Palpitations and Arrhythmias
Heart Tremors refer to Arrhythmia, irregular Heart beats. Tachycardia means a rapid Heart beat. Palpitations are notable rapid or irregular Heart beats which are felt. Both may come from either excess, deficiency or obstruction. Excess are from Heat or Phlegm; deficient types are from Qi, Yin or Yang deficiency; obstruction is of Qi and Blood stasis. Due to the fact that there is irregularity in the flow of Vital Spirit (Qi), medicines to settle and regulate the Wind are often used.
Special Herbs
1. Indian Spikenard has been widely used for Palpitations and Arrhythmias
i. Indian Spikenard, Arjuna
ii. Indian Spikenard, Arjuna, Boerhaavia, Sida cordifolia (Ayurveda)
iii. Indian Spikenard with Mastic, Aloeswood, Cinnamon (as in Aloeswood Powder for Palpitations)
iv. Indian Spikenard with Aloeswood, Rose, Mastic, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg (as in Troches of Aloeswood)
v. Indian Spikenard with Mastic, Aloeswood, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Cardamon, Citron peel, Musk
vi. Indian Spikenard, Isatis Folium Da Qing Ye, Codonopsis Dang Shen, Ginseng, Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), Bitter Orange (Zhi Ke), Licorice. This was used in a clinical trial with an effectiveness of 83%. (Chen & Chen)
Western Tradition
Simples
- Aloeswood
- Rose
- Basil seed
- Emblic Myrobalan
- Licorice
- Frankincense
- Amber
- Musk
- Sandalwood
- Indian Spikenard
- Dodder
- Yellow Myrobalan
- Cinnamon
- Saffron
- Pearl
- Camphor
Cordis Tremori Conferunt
Heart Tremors, Arrhythmias
Irregular Heart rate
Infusion of Rose
Aloeswood Powder for Palpitations
Powder of Gems for Palpitations (Wirtzung)
Powder to Strengthen the Heart
Sweet Powder of Musk (Diamoschu Dulce) (Mesue)
Cooling Electuary of Musk (Rhazes)
Aromatic Musk Compound (Aromaticum Moschatum)
Temperate Electuary for the Heart
Comp. Rosemary Powder (Dianthos)
Comp. Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)
Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Mesue)
Sugar of Borage
Sugar of Bugloss
Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)
Aloeswood 8 (A gar bdgyad pa) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 8 Water Transformer (Ar brgyad chu bsgyur)
Aloeswood 9 (A gar dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 10 (A gar bcu pa) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 17 (A gar bcu bdun) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 18 (A gar bcu bdun) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder (Mongolian)
Blood Medicine 11 (Khrag sman bcu gcig) (Tibetan)
Caraway 8 (Go snyod brgyad pa) (Tibetan)
Life Holding Jewel (Srog ‘dzin nor bu) (Tibetan)
Nutmeg 14 (Dza ti bcu bzhi) (Tibetan)
Undying Aloeswood 8 (Chi med a gar brgyad pa)
Tachycardia
Rapid Heart rate
Powder of Gems for Palpitation (Wirtzung)
Powder to Cool the Heart (Augustana)
Letificans Temperate Electuary
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)
Aloeswood 8 Water Transformer (Ar brgyad chu bsgyur)
Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder
Caraway 8 (Go snyod brgyad pa) (Tibetan)
Life Holding Jewel (Srog ‘dzin nor bu) (Tibetan)
Palpitations
Cordial Decoction (Florentini)
Blessed Wine
Aloeswood Powder for Palpitations
Abbots Confect of Rose (Diarrhodon Abbatis) (Nicholas)
Aromatic Clove Powder (Aromaticum Caryophyllatum)
Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Powder for Palpitation from Heat
Powder of Galangal (Diagalanga) (Mesue)
Powder of Gems for Palpitations (Wirtzung)
Powder to Cool the Heart (Augustana)
Powder to Strengthen the Heart
Powder of Three Sandalwoods (Diatriasantalum)
Galens Powder of Happiness (Letificans)
Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)
Cooling Exhilarating Electuary (Unani)
Letificans Cooling Electuary (Unani)
Sweet Powder of Musk (Diamoschu Dulce)
Cooling Electuary of Musk (Rhazes)
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Aromatic Musk Compound (Aromaticum Moschatum)
Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue)
Electuary of Aloeswood (Persica)
Electuary of Pearl (Actuarius)
Letificans Temperate Electuary
Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Mesue)
Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)
Aloeswood 9 (A gar dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 10 (A gar bcu pa) (Tibetan)
Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder
Caraway 8 (Go snyod brgyad pa)
Undying Aloeswood 8 (Chi med a gar brgyad pa)
To Purge in Palpitations
Indian Electuary Lesser (Mesue)
Electuary of Dates (Diaphoenicum) (Mesue)
Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy (Confec. Hamech)
Electuary of Senna (Diasenna) (Nicholas)
Pills of Lapis Lazuli 1 (Mesue)
Pills to Aggregate (Pilulae Aggregative)
To Strengthen after
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Abbots Confection of Roses (Diarrhodon Abbatis)
Aromatic Rose Compound (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue)
Confection of Hyacinth (Confectio de Hyacintho)
Powder of Happiness (Letificans)
Powder of Cinnamon Compound (Diacinnamonum)
Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon) (Nicholas)
TCM Classifications
Palpitations and Arrhythmias
Heart Deficiency
palpitations, restless sleep, insomnia, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, spontaneous sweating, fearful
- Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang
- Sheng Mai San
- An Shen Ding Zhi Wan
- Bao Yuan Tang
- Ding Zhi Wan
- Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency
palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, poor concentration, poor memory, poor appetite, pale, heavy or prolonged menstruation, pale tongue
Heart Yin Deficiency Heat
Palpitations, insomnia, heat of the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, dizzy, tinnitus, night sweats or spontaneous sweating, forgetful, dry stool
- Sheng Mai San
- Suan Zao Ren Tang
- Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan
- Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
- Zhu Sha An Shen Wan
- Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Heart and Kidney Deficiency
Loss of Communication between Heart and Kidney
Palpitations, irritability, restless, insomnia, night sweats, red tongue, thready and rapid pulse.
Phlegm Obstruction
Palpitations, heavy feeling of the chest, excess mucus, nausea, vomiting, dizziness
Yang Deficiency
palpitations, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, fatigue, cold extremities, spontaneous sweating, fearful, pale or dull complexion, pitting edema, frequent urine.
Blood Stasis
Palpitations with sharp chest pain, heaviness or pressure of the chest, cyanosis of the lips, tongue and nail beds, spontaneous sweating, irritability, restlessness, dull tongue color and choppy pulse
Special Formula
Wen Xin Keli
Indian Spikenard
Codonopsis Dang Shen
Notoginseng San Qi
Polygonatum Huang Jing,
Amber
This is used for Palpitations and Arrhythmisa. It has been studied for effectiveness.
Powder for Palpitation from Heat
Melon seed
Cucumber seed
Gourd seed
Barberry
Armenian Earth Rose
Tabssheer 2 drams ea.
Amber
Aloeswood 1 dram ea.
Borneo Camphor 1/4 dram
Mastic 1/3 dram
Powder and take with water of Apple or Pomegranate. (The Dispensatory of Ibn at Tilmid)
Cooling Musk Electuary (Rhazes)
Rose
Tabasheer
Coriander
Amber 1 part ea.
Pearl ½ part
Musk 1/6 part
Dissolve Sugar in sour apple juice, boil until like honey; add the above in powder. Strengthens the Heart without heating: Palpitations and Arrhythmia.
Pill for Palpitation
Emerald
Amber ½ dram ea.
Hyacinth (Zircon)
Basil seed 2 scruple ea.
Form pills with Rose water qs. (Renou)
Confection for Palpitations
Cinnamon 2 drams
Mace
Hyacinth (Zircon)
Emerald
Ruby ½ dram ea.
Pearl 1 scruple
Gold & Silver leaf. 10 of each
With Rose water, form into little pills. Used for “Trembling and Panting of the Heart”, as well as for lost strength due to chronic Fever, and was also said to protect from Epidemics including the Plague. (Secrets of Alexis)
