It is useful to diagnose true condition of the patient when subjective complaints contradict objective findings. Blood Pressure and Heart Rate can help us to determine Excess, Deficiency, Heat and Cold patterns (8 principles differentiation).
Systole is contraction of the ventricles and atrium and has to do with the highest level of pressure (the systolic pressure).
Dyastolic is the opposite number that related to the relaxation of the vessels.
Excess Heat
Blood Pressure:
– Systolic = High (above 140)
– Diastolic = High (above 90)
– Heart rate = Fast (>85)
No matter what the patient complains of, even if it is chronic fatigue or weakness. If they show High BP and HR, then there is an Excess Heat.
Advice from Jimmy Chang: What herbal formulas wold you NOT prescribe to Excess Heat patients?
NO Si Ni Tang, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, You Gui Wan
Do not tonify them!
Herbs for High BP, Fast HR & Edema:
Mao Don Qing or Di Long
Xuan Shen
Hai Zao
He Ye or Jue Ming Zi or Xia Ku Cao
Deficiency Cold
Blood Pressure:
– Systolic = Low (below 95)
– Diastolic = Low (below 60)
– Heart rate = Slow (around 60)
Small pulse
Deficient Cold condition with a Small pulse. Pressure is low, like a flat tire, no power.
Advice from Jimmy Chang: Tonify the Qi and ‘fill the tire pressure with Sheng Mai San, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang.
Indirectly tonify the Kidney Yang to support the Earth.; Spleen can then support the Lung to produce more Qi. Xian Mao and Yin Yang Huo can be added to tonify deficiency. This is a great alternative if Qi tonics do not work.
Another way to indirectly tonify Qi is to relieve Liver Qi Stagnation. So Liver overacting Sp/St will interfere with Earth’s ability to digest and absorb food. Gui Pi Tang is the best. May be combined with Xiao Yao San too.
Blood Stagnation
Blood Pressure:
– Systolic = High (above 140)
– Diastolic = Normal (around 75)
– Heart rate = Slow (around 65)
Amplitude of the pulse (expansion of the vessel) is low.
Low Tension, Large Radius = Low Pressure.
Advice from Jimmy Chang: What herbs can be used to bring energy back, to make a diameter of the artery smaller? Sheng Mai San + Wu Wei Zi + Shan Zhu Yu
Liver is deep and scattered (Radius id large).
For tiredness with Blood Stasis one may use about 20% of tonifying herbs.
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, Sheng Mai San, Wu Wei Zi, Zhe Chong Yin, Zheng Gu Zi Jin Dan.
Deficient Heat
Blood Pressure:
– Systolic = Low (below 90)
– Diastolic = Low (below 60)
– Heart rate = Fast (>80 or 100)
Advice from Jimmy Chang: to tonify Yin use Da Bu Yin Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. In case of Yin deficiency in Lu use Mai Men Dong. For insomnia add Bai He, He Huan, Zhi Zi.