Differentiation

Symptoms

Formula

E x c e s s

Blood stagnation

palpitations with chest pain, sudden attack of prickly or colicky pain with possible radiation into the left arm; cyanosis of lips and nails, shortness of breath, cold limbs, blue-purple tongue with black spots on the side, choppy pulse

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Heat phlegm disturbing Heart

palpitations come and go, and are induced by anxiety or fright; dizziness, vertigo, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, bitter taste in mouth, aphthous ulcers, cough with thick sticky sputum, red tongue with yellow greasy coat, slippery pulse

Wen Dan Tang or
Er Chen Tang modified

Excess with Deficiency

Water attacking the Heart due to Kidney Yang deficiency

palpitations, dizziness, difficult urination, edema in the lower extremities, shortness of breath, loose stools, cold limbs, pale tongue, deep pulse

Zhen Wu Tang

D e f i c i e n c y

Heart blood deficiency

palpitations with dizziness aggravated by exertion or exercise; easily frightened, poor memory, blurry vision, pale face, insomnia, pale tongue, thin weak pulse

chest pain, dysmenorrhea, black spots on the tongue

Si Wu Tang

Liver blood deficiency

irritability, palpitations induced or aggravated by emotional stress

Suan Zao Ren Tang

Heart Qi deficiency

palpitations with shortness of breath induced by any physical or mental activity; lassitude, spontaneous sweating, low voice, frequent sighing and yawning, fatigue, weak pulse

Si Jun Zi Tang

Heart Blood and Qi deficiency

palpitations with shortness of breath, worse after exertion; spontaneous sweating, irregular menstruation, insomnia, lassitude, blurry vision, dizziness, pale tongue, weak and thready pulse

chest pain, dysmenorrhea, black spots on the tongue

Gui Pi Tang

Heart Blood, Qi and Yang deficiency

irritability, palpitations induced
or aggravated by emotional stress

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang

Heart Qi and Yin deficiency

palpitations with shortness of breath, a feeling of suffocation, lassitude, vague chest pain, thirst, night sweats or spontaneous sweating, dry mouth, thirst, red tongue with scanty coating and a thin and weak pulse

Gan Mai Da Zao Tang, Sheng Mai San

Kidney and Heart disharmony

palpitations with irritability aggravated by mental or emotional stress; restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, tinnitus, flushed face, seminal emission, red tongue, thready pulse

Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan