Heart Disease – angina, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia
Asian medicine understands heart diseases—such as angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and arrhythmia—as being caused by excessive fire in the heart or the accumulation of phlegm in the body.
Excessive fire often results from long-term emotional stress, while phlegm refers to pathological substances like neutral fats and cholesterol, which can build up and obstruct the body’s internal systems.
These two factors—excessive fire and phlegm—can disrupt the healthy circulation of Qi (vital energy) and blood, particularly in the coronary arteries, leading to various heart conditions.
In traditional Asian medicine, heart disease is seen as a progression, which can be classified into four stages:
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The unawareness stage (no noticeable symptoms),
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The awareness stage (subtle symptoms emerge),
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The in-progress stage (functional decline begins), and
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The critical stage, where life-threatening events may occur.
The heart is regarded as a highly sensitive organ, deeply affected by the flow and quality of Qi. It relies on Qi as its driving force, similar to how an engine depends on quality fuel.
If the Qi is weak, stagnant, or “impure,” the heart’s pumping function may be compromised—this is how arrhythmia can develop from an energetic perspective.
The strength of Asian medicine lies in its holistic approach: it doesn’t only target the physical heart but also seeks to balance and restore Qi, treating the root cause along with the symptoms.
How Do I Treat Heart Disease?
My treatment for heart disease focuses on restoring the heart’s ability to receive and circulate oxygen-rich blood by using a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
The goal is to improve blood and Qi circulation to the coronary arteries, reduce excessive fire, clear phlegm, and bring the body back into balance.
By addressing both the energetic and physical aspects, this approach helps not only alleviate symptoms but also support long-term cardiovascular health.
