Digest Number 259--Atrial Fib & TCM

[Guest guest]

In atrial fibrillation, the atria of the heart is not beating

effectively. The person's overall health status is compromised by the not

optimal blood flow out to the body. Blood can stay or pool in the atria, in

pockets or folds of the atria. So the main danger with atrial fibrillation

is not so much from heart damage, but rather from blood clots forming in the

atria of the heart and then sent out to the body, causing stroke.

To prevent this in Western medicine, the first attempt is to convert

the rhythm to normal sinus rhythm using drugs or electrical cardioversion.

If the condition is chronic then pharmacological or electrical cardioversion

either does not work or works briefly with the heart reverting back to

atrial fibrillation. For chronic conditions, anti-clotting agents such as

warfarin are used to prevent stoke. This is a life-long drug.

It is not an emergency situation, however it needs to be addressed

quickly as the possibility of reverting back to normal sinus rhythm

diminishes over time and the likelihood of clots increases over time. I

suggest that your patient sets up appointments now with her/his family MD

and cardiologist. If you are not having immediate success with daily

acupuncture or TCM Rx, then the patient should be cardioverted medically and

return to you for the healing and balance that you can offer.

As for points and treatment, it does depend on the patient. Is it a

deficiency of Heart Yin or Heart Blood? Is there Heart Fire or Heart Phlegm

Fire? Liver is the Mother of the Heart so LV conditions can affect the

heart causing dysrhythmias. It doesn't have to be anger as LV energy, but

just an excess of LV Yang that can be transmitted to the Heart.

I have seen other dysrhythmias resolve with TCM patent remedies, but

have no personal experience with atrial fib. Depending on the patient, I

would consider Ren17, Ren 14, SP4, P4, P7, H6, SP4, ST36.......

I hope that this gives you a start on some of your questions.

Richard J

 

- > Message: 1

> Sun, 15 Apr 2001 18:53:01 -0000

> bonmotSarah

> Atrial fibrillation and TCM

[Guest guest]

> In atrial fibrillation, the atria of the heart is not beating

>effectively. The person's overall health status is compromised by the not

>optimal blood flow out to the body. Blood can stay or pool in the atria,

>in

>pockets or folds of the atria. So the main danger with atrial fibrillation

>is not so much from heart damage, but rather from blood clots forming in

>the

>atria of the heart and then sent out to the body, causing stroke.

 

Thanks for some very good and thorough information.

 

Victoria

 

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[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your reply. I am learning more about TCM all the time

and appreciate the time you took to give me some input on this condition and

how it might be approached in treatment, given the symptoms presented by the

patient. The point locations especially were interesting to me, as well as

the considerations of what might be going on with the patient as to

decifiency and excess symptoms.

 

Sarah