Cardiac Neurosis
Cardiac neurosis, also known as cardiac neurotic disorder, is a neurosis characterized primarily by cardiac discomfort. Its clinical features include cardiovascular symptoms occurring alongside nervous system dysfunction, with no clinical evidence of organic heart disease causally related to the symptoms or of another physical illness affecting the heart. Patients often also have significant psychological difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, fear, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, health anxiety, or neurasthenia. The onset and changes in cardiovascular symptoms are closely associated with psychological factors.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, chest oppression or pain that moves around, or distending pain in the flanks; restlessness, low mood, frequent sighing, or insomnia, vivid dreams, dizziness, and a feeling of head distension. The tongue may be dark red or purplish-dark, with blood stasis spots or patches; the pulse may be wiry, wiry and choppy, or fine and choppy.
In everyday terms:
- You may feel repeated fluttering or uneasiness in the chest, as if the heartbeat were trembling.
- The chest may feel tight and painful. The pain may move around, or you may feel distension and discomfort along both sides of the rib cage.
- You may feel restless and unable to settle, with a persistent sense of inner discomfort.
- You may feel low or depressed, downhearted, and lacking in energy.
- You may sigh without realizing it, often letting out a long breath.
- Insomnia and vivid dreams may occur, sometimes accompanied by dizziness or a feeling of pressure in the head.
- The tongue may look dark red or purplish and dull rather than fresh in color.
- Purplish spots or patches may be visible on the tongue.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel wiry, wiry and choppy, or fine and choppy, with an uneven quality.
|Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Soothe the Liver and regulate qi; invigorate blood and open the channels.
In everyday terms:
- By soothing Liver qi and regulating the flow of qi, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort associated with Liver qi stagnation, such as distension and tightness in the chest and flanks, belching, poor appetite, frequent sighing, low mood, and irritability.
- By invigorating blood and unblocking the channels, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort associated with impaired blood flow, such as fixed or stabbing pain, numbness, coldness, and restricted movement.
|Related formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, a stuffy sensation and pain in the chest, restlessness, insomnia, abundant phlegm, chest oppression, dizziness or vertigo, feverishness and labored breathing, a flushed face and red eyes. The tongue is red with a yellow, greasy coating; the pulse is slippery and rapid.
In everyday terms:
- You may feel repeated fluttering in the chest, as if the heartbeat were trembling.
- The chest may feel tight or constricted, with pain and greater discomfort when breathing.
- You may feel restless and unable to calm down.
- You may have trouble falling or staying asleep, or wake at night and find it hard to get back to sleep.
- You may produce noticeably more phlegm and feel the need to clear your throat frequently.
- The chest may feel persistently tight, with breathing that feels restricted, as if something were pressing on it.
- You may feel dizzy or as if the surroundings are spinning, and feel unsteady when standing.
- You may feel feverish and breathe heavily, with rapid or labored breathing.
- Your face and eyes may look red and feel hot.
- The tongue may be red with a yellow, sticky-looking coating.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel smooth and rapid.
|Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Transform phlegm and clear heat; calm the Heart and quiet the spirit.
In everyday terms:
- By addressing thick phlegm and clearing internal heat, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort such as chest tightness, cough, thick yellow phlegm, and a bitter taste or dry throat.
- By calming the Heart and spirit and easing tension and fright, this approach aims to reduce palpitations, uneasiness, insomnia, and vivid dreams, and to support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
|Related formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, being easily startled and fearful, palpitations and alarm when frightened, restlessness whether sitting or lying down, insomnia with vivid dreams and easy waking, aversion to loud sounds. The tongue is pale red with a thin white coating; the pulse may be rapid or wiry and fine.
In everyday terms:
- You may feel repeated fluttering in the chest, as if the heartbeat were trembling or unsettled.
- You may be easily startled and often feel fearful or uneasy.
- After a fright, the palpitations may become more noticeable, with a lingering sense of alarm.
- You may feel unable to settle, whether sitting or lying down.
- You may have trouble falling asleep, have many dreams, and wake easily.
- You may dislike hearing sounds, and noise may cause considerable discomfort.
- The tongue may be pale with a slight red hue rather than a vivid red.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may be rapid or feel fine and taut.
|Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Settle fright and calm the spirit; nourish the Heart and quiet the mind.
In everyday terms:
- By easing fright and tension and helping to steady the mind, this approach aims to lessen palpitations, a sense of alarm, easy waking, and restlessness, and to support steadier emotions and concentration.
- By nourishing the Heart and its qi and blood and calming the spirit, this approach aims to ease insomnia, vivid dreams, excessive thinking, and forgetfulness, and to support more restful sleep and a calmer mood.
|Related formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or vertigo, a dull complexion, fatigue and weakness, spontaneous sweating, insomnia and forgetfulness, poor appetite and abdominal distension. The tongue is pale with a thin white coating; the pulse is fine and weak or wiry and fine.
In everyday terms:
- You may feel repeated fluttering in the chest, as if the heartbeat were trembling or unsettled.
- Your breathing may feel short or insufficient, especially when talking or walking.
- You may feel dizzy or as if the surroundings are spinning, and unsteady when standing.
- Your face may look pale and dull, with little color or vitality.
- You may feel tired and weak, quickly running out of energy when doing things.
- You may sweat without physical activity, with more sweating after even slight exertion.
- You may have trouble falling asleep and be forgetful during the day.
- You may have a poor appetite and feel unable to eat, with uncomfortable fullness in the upper abdomen.
- The tongue may look pale rather than rosy.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel fine and weak, or fine and wiry.
|Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish blood; calm the Heart and quiet the spirit.
In everyday terms:
- By supporting qi and nourishing the blood, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort such as shortness of breath, weakness, a pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, spontaneous sweating, and easy fatigue.
- By calming the Heart and spirit and supporting Heart qi, this approach aims to ease palpitations, uneasiness, insomnia, and vivid dreams, and to support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
|Related formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Palpitations, fear and uneasiness, a stuffy sensation and pain in the chest, soreness and pain in the back, frequent sighing, irritability and restlessness, insomnia, heat in the palms and soles or episodes of tidal fever, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees. The tongue tip is red and the tongue body dark; the coating is thin and white or thin and greasy. The pulse is deep, wiry, and fine, or wiry, fine, and rapid.
In everyday terms:
- You may feel repeated fluttering in the chest, as if the heartbeat were trembling or unsettled.
- You may feel fearful or uneasy, with persistent emotional tension.
- Your chest may feel tight and painful, with greater discomfort when breathing.
- You may feel soreness or aching in your back, which may be more noticeable with movement or prolonged sitting.
- You may sigh without realizing it, often letting out a long breath.
- You may feel restless and irritable, with mood swings that are hard to control.
- You may have trouble falling or staying asleep, or experience persistent insomnia.
- You may feel heat in the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, or have episodes of tidal fever.
- Your lower back and knees may feel sore and weak, especially after standing or walking for a long time.
- The tongue tip may be red while the tongue body looks dark and dull.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white, or thin and sticky-looking.
- On pulse examination, the pulse may feel deep, taut, and fine, or fine and somewhat rapid.
|Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Nourish and tonify the Liver and Kidneys; nourish the Heart and quiet the spirit.
In everyday terms:
- By nourishing the Liver and Kidneys and supporting essence, blood, and yin fluids, this approach aims to gradually ease discomfort such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes and mouth, tidal fever, and night sweats, while supporting steadier stamina and tolerance.
- By nourishing the spirit and calming the emotions, this approach aims to ease palpitations, uneasiness, irritability, and insomnia with vivid dreams, and to support a steadier mood and more restful sleep.
|Related formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Chen Haozhu, Lin Guowei, Wang Jiyao. Practical Internal Medicine (14th ed.) [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2015: 1396–1397.
- Feng Haipeng. Recent developments in the treatment of cardiac neurosis with traditional Chinese medicine [J]. Journal of Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 14(1): 55–57.
- Horwitz AV. How an age of anxiety became an age of depression [J]. Milbank Q, 2010, 88(1): 112–138.
- Wang Tian, Zhou Yabin, Wang Yan. Progress in research on cardiovascular neurosis in traditional Chinese medicine [J]. Guangming Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2015, 30(3): 657–659.
- Ding Yu. A preliminary exploration of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for cardiac neurosis [J]. Journal of Emergency in Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2012, 21(12): 1975–1976.
- Qian Bochu. An overview of Chinese and Western medicine research on cardiac neurosis [J]. Zhejiang Journal of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, 2005, 15(11): 661–662.
- Qu Fei, Ma Hongshan, Bai Rubing. Application of the “psychocardiology” model in patients with cardiac neurosis [J]. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine on Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease, 2015, 13(1): 117–118.
- Huang Xiansheng, Gong Chunming, Zhao Honglian, et al. Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular neurosis [J]. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine on Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease, 2010, 8(1): 93–95.
- Sun Cong, Zhang Dailiang, Liu Yongjia, et al. Observation of the effects of modified Chaihu Shugan San in treating cardiac neurosis [J]. Electronic Journal of Translational Medicine, 2016, 04: 17–18.
- Shen Suqin. Application of psychological suggestion therapy in the treatment of cardiac neurosis [J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Rational Drug Use, 2015, 08(3): 92–93.