Disharmony of Heart and Small intestine
The heart is located in the chest and is believed to be responsible for mental and intellectual activities (also known as shen), blood circulation, and sweat secretion. The tongue and face are important areas for observing heart-related conditions.
The heart meridian is communicated with the small intestine meridian, meaning they have an internal-external relationship and can affect each other when one is diseased. Common symptoms of heart-related issues include palpitations, restlessness, chest pain, poor sleep, excessive dreaming, forgetfulness and delirium.
Deficiency of heart qi
Palpitations, fullness in chest, breath shortness that is worse on exertion, palpitations, fearful throbbing, spontaneous sweating, pale face, fatigue and general weakness. On examination, the tongue is pale with white coating, and the pulse is thready and weak.
Reference to Western medicine: Heart diseases, heart failure.
Deficiency of heart yang
Palpitations or fearful throbbing, dull pain in the cardiac region, shortness of breath, these symptoms can be worse on exertion. Others include fullness in the chest, pale face, spontaneous sweating, fatigue, aversion of cold temperatures and cold limbs. On examination, the tongue is purple and moist with a white coating and the pulse is thready or knotted and intermittent.
Reference to Western medicine: Heart diseases, heart failure.
Deficiency of heart blood
Palpitations or fearful throbbing, a tendency to be frightened, chest oppression, insomnia, nightmares, poor memory, a lusterless complexion, dizziness and pale lips and nails. On examination, the tongue is pale white, and the pulse is thready and weak.
Deficiency of heart yin
Palpitations, fearful throbbing, chest oppression, insomnia, poor memory, nightmares, fever occurring at the same time of day or low grade fever, flushed cheeks, feverish sensation in palms and soles of the feet, night sweating and dry lips and throat. On examination, the tongue is red and dry without fur or with thin yellow fur, and the pulse is thready and rapid.
Reference to Western medicine: Neurasthenia, tuberculosis.
Heart fire blazing
Sores on the tongue and mouth, insomnia, palpitations, fearful throbbing, feverish sensation in the chest, irritability, flushed face, thirst with a preference for cold drinks, constipation, and hot and yellow urine. On examination, there is a red tongue with a yellow coating and a rapid and forceful pulse. In severe cases, agitation, vomiting blood, nasal bleeding, difficulty urinating and skin sores may appear.
Reference to Western medicine: Stomatitis and neurasthenia.
Stasis of heart blood
Palpitations, fearful throbbing, pricking pain or stuffy pain in the cardiac region, which can radiate to the left shoulder and arm, cyanosis (blueness of lips and nails) and cold limbs. On examination, there is a dark red tongue, or purplish tongue with petechiae (small bruised spots) and a thready rugged pulse or knotted and intermittent pulse.
Reference to Western medicine: Coronary heart disease, angina.
Phlegm and fire agitating heart
Fever, chest oppression, dizziness, insomnia, flushed face, thirst, mania, coarse breathing, spitting up yellow thick sputum and dark yellow urine. In severe cases, mental disorders or emotional instability appears. On examination, there is a red tongue with a yellow and sticky coating, and the pulse is rolling and rapid.
Reference to Western medicine: Schizophrenia.
Phlegm misting heart
Darken complexion, dull pain in the gastric region, nausea, low spirited, sleepiness or even stupor and drooling or gurgling in the throat. On examination, there is a pale tongue with white greasy coating and a rolling pulse.
Reference to Western medicine: Stroke and high fever coma.
Deficient and cold of small intestine
Dull pain in lower abdomen which feels better when pressed, borborygmus (rumbling noises caused by the movement of gas in the intestines), diarrhea and urinary difficulty. On examination, the tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is slow.
Reference to Western medicine: Enteritis
Excess heat of small intestine
Chest oppression, sores in mouth or tongue, thirst, flushed face, scanty dark yellow urine, pain on urination, urinary urgency, bloody urine and distending pain in the center of the abdomen. On examination, the tongue is red with a yellow coating, and the pulse is rapid.
Reference to Western medicine: Urinary infection.
Qi stagnation of small intestine
Colic in the lower abdomen, abdominal distension, borborygmus (rumbling noises caused by the movement of gas in the intestines) which is relieved by passing gas, or the presence of retracting pain in testes. On examination, the tongue has a white coating, and the pulse is taut or taut and tense.
Reference to Western medicine: Hernia
