Angina is a suffocating, choking pain, usually presented in the form of "angina pectoris" which is felt in the chest.The pain is felt or brought on by exercise and relieved by rest, and occurs when the blood supply to the heart is inadequate.During exercise, the demand for blood (supplied by the coronary arteries) is increased and if the supply is insufficient, because the arteries are damaged , chest pain results.The coronary arteries may be damaged by atheroma (blood clot), the most commom cause of angina.

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TCM’s treatment approach is effective for Angina, the treatment could get rid of the root cause.

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Syndrome (a)
Obstruction of the Chest-yang

Oppressed feeling in the chest, paroxysmal (in the form of sudden attacks) chest pain with palpitation and shortness of breath often brought out by the attack of cold, white greasy fur of the tongue, and taut pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Warming up and benefiting the chest-yang to remove obstruction of blood flow in the heart-vessels.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction of Trichosanthes, Macrostein and Pinellia with additional ingredients. Trichosanthes fruit (Gua Lou) 20g, Macrostein onion (Xie Bai) 12g, Pinellia tuber (Ban Xia) 10g, Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) 10g, Red sage root (Dan Sheng) 20g. As for patients suffering from stagnation of phlegm in the body marked by pain and oppressed feeling in the chest, obesity, heavy sensation of body and fatigue, palpitation and shortness of breath, white greasy fur of the tongue, taut and smooth pulse, the treatment should be directed at regulating the spleen and elimination dampness with aromatics. Decoction for Clearing Away Gallbladder-heat with additional ingredients is the chosen. Tangerine peel 10g, Pinellia tuber 10g, Poria 10g, Bamboo shavings 10g, Bitter orange 10g, Trichosanthes fruit 20g, Round cardamon seed 10g, Red sage root 15g, Curcuma root 12g.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Prescription: Neiguan (P 6), Xinshu (B 15), Jianshi (P5), Daling (P 7) and Shanzhong (Ren 17).

  

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Syndrome (b)
Blood stasis in the Heart-vessel

Bouts of sharp pain in the chest radiating to the shoulder and back, stuffy sensation in the chest and shortness of breath, deep purple tongue with ecchymoses (purple mottling of surface), taut or uneven pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and promoting circulation of Qi to relieve pain.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction for removing blood stasis in the chest. Chinese angelica root 9g, Chuanxiong rhizome 5g, Red peony root 9g, Peach Kernel 9g, Saffower 9g, Achyranthes root 9g, Bupleurum root 3g, Balloonflower root 5g, Fruit of citron or trifoliate orange 6g, Dried root of rehmannia 9g, Licorice root 3g. Clinically, blood stasis often coexists with and stagnation of qi. If stagnation of qi is dominative, more drugs for regulating qi are supposed to be administered. Sichuan chinaberry 12g and nutgrass flatsedge rhizome 10g are recommended. Whereas, if blood stasis is dominative, more herbs for activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis should be prescribed, such as cat tail pollen 10g, trogopterus dung 10g. If precordial pain is companied with choking sensation in the chest and it is closely related to emotional changes which are characterized by unhappiness, eructation, malaise in the bilateral hypochondriac regions and taut pulse, it is advisable to aim the treatment at relieving the depressed liver, regulating the circulation of qi and promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Recipe for the above syndrome is Powder for Treating Cold Limbs with additional ingredients, namely: Bupleurum root 10g, Immature bitter orange 10g, White peony root 10g, Licorice root 6g, Chuangxiong rhizome 10g, Dalbergia wood 10g, Nutgrass flatsedge rhizome 10g, Red sage root 15g, Curcuma root 12g.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Prescription: Neiguan (P 6), Xinshu (B 15), Xuehai (Sp 10), Taichong (Liv 3) and Shanzhong (Ren 17).

  

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Syndrome (c)
Deficiency of both Qi and Yin

Indistinct pain in the precordial (area in front of the heart) region, lassitude, palpitation, shortness of breath, spontaneous perspiration, dry mouth, red tongue with little fur, taut and week pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Replenishing qi, nourshing yin and promoting blood circulation.

Prescription/Formula: Pulse-activating Powder with additional ingredients. Astragalus root 15g, dangshen 12g, opiopogon root 10g, schisandra fruit 10g, Chinese angelica root 12g, red sage root 20g.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Prescription: Neiguan (P 6), Xinshu (B 15), Shenmen(H 7), Zusanli (S 36), Sanyinjiao (Sp 6) and Pishu (B 20).

  

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Syndrome (d)
Deficiency of both heart and kidney

Oppressed feeling in the chest, paipitation, dizziness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the loins and knees, pale tongue, slow and sunken pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Nourishing the heart and kidney.

Prescription/Formula: Liuwei Dihuang Wan and Decoction of Trichosanthes, Macrostein and Pinellia with additional ingredients. Prepared rhizome of rehmannia 12g, Dogwood fruit 12g, Dried Chinese yam 12g, Oriental water plantain 9g, Poria 9g, Moutan bark 9g, Trichosanthes fruit 20g, Macrostein onion 12g, Pinellia tuber 10g.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Prescription: Neiguan (P 6), Xinshu (B 15), Shenmen(H 7), Sanyinjiao (Sp 6),Taixi (K 4) and Shenshu (B 23).

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Relaxation Qigong
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Breathing Exercise Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Fifteen Sets of Taiji-Qigong
  Baduanjing of Internal Exercise
  Taiji
  

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(c) Life style
1) Regulate the mind. Avoid being in an anxious state of mind.
2) Strike a proper balance between work and rest.
3) Pay attention to food adjustment. Abstain from smoking and alcohol..

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.