Heart Qi Deficiency | AcuWiki Democratic Acupuncture

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Conditions variously ascribed to Heart Qi Deficiency are: dementia¹.

The theory of qi is attributed heavily to the function of blood within the human body. Since blood circulation around the body is administered by the heart, this organ is vital in the maintenance of qi, and hence any abnormalities of the heart can be detrimental.

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death around the world. It’s exact aetiology is still unclear, however it is known to be caused by many factors, including poor diet and lifestyle choices. In traditional Chinese medicine, the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease is largely based on the theories of qi-stagnation or qi-deficiency. This is because it is believed that heart problems are related to problems with microcirculation in and around the heart vessels².

Using Western advances in diagnostic technology (eg. artificial neural networks and hierarchical clustering), scientific researchers have found links between patients with coronary heart disease and patients with qi deficiency syndrome. From blood plasma samples, there are a number of identifiable biomarkers that have comparable changes in concentration for patients with qi deficiency and coronary heart disease sufferers. The most significant of these are acetyl glutamic acid, lysine, valine, and carnitine, alongside other amino acids which also have some degree of significance³. These findings show progress has been made in identifying potential biomarkers, but it must be noted that research is still in the early stages and is not conclusive enough to consider these as definitive biomarkers for heart health and qi status.

In terms of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine has gradually been emerging as a viable alternative to conventional methods for coronary heart disease, in which herbs are used to improve blood circulation. Renshen (Panax Ginseng) and Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici) are used for Qi-tonification, replenishment of blood nutrients. Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) and Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) are used for blood activation. Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii) and Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) are used for blood-stasis breaking. In Western medicine these can roughly be associated with blood statins, beta blockers, and anticoagulant drugs⁴.

The similarities between the two approaches has been scientifically studied by gene profiling of cell target sites, and their methods of cell signalling used. Results have suggested there is a link between qi-tonifying herbs and cardiovascular disease, a link between blood-activation herbs and haematological cellular development, and a link between blood-stasis breaking herbs and cellular growth and proliferation⁵.

It has also been shown that there is a link between their cell signaling pathways, cytokine signaling pathways and intracellular and second messenger signaling pathways. Additionally, Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng), Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii) and Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) have been identified as being able to activate opioid receptors on cardiovascular cells⁶, thus providing a pain relief effect.

Although many similarities have been associated with herbs used to maintain qi and with drugs used as part of Western medication, there is still more research needed to confirm that they are both as effective as one another, and may be interchangeable. This is because the majority of research carried out has been based on qualitative data of gene expression and gene profiling, as opposed to quantitative data used in modern clinical research⁷.

Qi can be affected by stimulation of acupuncture points, making the subject feel a sensation of de qi. It is with these sensations that the nervous system may also be stimulated. Certain acupuncture points are associated with the stimulation of the autonomic nervous system and by extension, the vagus nerve, which is the regulator of heat rate⁸. This is known as therapeutic qi, although exact results from scientific studies have not always been replicable, so the efficacy of this form of acupuncture is still uncertain⁹.

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