Pericardium Fire
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 Heat
Key attributes
Chinese name: 心包火 Pinyin name: Xīn Bāo Huǒ
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Heat
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver Fire Blazing
Common causes: 1. Emotional stress, 2. Diet
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Thirst Anxiety Insomnia Chest heat Palpitations and nine other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi)
Tongue description: red tongue with yellow coating. There is redder tip with swollen red points and midline crack until the tip.
Treatment
Treatment principle: Remove Fire from the Heart and the Pericardium.
Common formulas: Xie Xin Tang Zi Xue Dan
Pathology
The Mind resides in both the Heart and the Pericardium. It can be greatly disturbed by Fire in these two Organs and cause symptoms like insomnia, mental restlessness, agitation, and dream disturbed sleep. Comparing with Pericardium Blood Deficiency, the manifestations of above mental emotion are much more obvious and severe.
The Heart and Pericardium open to the mouth and tongue, thus Fire can cause mouth ulcers, bitter tastes and thirst.
The feeling of chest tightness, pain and heat happens because Pericardium channel pass through chest. It also connects to the Lungs and cause slightly rapid breath.
Finally, this pattern can also cause heavy menstruation because Pericardium Fire leads to Heat in the Blood and this Heat get passed to the Uterus through channels.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Pericardium Fire can derive from Liver Fire Blazing
Emotional stress : Emotional stress such as sadness, grief, worry, anger, frustration, resentment or guilt can cause some degree of Heart Qi Stagnation, which then accumulates to Fire or Heat if not treated for a while. Pericardium is the guard of the Heart and will also be affected by this Fire.
Diet: Over consumption of 'heavy food' such as red meat or alcohol can accumulate of Fire in the body.
Diagnosing Pericardium Fire
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): Overflowing (Hong), rapid (Shu) or full (Shi)
Tongue description: red tongue with yellow coating. There is redder tip with swollen red points and midline crack until the tip.
Main symptoms: Thirst Anxiety Insomnia Chest heat Palpitations Mouth ulcers Rapid breath Tongue ulcers Restlnessness Heavy periods Feeling of heat Dream disturbed sleep Bitter taste in the mouth Stifling sensation in the chest
Diagnosis commentary: The main characteristic symptoms of this pattern are palpitations, stifling feeling in the chest, bitter taste in the mouth and insomnia.
Treating Pericardium Fire
Treatment principle
Remove Fire from the Heart and the Pericardium.
Herbal formulas used to treat Pericardium Fire
Zi Xue Dan
Source date: 752 AD
Number of ingredients: 17 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Controls spasms and convulsions. Extinguishes Wind.
Formula summary
Zi Xue Dan is a 17-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 752 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and open sensory orifices.
Besides Pericardium Fire, Zi Xue Dan is also used to treat Heart Fire blazing or Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire.
Xie Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Drains Fire. Resolves Toxicity. Dries Dampness.
Formula summary
Xie Xin Tang is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and resolve toxicity.
Besides Pericardium Fire, Xie Xin Tang is also used to treat Heart Fire blazing.
Consequence patterns
Fire in Pericardium can harm Yin can cause Heart Yin Deficiency.
Liver Channel and Pericardium Channel are related within the Terminal Yin (Jue Yin) Channel. Therefore Pericardium Fire can cause Liver Fire or vice versa.