-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
cardiovascular system
arrhythmia
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
associated with anxiety and grief (Epstein, p. 77)
associated with severe psychological disturbances in the twenty-four hours preceding the arrhythmic episodes (Gentry, p. 47)
The heart represents center of love and security. (Hay, 1984, p. 168)
In a sample of 225 coronary care patients it was observed that significant reduction in ventricular arrhythmias occurred following pulse palpation. These data suggest that significant changes in arrhythmia can occur as a result of psychosocial interactions. Psychological-emotional factors can significantly influence and alter the incidence of cardiac arrhythmia. (Locke, 1985, p. 95)
Psychologic and neurophysiologic factors (i.e., psychophysiologic stress) may predispose to life threatening cardiac disease in the absence of organic heart disease. (Locke, 1985, p. 87)
The heartbeat comes to our conscious attention only when something is exciting us or when deep changes are afoot. Heart symptoms force us to 'listen to our hearts' once again, and heart patients are people who only want to listen with their heads, and in whose lives the heart figures far too little. They live in the entirely valid fear that their hearts will one day stop and leave them 'heartless.' (Dethlefsen, p. 200)
Chinese psychophysiology:
Heart ~ Xin houses the Shen (Spirit) and reveals itself through the brightness in the eyes; rules the Xue (Blood) and its vessels and directs the circulation; and relates to the integration of the organs and the personality.
» Healthy expressions are warmth, vitality, excitement, inner peace, love, and joy.
» Heart Xu (Deficiency) signs include sadness; absence of laughter; depression; fear; anxiety; shortness of breath (Seem, p. 28); cold feeling in the chest and limbs; palpitations; cold sweat; inability to speak; memory failure; nocturnal emissions; and restless sleep.
» The Heart is the Emperor of the bodily realm so that when the Heart is disturbed all the other organs will be disrupted.
Lung ~ Fei governs the Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); and relates to strength and sustainability.
» Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage.
» dysfunction, and illness associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression.
» Lung Xu (Deficiency) signs include cold shoulder and back; changing complexion; inability to sleep (Seem, p. 28); shortness of breath; changes in urine color; rumbling in the bowels with loose bowel movements; pallor; malar flush; chills; sniffles; sneezing; light cough; and sensitivity to cold.
Liver ~ Gan is the residence of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); controls the muscles, especially their contractility; reflects emotional harmony and movement; and expresses itself in the nervous system.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry skin and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down.
» Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216)
Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscles; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); resolves Phlegm; governs the Xue (Blood); and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered.
» Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence.
» Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; easy bruising; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity.
» The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.
therapies
behavior modification:
biofeedback: Findings indicate accurate voluntary control of the heart is possible in patients with arrhythmias, and the degree of control is sufficiently great to effect medically significant changes in cardiac function. (Locke, 1985, p. 84, 86)
autogenic training (related materia medica listings: relaxation technique): leads to improvement or normalization of psychological and cardiac function with regular practice. (Locke, 1985, p. 151)
meditation: used very successfully to decrease sympathetic nervous activity. (Locke, 1985, p. 87) (related materia medica listings: healing power of meditation)
imagery:
related materia medica listings: imagery for heart conditions
affirmation:
My heart beats to the rhythm of love. I bring joy back to the center of my heart.
I express love to all. (Hay, 1984, p. 168)
Joy, joy, joy. I lovingly allow joy to flow through my mind and body experience. (Hay, 1984, p. 168)
theotherapy:
(heart disease) Atlas, Poseidon, Prometheus, Typhon (Lemesurier, p. 99)
hypnotherapy:
Used to treat various arrhythmias and in cardiac catheterization. (Locke, 1985, p. 86)
psychotherapy:
Patient who shared his terror and associated it to an earlier traumatic event slept for the first time in three days and had no further incidence of cardiac arrest. (Locke, 1985, p. 91)
With heart disturbances and heart conditions, the following questions are possibly worth exploring:
» Are my head and heart, my intellect and feelings, in harmonious balance?
» Am I giving enough scope to my feelings and trusting myself to express them?
» Am I living and loving 'heartily', or only 'half-heartedly'?
» Is my life borne along by a living rhythm, or am I subjecting it to a rigid way?
» Does my life still contain enough combustible materials and explosives?
» Am I listening to, seeing, feeling, moving my heart? (Dethlefsen, p. 202)
process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: cardiovascular system)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
behavior modification techniques
biofeedback
imagery for heart conditions
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
hypnotherapy
process paradigm
footnotes
Reprinted from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, Giovanni, 1989, by permission of the publisher Churchill Livingstone, a division of Elsevier Limited.