Heart Function Failure

Western Medicine Signs of Heart Function Failure:

1st sign of heart failure is ankle edema

2nd sign is shortness of breath, must sit leaning forward to catch breath

3rd sign may be cough with fluid or sputum that is pink in color If left heart fails = difficult breathing If right heart fails = ankle swelling

Chinese Medicine and Heart Function Failure:

Left side of the Heart connects with the Liver or Heart

Right side belongs to Lungs

*Important to check if there is ankle swelling, especially if there is shortness of breath Kidney Yang, Heart Yang, and Lung Yang deficiency is prominent, may result in water retention and/or Blood Stasis Kidney and Heart control whole body Yang Right foot- Yang Qi edema Left foot- Yin edema 

Traditional Chinese Medicine basic patterns

Heart, Kidney, and/or Lung Yang deficiency water retention or Phlegm-fluids retention

Herbal Formulas: Zhen Wu Tang + Heart Lung modifications Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (KI), Huang Qi can go up to 30-60 g

**Don’t promote water circulation too strongly until heart function has been restored - i.e. 'Wu Ling San' (gentle) Typical to use herbs such as Fu Zi, Gan Jiang

Blood Stasis

Herbal Formula: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Formulas for Heart Function Failure

- Zhen Wu Tang (Fu Zi, Sheng Jiang, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Gan Cao

- Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (add Dan Shen to move blood)

- Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang (eliminating water, promote water circulation)

- Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang (Qi and Yang tonic together)

- Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi deficiency with ankle swelling)(Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan add Niu Xi and Che Quan Zi)

***Three main herbs for Qi (should be added to the above)

1. Huang Qi (mostly acting in Jueyin, promote water and blood circulation, needs to combine with Dang Gui to create Fire)

2. Ren Shen (mostly acting in Lung, promote blood circulation, needs to combine with Fu Zi to create Fire)

3. Dang Shen (mostly acting in Earth)

 ***Three main herbs for the Yang 1

. Fu Zi (whole body)

2. Gan Jiang (mid Jiao)

3. Rou Gui (Heart and Kidney communicate)

Moxa Stomach 36, and Yang meridians to release water retention everyday 20-30 min each time 3 times per day.