Disharmony of Heart and Small Intestine
The heart is located within the chest. Its main physiological functions are dominating the blood and vessels, controlling the spirit (shen) and sweat secretion. The external examination of the facial complexion and tongue are important for checking the heart's condition.
The heart meridian communicates with the small intestine meridian; they have an exterior and interior relationship, and influence each other closely. The important signs in heart syndromes are palpitations, fearful throbbing, chest oppression, pain in the cardiac region, insomnia, nightmares, poor memory and delirium.
The heart meridian communicates with the small intestine meridian; they have an exterior and interior relationship, and influence each other closely. The important signs in heart syndromes are palpitations, fearful throbbing, chest oppression, pain in the cardiac region, insomnia, nightmares, poor memory and delirium.
| Heart and small intestine disharmonies | ||
| Presentations | Reference with Western medicine | |
| 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. | Heart diseases, heart failure |
| Deficiency of heart yang | Palpitations or fearful throbbing, dull pain in the cardiac region, shortness of breath,which all may be worse on exertion, 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. | 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. | Neurasthenia |
| 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. | 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. | Stomatitis, 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. | Coronary 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. | Schizophrenia |
| Phlegm misting heart | Dark gray 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. | Stroke, 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. | 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. | Urinary infection |
| Qi stagnation of small intestine | Colic in the lower abdomen, abdominal distension, borborgmus (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. | Hernia |
