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)

Electuary of Gems (Mesue)

Temperate Electuary for the Heart

Comp. Rosemary Powder (Dianthos)

Comp. Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Frigidum)

Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Mesue)

Troches of Nutmeg (Rhazes)

Syrup of Apple Simple

Sugar of Borage
Sugar of Bugloss

Vigorous Cakes

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)

Prabhakara Vati (Ayurveda)

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)

Electuary of Gems (Mesue)

Letificans Temperate Electuary

Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)

Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)

Aloeswood 8 (Tibetan)

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)

Hiera Logadii

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 Lavender

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)

New Rose Powder

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 Aloeswood

Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Mesue)

Troches of Myrrh (Rhasis)

Troches of Nutmeg (Rhasis)

Vigorous Cakes

Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)

Aloeswood 8 (Tibetan)

Aloeswood 9 (A gar dgu pa) (Tibetan)

Aloeswood 10 (A gar bcu pa) (Tibetan)

Aloeswood 17 (A gar bcu bdun)

Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder

Caraway 8 (Go snyod brgyad pa)

Nutmeg 14 (Dza ti bcu bzhi)

Prabhakara Vati

Undying Aloeswood 8 (Chi med a gar brgyad pa)

To Purge in Palpitations

Indian Electuary Lesser (Mesue)

Electuary of Dates (Diaphoenicum) (Mesue)

Pills of Agaric (Mesue)

Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy (Confec. Hamech)

Electuary of Senna (Diasenna) (Nicholas)

Golden Pills (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)

Powder of Anise Compound (Dianisum) (Mesue)

Powder of Three Sandalwood (Ditrionsantalum)

TCM Classifications

Palpitations and Arrhythmias
Heart Deficiency
palpitations, restless sleep, insomnia, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, spontaneous sweating, fearful

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

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)