Angina pectoris is generally a squeezing type of dull pain. When it occurs, the range is relatively wide, mostly in the middle and lower parts of the chest or bones, and can radiate to the shoulders. Angina pectoris is a heart emergency, known as chest obstruction in the Han Dynasty. It is caused by the deficiency of vital energy, phlegm turbidity, blood stasis, qi stagnation, and cold coagulation, resulting in blocked heart vessels. So to treat chest tightness and chest pain, we need to start with clearing yang, dispersing nodules, and eliminating phlegm and qi. How can traditional Chinese medicine relieve angina?
The syndrome differentiation and treatment of stable angina can be divided into the following categories.
Heart blood stasis syndrome
Chest pain is characterized by fixed pain, with dark purple complexion, numbness in limbs, and purple or dark red lips.
Choose Guanxin Formula (Chuanxiong, Chishao, Honghua, Jiangxiang, Danshen) and make adjustments based on specific symptom differences; Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can be treated with refined Guanxin Tablet, Compound Dragon's Blood Capsule, Di'ao Xinxuekang Soft Capsule, Guanxin Shutong Capsule, etc.
Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome
Chest pain is characterized by chest tightness, bloating, and pain, often triggered by emotional disorders, resulting in bloating and tightness on both sides of the abdomen, which can only be relieved by hiccups or flatulence.
Select Xuefu Zhuyu Tang (peach kernels, safflower, angelica, Rehmannia glutinosa, Achyranthes bidentata, Chuanxiong, Platycodon grandiflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, Fructus Aurantii immaturus, licorice, Bupleurum chinense) for modification; Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule, Guanxin Danshen Dropping Pill, Xinkeshu Tablets, Lemai Pill, Yindan Xinnaotong Soft Capsule.
Phlegm turbidity obstruction syndrome
Chest pain is mainly characterized by chest tightness, phlegm accumulation, body fat, dizziness, drowsiness, and sticky stool.
The prescription is Gualou Xiebai Pinellia Decoction (Gualou, Xiebai, Pinellia, Baijiu). Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Danlou tablet.
Cold congealed heart syndrome
Chest pain is mainly characterized by sudden colic, which occurs due to feeling cold, with cold limbs, sweating, pale complexion, palpitations, shortness of breath, etc.
Formula selection: Kuan chest pills (long pepper, high ginger, and xixin) with modifications. Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Guanxin Suhe pills.
Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome
Chest pain is caused by chest pain, tightness, post labor induction, shortness of breath, fatigue, laziness, pale or dull complexion, etc.
The prescription often uses modified Bazhen Tang (Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Chuanxiong, Peach kernel, Red Flower, Danshen) or modified Shuanghe San (Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, Zhiyuanzhi, Danshen, Chicken Blood Vine, Myrrh, Amber, Xiangfu, Acorus tatarinowii). Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Tongxinluo capsule, Yangxin tablet, Zhengxintai tablet, Naoxintong capsule, etc.
Qi Yin deficiency syndrome
Chest pain is characterized by chest tightness and dull pain, aggravated after labor, shortness of breath and dry mouth, palpitations and fatigue, dizziness and insomnia, self sweating and night sweats, tongue fat, tender red and lack of saliva, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine formulas often use Shengmai San (Codonopsis pilosula, Ophiopogon japonicus, Schisandra chinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, stir fried Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, licorice) with added flavors. Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Shensong Yangxin Capsule and Yixinshu Pill.
Heart and kidney yin deficiency syndrome
Chest pain stops with pain, waist and knee soreness, palpitations and insomnia, restlessness and heat in the five hearts, dry mouth and throat, hot flashes and night sweats, etc.
Zuoguiyin (prepared rehmannia root, Chinese yam, wolfberry fruit, roasted liquorice, poria cocos, cornus officinalis) is often used as a prescription. Traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can choose Xinyuan capsule.
Heart and kidney yang deficiency syndrome
Chest pain is characterized by chest tightness and pain, aggravated by cold. Symptoms include cold limbs, palpitations, sweating, fatigue, pale complexion, loose stools, limb swelling, etc.
The prescription is composed of Shenfu Decoction and Yougui Decoction (ginseng, aconite, cinnamon twigs, prepared rehmannia, cornus officinalis, Chinese yam, wolfberry, eucommia ulmoides).
When unstable angina or stable angina attacks occur, quick acting heart rescue pills can be taken sublingually to relieve chest pain symptoms. Compound Danshen Dropping Pills, Shexiang Baoxin Pills and Chest Broadening Aerosol are also commonly used traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations during the onset of chest pain.