American Heart Month: Unlock Heart Health with Traditional Chinese Medicine
February is the month to focus on the heart—and we're not talking about your Valentine's Day date.
American Heart Month is the perfect time to reflect on your heart and its role in your overall health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and studies have revealed that our hearts are more holistically connected to our health than previously understood. Alternative approaches to medicine, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, offers a look at medicine that includes physical, mental, and emotional health.
If you’re curious about how selection of homeopathic remedies Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy can support your heart health, this article is for you.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine for Heart Health?
You’re probably familiar with heart healthy advice, such as eating well and getting regular exercise. These pillars of cardiovascular health focus on the heart as a physical organ, but what if there’s more to it than that? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a holistic approach and merges the physical and emotional roles of your heart. In our work here at Remedy Box Holistic Wellness, we take a similar approach by utilizing the understanding that symptoms are the body’s way of communicating a deeper energetic struggle and using them to guide in supporting the vital force in regaining balance.
In TCM, the heart is known as “Xin”, and it is considered the “house of the spirit,” connecting the physical functions–such as blood and circulation–with the emotional functions–such as joy. This combination brings balance to your overall health through a variety of remedies, lifestyle changes, and preventative measures.
What is the function of the heart in TCM?
But what does it mean to encompass mental, emotional, and spiritual parts, and how does this differ from the ways Western medicine approaches heart health? Traditional Chinese Medicine views the heart as the body’s emperor, overseeing the harmonious functioning of all the body’s organs. This includes:
Controlling blood and circulation: These physical functions are viewed the same in TCM as they are in Western medicine.
Houses the spirit (Shen): The heart also influences mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual balance.
Connects mind and body: TCM views symptoms like irregular heartbeat, insomnia, and memory issues as being linked to emotional disruptions, such as stress or long-term overwhelming emotions.
What are the TCM Symptoms of Heart Disease?
Traditional Chinese Medicine says that heart imbalances can show up as both physical and emotional symptoms:
Common physical symptoms include:
Palpitations
Chest discomfort or angina
Shortness of breath
Insomnia
Common mental or emotional symptoms include:
Anxiety
Depression
Restlessness
Poor memory or brain fog
This divide of mental and physical symptoms drives home the idea that TCM takes a different view of heart health. It isn’t just about avoiding major heart disease, but also ensuring your emotional reserves are replenished and balanced.
Why is Holistic Heart Health important?
So, why does all of this matter? Recent research shows that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It also shows that the causes are much more varied than just poor diet and lack of exercise.
Stress has been strongly linked to heart disease, and is often brought on by being overwhelmed or experiencing intense emotions about situations in our daily lives. Stress is known to lead to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and many other symptoms connected to poor heart health.
When we fail to look at all the factors, it’s impossible to treat the root issue. Mental health, spiritual health, and physical health are all intertwined. Taking a holistic approach to heart (and overall) health makes use of your body’s ability to work together, helping you stay healthier and prevent heart disease.
How to Improve Heart Health
The next logical question is how does consideration of Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy and homeopathy help strengthen your heart and keep it physically and emotionally healthy? The best answer to this question will come from your personal practitioner, who can customize remedies for your specific body and needs. However, there are some practical tips that can get you started:
1. Try Acupressure
Acupressure is a type of massage where you put pressure on certain places on your body called acupoints, and they can help your muscles relax, improve your blood flow, and provide a variety of benefits. Some acupoints are thought to help calm the heart, reduce palpitations, and ease anxiety.
Acupressure Point HT7 (Shenman): Near your wrist crease, this is an easy point to start with. It is one of the main points on the Heart meridian, making it helpful in dealing with the heart-related symptoms we mentioned above, like psychological stress, insomnia, palpitations, forgetfulness, and anxiety.
Acupressure Point P6 (Neiguan): Found about three fingers below your wrist, this acupoint produces calming effects and has been clinically found to relieve pain, alleviate anxiety, and regulate emotions and mood. It’s also shown promise in improving emotion and memory processing. All of these effects are helpful for reducing stress and improving heart function, especially if used regularly. Here are a few simple ways to incorporate more produce into any meal:
2. Use Food as Medicine
We all know that diet plays a powerful role in boosting heart health, and Traditional Chinese Medicine also relies on this concept. Just like Western medicine, it’s recommended to avoid greasy, heavy, or fried foods. In TCM, “warming” foods are also recommended to balance the heart’s energy. What does that mean? Here are three areas to focus on:
Bitter Foods to Enhance Circulation:
Basil
Coffee
Dark Chocolate (70% or higher)
Dandelion Leaves
Green Tea
Black Tea
Red Foods to Reinforce Heart Energy:
Tomatoes
Cherries
Strawberries
Goji Berries
Kidney Beans
Herbs for Heart Health:
* Important note: Herbal remedies play an important part in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but you should always speak with an experienced practitioner before introducing herbal remedies, as each body is unique.
Garlic
Turmeric (fresh is preferred)
Hawthorne Berries
3. Move Your Body More
Physical activity is medicine for both your body and your mind. And it doesn’t have to be intense exercise to have a positive effect. Gentle exercises like stretching, tai chi, rebounding, and walking can help your blood circulate, strengthen your heart, and regulate your mood. All of these are key pieces of heart health, so get moving today!
4. Manage Stress Levels
Have you ever noticed your chest tighten during stressful moments? That’s your heart signaling that it’s in distress. Long-term stress wreaks havoc on your heart and body, so it’s important to make stress management a regular part of your routine. Here are some TCM recommended practices to reduce stress:
Practice Tai Chi, Qigong, or yoga: These gentle practices are great for any level of fitness and have big benefits for your stress levels—and thus, your heart health.
Pray, Meditate or Practice Deep Breathing: These intentional practices soothe your heart and calm your mind, allowing your body to relax and return to balance. Deep breathing is especially helpful as a tool you can take on the go, so you can use it anytime and anywhere that the familiar tightness starts to creep up. Deep breathing is also a useful tool for quickly lowering high blood pressure in the moment. WebMD has several easy techniques you can easily incorporate as needed.
Calming Teas: As mentioned earlier, herbal remedies are an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and tea is an especially helpful way to use them for stress relief. Your practitioner can recommend specific blends that are best for your situation.
5. Address Sleep Imbalances
Calming Teas: Ask your practitioner to help you find the right herbs to address your sleep concerns and bring your energies back into balance.
Prayer, Meditation or Intentional Breathing: These practices can be done in bed and help calm your mind, relieving stress and anxiety, and relaxing you into sleep.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene: This is true no matter where you are in the world, good sleep habits often result in better sleep. This is so important that I have an entire article on it, so head there for tips to improve your sleep and other ways that sleep affects your health.
6. Consider the Healing Benefits of Homeopathy
The principals behind homeopathy are not about “curing” disease, but rather about stimulating the body’s self-healing mechanisms to accomplish the task. The self-healing powers of the body are governed by natural laws and principals which provide the best chance of survival. Homeopathy seeks to follow these laws and principals because it is the most effective and gentle way to achieving real health. While modern medicine seeks to manage and suppress symptoms through the use of drugs, homeopaths seek to find root causes and customize treatment plans based on the impact of several factors, including:
Physical trauma
Emotions
Diet and Lifestyle
Environmental factors
Genetic and epigenetic susceptibility
Toxicity
Homeopathic remedies can be useful to address many cardiovascular concerns which can include the following to name a few:
Weak heart
Angina
Breathlessness
Pulse dysregulation
Palpitations
Chest pain and constriction
Hyper and Hypotension
Fatigue
Anxiety
As you can see through other information provided in this article, the root causes and resulting symptoms related to the heart and circulatory system can be diverse. Working with a professional homeopath and other healthcare providers is recommended. Homeopathy can be a powerful combo working alongside other natural medicinal treatments such as acupuncture. To learn more compelling facts about homeopathy, read this compelling article by Dana Ullman MPH, CCH.
The Science Behind Traditional Chinese Medicine
Still wondering if Traditional Chinese Medicine improves heart health? Let’s look at the science.
Chinese Medicine for Heart Health
One study conducted by UT Southwestern Medical Center looked at the TCM remedy, Tongxinluo, which is frequently prescribed after a heart attack or stroke. The study showed that patients using this treatment saw a 30% reduced risk of major cardiac events in the year after treatment. And while researchers don’t fully understand the reason that this treatment works, they can’t deny the results.
Dr. Xian, a researcher involved in the study, stated, “Many drugs have failed to achieve effects as impressive as this traditional Chinese medicine.” The potential is undeniable, and researchers agree that further studies will be valuable.
Additionally, a systemic review of 18 studies done with Tongxinluo showed similar positive results. Evidence showed that the medicine improved ECG results and angina symptoms. It appeared to be as effective as the drug normally given in these cases, but generally had less side effects or adverse outcomes.
Acupuncture for Heart Health
Researchers at the Hunan Hengyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital did a study looking at the effectiveness of acupuncture and herbal medicine for treating cardiac arrhythmias. They found this combination to be significantly effective, with a 95.3% effective rate, compared to an 80% effective rate for the group using beta-blockers.
Both of these treatments were highly effective, but the acupuncture has a dramatically lower number of side effects. Another benefit is that beta-blockers can interact with other medications, making it difficult for some patients to take them, but acupuncture and herbal remedies can be used by these patients without disrupting their medication regimen.
Is TCM Effective?
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years and is still used today. Their holistic methods use psychological, physical, and herbal approaches to address health problems and many of these have been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of ailments. More and larger studies would prove its effectiveness with more certainty, but there is a lot of evidence showing that people are getting real results, and have been for generations.
The evidence in this section was focused on more significant heart issues, but the benefits of TCM for heart health extend far beyond that. You can improve your heart health today by following the tips above for a healthier lifestyle, and you can address health issues before they become a major health event. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a powerful tool for a holistically-focused healthy life.
As with any treatment, it’s important to consult with an experienced practitioner instead of self-treating. TCM is often used alongside other treatments and remedies, even in Western medicine, and your medical professionals can help you find the complementary treatments that are safe and effective for your condition.
Heart Awareness Month and Beyond
A healthy heart is essential to living a healthy life. Lowering stress levels, getting enough sleep, eating well, and complementing your healthy lifestyle with recommended herbal remedies from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner can put you on the path to better heart health.
If you’re ready to start your holistic path to a healthier you, get in touch with Remedy Box Wellness today! My diverse experience as a Certified Practical Homeopath and Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach allow me to understand your concerns and recommend creative, effective solutions to help you feel healthier and more vibrant.
Spread the word and share this article with your loved ones during American Heart Month—because every small step toward heart health makes a big difference
Sources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/emotions-in-traditional-chinese-medicine-88196#toc-heart
https://www.vibrantlife-acupuncture.com/single-post/tcm-guide-for-a-healthy-heart-routine
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/acupressure-nausea-and-vomiting
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9271906/
https://homeopathic.com/scientific-evidence-for-homeopathic-medicine/