Viral Myocarditis
Viral myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, characterized primarily by nonspecific focal or diffuse inflammatory lesions and caused by infection with viruses that have an affinity for the myocardium. It is the most common type of infectious myocarditis. Mild cases may involve focal lesions and cause no symptoms; severe cases may lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden death, or become chronic.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, fever, chills, chest tightness and shortness of breath, dull pain in the left chest, cough, fatigue and weakness, dry mouth, red tongue with white coating, floating and rapid or hurried pulse
In plain language:
- You may feel your heart racing or pounding, with an unsettled or fluttering sensation in your chest.
- You may develop a fever and feel uncomfortably hot.
- You may feel chilled, especially when exposed to cold wind.
- Your chest may feel tight, with shortness of breath and a sensation that you cannot get enough air.
- You may have recurrent, mild pain on the left side of your chest.
- You may develop a persistent or recurrent cough that is slow to improve.
- You may feel mentally and physically exhausted, with little energy for activities.
- Your mouth may feel dry and you may want to drink, yet still feel that your mouth is not adequately moist.
- Your tongue may appear red while its coating is white, making the color contrast noticeable.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel superficial and rapid, or unusually hurried.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and resolve toxins, with blood-activating measures as an adjunct
In plain language:
- In TCM, clearing internal heat and resolving pathogenic toxins, while protecting fluids and relieving thirst, is intended to gradually ease heat-related symptoms such as fever, irritability, sore or swollen throat, bitter or dry mouth, red and swollen skin or boils, and dark-yellow urine.
- Adding blood-activating measures to support microcirculation and address stasis is intended to promote the resolution of swelling and tissue repair, and gradually reduce discomfort such as stabbing or distending pain, localized dark discoloration or firm lumps, and restricted movement.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, chest tightness, alternating chills and fever, generalized muscle aches, limb weakness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, red tongue, yellow and greasy coating, soggy and rapid or intermittent pulse
In plain language:
- You may feel palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, along with a sense of unease or discomfort.
- Your chest may feel tight or constricted, and breathing may feel uncomfortable.
- You may alternate between chills and feeling feverish.
- Your muscles throughout the body may feel sore or achy, with discomfort during movement or when touched.
- Your arms and legs may feel weak, and you may quickly run out of energy during activities.
- You may feel nauseated or vomit.
- You may have abdominal pain or discomfort, along with loose stools or diarrhea.
- Your tongue may appear redder than usual.
- Your tongue coating may look yellow and sticky or greasy.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel soft and rapid, or irregular with pauses.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and transform dampness; calm the heart and settle the spirit
In plain language:
- In TCM, clearing internal heat and resolving dampness is intended to gradually ease discomfort such as fullness and stuffiness in the chest and upper abdomen, bitter or sticky mouth, a heavy head and fatigue, and scanty, dark-yellow urine.
- Calming the heart and settling the spirit, while easing irritability and tension, is intended to lessen palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and vivid dreams, and support a steadier mood and more restful sleep. In TCM, clearing internal heat and resolving dampness is intended to gradually ease discomfort such as fullness and stuffiness in the chest and upper abdomen, bitter or sticky mouth, a heavy head and fatigue, and scanty, dark-yellow urine.
- Calming the heart and settling the spirit, while easing irritability and tension, is intended to lessen palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and vivid dreams, and support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, forceful heartbeat, pain in the chest and flanks, stabbing pain, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath and reluctance to speak, purplish or dark tongue or petechiae and ecchymoses, choppy or intermittent pulse
In plain language:
- You may feel palpitations or an unsettled heartbeat, sometimes with a sensation of alarm or a forceful heartbeat.
- You may have pain along the sides of the chest or ribs, with a sharp, needle-like quality.
- You may feel mentally and physically exhausted, short of breath, and reluctant to speak, with little energy for activities.
- Your tongue may appear purplish or dark, or have purple spots or patches.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel rough or uneven, or have irregular pauses.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish the heart; invigorate blood and resolve stasis
In plain language:
- In TCM, supplementing qi and nourishing the heart is intended to support the heart’s nourishment and gradually ease discomfort such as shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, and a dull complexion.
- Activating blood, addressing stasis, and promoting the flow of the channels is intended to gradually ease stasis-related discomfort such as fixed stabbing pain, chest tightness or distending pain, and numbness or coldness.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, forceful heartbeat, chest tightness and pain, aversion to cold, cold limbs, pale complexion, spontaneous sweating, reluctance to speak, fatigue and shortness of breath, possible swelling of the lower limbs, dark lips and tongue, pale and swollen or pale-purple tongue, white coating, weak or intermittent pulse
In plain language:
- You may feel palpitations or an unsettled heartbeat, with episodes of alarm or a forceful heartbeat that are difficult to calm.
- Your chest or the area in front of your heart may feel tight or constricted and painful, with greater discomfort when breathing.
- You may feel very cold, with cold hands and feet; these symptoms may worsen in cold conditions.
- Your face may look pale and lack its usual color.
- You may sweat without exertion and feel disinclined to talk, speaking little and in a low voice.
- You may feel fatigued and weak, with shortness of breath or a sensation of not getting enough air; this may worsen with activity.
- Swelling may develop in the lower limbs, making the legs or feet look puffy and feel more uncomfortable after prolonged walking.
- Your lips and tongue may look darker than usual and lack their normal rosy color.
- Your tongue may look pale and somewhat enlarged, or have a pale-purple hue.
- Your tongue coating may be white, and the tongue surface may look relatively pale and clean.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel weak or have irregular pauses.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm and invigorate heart yang; calm the heart and settle the spirit
In plain language:
- In TCM, warming and invigorating heart yang is intended to support the heart’s activity and gradually ease discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, chest tightness, and fatigue.
- Calming the heart and settling the spirit, while easing tension and feelings of alarm, is intended to lessen palpitations and restlessness and insomnia, and support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations and shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating and lassitude, fatigue and weakness, mental fatigue and dizziness, insomnia and vivid dreams, flushed cheeks, dry mouth and reduced fluids, red tongue with scanty coating, weak and rapid pulse
In plain language:
- You may feel palpitations and shortness of breath, as if you cannot get enough air.
- You may sweat without exertion and feel tired and low in energy.
- You may often feel weak and quickly tire during activities.
- You may feel low in energy and experience dizziness or lightheadedness.
- You may have difficulty falling asleep and experience frequent dreams, with restless sleep.
- Your cheeks may often look flushed or feel warm.
- Your mouth may feel dry and you may want to drink, with reduced saliva and a lack of moisture.
- Your tongue may look red, with little or no coating.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel notably weak and rapid, with reduced force.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish yin; calm the heart and settle the spirit
In plain language:
- In TCM, supplementing qi and nourishing body fluids is intended to support energy and gradually ease discomfort such as dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability or feeling overheated.
- Calming the heart and settling the spirit, while easing tension and feelings of alarm, is intended to lessen palpitations and restlessness, insomnia, and vivid dreams, and support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- China Association of Chinese Medicine. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases in TCM Internal Medicine [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008.
- Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy Countermeasures Task Force, Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Cardiology. Opinions on reference criteria for adult acute viral myocarditis and adoption of the World Health Organization/International Society and Federation of Cardiology Task Force’s definition and classification of cardiomyopathies [J]. Chinese Circulation Journal, 2001, 16(4): 307–345.