February 1st marks the lunar new year, and in 2022, we celebrate the Water Tiger for the first time since 1962. While the tiger symbolizes bravery, ambition, ingenuity, and charm, the water element influences this year’s tiger, which may make it a more realistic, calm, and cautious tiger year. It’s always appropriate to begin the new year with a sense of optimism and hope that the tiger will chase away things unwanted.
This month we will be promoting formulas that benefit the heart and blood circulation. Cardiovascular disease is rising steadily around the world, and it is estimated that 1 in 3 deaths are caused by heart disease and stroke. People with cardiovascular disease also have poor outcomes when they have infections, such as COVID-19. Holistic health protocols, including herbal formulas, acupuncture, and lifestyle adjustments, have the greatest potential for turning these dire statistics around, without the negative side effects of common prescription medications.
In TCM, the heart is a yin organ, and, as with all the yin organs (including the kidneys, liver, lungs, and spleen), it stores and regulates vital substances, in this case, the blood and Qi. The Daoist classic The Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi) in 110 B.C. said “…coveting to govern the flow of energy without possessing a heart would be like aspiring to tune gongs and drums without ears…” For centuries, the heart has been said to be the “emperor of body”. In the Ming dynasty (c. 1570), the heart was described as the seat of consciousness and intelligence. In 1773, Dr. Shen’s Compendium of Honoring Life (Shen Shi Zunsheng Shu) said that all twelve channels obey the instructions of the heart. “Shen”, which is often translated as “spirit” or “presence”, is contained within the heart, where it balances mental functions and the emotions, and when the heart is healthy, it spreads shen and vitality throughout the body.
Heart imbalances often result from unmanaged stress, unhealthy diets, inactivity, carrying too much weight, smoking, and lack of sleep, and these lifestyle issues damage the heart. TCM practitioners see heart irregularities on the tongue when it is pale, dark purple, or has cracks. The heart is also connected to the uterus, and menstrual irregularities and infertility may signal a heart deficiency. Sometimes red foods are used as treatments, including tomatoes, watermelon, cherries, red beans, beets, beef, and pomegranate. Patients who eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, and avoid excessive salt, fried and greasy foods, cheese, cured meats, and refined sugars and grains will see improvement in their heart health. Drinking warm water or herbal tea throughout the day can help assure hydration and promote healthy elimination and detoxification. Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga are good remedies to counter inactivity and relieve excess stress, and guided imagery and meditation are also useful for managing life’s stressors. Remind your patients that with exercise, the value comes with doing it daily, even if only for 20 minutes. And a few minutes of deep breathing once or twice a day can make a difference.
Along with diet and lifestyle modifications and your care and treatment, the Health Concerns formulas featured below will help manage and improve your patient’s cardiovascular health.
- Astra Garlic – promotes vasodilation of the peripheral blood vessels and relieves hypertension and atherosclerosis by activating the blood circulation and removing stasis. Detoxifies blood and inhibits platelet aggregation.
- Flavonex – a ginkgo-containing formula for poor circulation to support cardiovascular health and cognitive function. Nourishes and astringes essence, tonifies blood. Quiets the spirit.
- Polilipid – contains two proven lipid-lowering extracts (bioflavonoids & tocotrienols) along with pomegranate fruit extract. Helps to reduce C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation.