Pericardium connects the Heart and Lung Qi of the chest. The Qi and Blood also fails to move properly to the hands, which results in cold hands.
Scanty periods or amenorrhoea is another potential symptom in women due to the connection between the Uterus and the Pericardium.
Finally, when the Pericardium channel is in disharmony, the pulse on the Heart position is often slightly hard, even though the pulse as a whole may be Choppy or Fine.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Pericardium Blood Deficiency can derive from Spleen Qi Deficiency Heart Blood Deficiency Spleen Blood Deficiency
Emotional stress : This pattern is often caused by emotional stress such as grief or sadness due to break-up of relationships.
Diagnosing Pericardium Blood 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): Choppy (Se) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale, thin and slightly dry tongue
Main symptoms: Insomnia Chest pain Poor memory Palpitations Chest fullness Chest discomfort
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the discomfort of the chest, palpitations, insomnia and Choppy pulse.
Treating Pericardium Blood Deficiency
Treatment principle
Nourish Blood, invigorate Qi and Blood in the chest, strengthen the Heart and Pericardium.
Herbal formulas used to treat Pericardium Blood Deficiency
Shen Qi Si Wu Tang
Source date: 846 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Restores and nourishes Blood. Stimulates Blood circulation. Tonifies Qi.
Formula summary
Shen Qi Si Wu Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 846 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Pericardium Blood Deficiency, Shen Qi Si Wu Tang is also used to treat Heart Blood Deficiency.