【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Gualou 10g, Tanbai 10g, Banxia 6g, Guizhi 10g, Chenpi 6g,

· All formulas and prescriptions in "Treatment of Chest Obstruction, Heart Pain, and Shortness of Breath: Patterns and Syndromes" are modified as needed. For example: "For chest obstruction with symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, pain in the chest and back, shortness of breath, a deep and slow pulse at the cun position, and a small, tight, and rapid pulse at the guan position, use Gualbai Baijiu Decoction." "For chest obstruction that prevents lying down and causes heart pain radiating to the back, use Gualbai Banxia Decoction." "For chest obstruction with qi stagnation in the chest and shortness of breath, use Fuling Xingren Gancao Decoction; Juzhi Jiang Decoction is also effective." "For chest obstruction with a feeling of fullness in the chest and qi stagnation, resulting in chest fullness and discomfort under the ribs that radiates upward toward the heart, use Shibu Guizhi Tang; Renshen Tang is also effective." "For chest obstruction with acute symptoms, use Huizheng Fuzi San." "For chest fullness and various types of reverse qi causing heart pain, use Guizhi Ginger Zhishi Decoction." "For heart pain radiating to the back and back pain radiating to the heart, use Wutou Chishizhi Wan." 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Gualou 10g, Tanbai 10g, Banxia 6g, Guizhi 10g, Chenpi 6g, Zhishi 10g, Yuanhu 10g, Danshen 20g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 5. Excessive Heart Fire Excessive heart fire manifests as irritability, palpitations, shortness of breath, flushed face, dry mouth, and insomnia. Treatment should focus on clearing heart fire and reducing excess heat. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Sanhuang Xiexin Tang combined with Huanglian Jiedu Tang, and adding rhubarb can directly address the root cause. Since the heart and small intestine are paired organs, if heart fire spreads to the small intestine, it can lead to oral ulcers and dark yellow urine. In such cases, treatment should aim to guide the heat downward, adding Daochi San to the above formula. 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Rhubarb 6g, Coptis 6g, Scutellaria 10g, Gardenia 10g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 6. Phlegm Obscuring the Heart Orifice When phlegm obscures the heart orifice, it leads to confusion, uncontrollable laughter and crying, and incoherent speech—essentially a state of agitation, mania, laughter, and muttering. This is the basic syndrome, and treatment should focus on resolving phlegm and opening the orifice. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Daotan Tang and Shengtelo Yin for this purpose. 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Banxia 6g, Juhong 6g, Fuling 12g, Quanshi 10g, Dananxing 6g, Gancao 6g, Tiandong 10g, Maidong 10g, Beimu 10g, Yuanzhi Rou 10g, Shichangpu 10g, Lianqiao 10g, Fushen 12g, Xuanshen 10g, Danshen 20g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 7. Deficiency of Both Heart and Spleen The spleen is the source of transformation and transportation of fluids and food, and it also governs the metabolism of water and dampness. When the spleen's qi is deficient, it can lead to blood deficiency and fluid retention. With deficiency of both heart and spleen, there is insufficient qi and blood to nourish the heart, resulting in palpitations, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, and symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, fatigue, forgetfulness, pale complexion, dizziness, and vertigo. Treatment focuses on tonifying the heart and spleen. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Gui Pi Tang with modifications. Commonly used medicines include: Astragalus 20g, Codonopsis 10g, Atractylodes 12g, Honey-fried Licorice 6g, Angelica 10g, Fushen 12g, Yuanzhi 10g, Stir-fried Zao Ren 15g, Yuanyou 10g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 8. Liver Qi Stagnation Symptoms include palpitations, chest tightness, distending pain in both flanks, easy irritability, depression, emotional distress, and frequent sighing. Treatment focuses on soothing the liver and regulating qi. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Chaihu Shugan San with modifications. 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Chaihu 10g, Xiangfu 6g, Quanke 10g, Baishao 10g, Yujin 6g, Yuanhu 10g, Gualou 10g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 9. Disharmony Between Heart and Kidney Disharmony between heart and kidney results in palpitations and anxiety. The yang of the heart and kidneys cannot coordinate effectively, leading to deficiency of heart and kidney yang, internal cold, fluid retention, blood stasis, and other pathological changes, creating a vicious cycle. Symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, cold limbs, generalized edema, irritability, inability to lie down, confusion, and a barely perceptible pulse. Treatment should focus on replenishing qi and restoring the pulse, warming the kidneys to assist yang, and using warming herbs to rescue the situation. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Shengmai Tang and Shenfu Longmu Jiuyi Tang with modifications. 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Ginseng 10g, Maidong 10g, Schisandra 3g, Astragalus 20g, Dried Ginger 6g, Cinnamon 6g, Cooked Aconite 6g, Calcined Dragon Shell and Oyster Shell each 15g, Danshen 20g, Honey-fried Licorice 6g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 10. Heart and Gallbladder Weakness According to Chao Yuanfang’s “Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases · Symptoms of Heart Obstruction”: “Excessive worry and overthinking damage the heart, and because the heart is weak, pathogenic factors take advantage.” Heart weakness harms the spirit, making the heart and gallbladder weak, leading to restlessness, fatigue, and forgetfulness. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and warming yang, resolving phlegm and clearing dampness. Professor Pei Zhengxue often uses Dingxin Tang, Wendan Tang, and Gui Pi Tang for this purpose. 【 Commonly Used Medicines Yu Rou 12g, Yuan Rou 6g, Sheng Longgu 15g, Sheng Muli 15g, Sour Jujube Seed 15g, Cypress Seed 15g, Honey-fried Milkweed 3g, Honey-fried Licorice 6g, Banxia 6g, Chenpi 6g, Fuling 12g, Quanshi 10g, Dananxing 6g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. 11. Water Stagnation Affecting the Heart Palpitations, dizziness, chest tightness and fullness, thirst but unwillingness to drink, reduced urination, or lower limb edema, accompanied by cold limbs and nausea, with an urge to vomit. This is equivalent to heart failure in Western medicine, and treatment should focus on invigorating heart yang and promoting the movement of qi and water. Professor Pei Zhengxue often emphasizes that Linggui Shuzhi Tang, Zhenwu Tang, and Shengmai San are the three core formulas for treating heart failure in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it’s also important to remember the “Four Diuretics for Heart Failure” rule: gourd peel, Plantago seeds, large abdominal skin, and Han Fangji. Among these, Danggui Bu Xue Tang supplements blood, Shengmai San generates qi, and Danshen provides support. The formula of Fuling Gui Zhi Bai Zhu Gan Cao Tang describes “reverse fullness in the lower abdomen, qi rushing up to the chest, causing dizziness when standing,” while Zhenwu Tang describes “palpitations in the lower abdomen, dizziness, body trembling, feeling like one wants to fall”—both actually describe heart failure. Therefore, Linggui Shuzhi Tang combined with Zhenwu Tang is considered the first-choice treatment for heart failure. 【 Commonly Used Medicines 】Fuling 12g, Gui Zhi 10g, Bai Zhu 12g, Fu Zi 6g, Dried Ginger 6g, Licorice 6g, Danshen 20g, Gourd Peel 10g, Plantago Seeds 10g, Large Abdominal Skin 10g, Han Fangji 10g, Danggui 10g, Astragalus 20g, etc., decocted in water and taken orally. Professor Pei Zhengxue has extensive knowledge and draws from many sources. He has particularly profound expertise in “Shanghan Lun” and “Jingui Yaolue,” and applies this knowledge to treat cardiovascular diseases with boldness and meticulous care, taking a broad perspective while remaining adaptable. For cardiovascular diseases, he adopts a “Western diagnosis, TCM differentiation” approach, with “TCM as the mainstay and Western medicine as a supplement.” He combines classic formulas, contemporary formulas, and empirically proven formulas, while always keeping in mind modern research on TCM. Many difficult and severe cases have been successfully treated under his skillful hands, turning danger into safety. The main formulas he uses are as follows:

1. Blood-Activating and Stasis-Resolving Formulas Professor Pei Zhengxue strongly recommends Beijing Collaborative Group’s Coronary II. 1. Coronary II Danshen 20g, Chi Shao 10g, Chuanxiong 6g, Honghua 6g, Jiangxiang 10g. Professor Pei often adds Han Sanqi 3g (ground and taken with water) and Shui Zhi 10g (ground and taken with water) to this formula. This combination of blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs is suitable for all cardiovascular diseases, because blood stasis is the fundamental pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The main ingredient, Danshen, promotes blood circulation, disperses stasis in the pericardium, removes stagnation and generates new blood, and has the effect of resolving stasis and unblocking meridians to relieve chest tightness. It should be used in large doses, generally 20–30g; supplemented by Chi Shao to cool the blood and disperse stasis, Honghua to remove stasis and generate new blood, Chuanxiong to activate blood circulation, dispel wind, and relieve pain, and Jiangxiang to regulate qi and relieve pain. The light and ascending Chuanxiong pairs with the heavy and descending Jiangxiang to regulate qi, complementing each other; Honghua, Chi Shao, and Danshen are red in color and enter the heart, specializing in blood activation and stasis resolution; Professor Pei Zhengxue adds Shui Zhi and Han Sanqi to every formula, as powerful agents that break up blood clots. He says: “Using Han Sanqi and Shui Zhi together to break up stasis and expel blood is highly effective for stasis-related conditions, and when combined with other herbs, it can achieve the effect of ‘eliminating pathogenic factors, removing stasis, and supporting righteous qi.’” Together, these herbs work to activate blood circulation, regulate qi, and unblock meridians to relieve pain. It’s like using troops in battle—quantity isn’t important, but selecting the right ones; the herbs don’t need to be numerous, just effective.
2. Xuefu Zhuyu Tang Peach Kernel 10g, Honghua 6g, Danggui 10g, Shengdi 12g, Chuanxiong 6g, Chi Shao 10g, Niuxi 15g, Zhike 10g, Jiegeng 20g, Chaihu 10g, Gancao 6g; this formula is for cases where blood stasis obstructs the chest, qi stagnation occurs, and prolonged stasis leads to heat. This is what Wang Qingren called “blood stasis in the chest.” The chest is the origin of qi and the gathering place of blood, and it’s also the area through which the liver meridian runs. When blood stasis blocks the chest, qi can’t flow smoothly, clear yang doesn’t rise, resulting in chest pain and headaches that feel like sharp, localized pricks; prolonged stasis makes people irritable and easily angered; when blood stasis turns into heat, it causes internal heat and discomfort, with hot flashes in the evening; heat disturbs the mind, leading to palpitations and insomnia; blood stasis blocks the flow of new blood, depriving the skin of nourishment, so lips become dark or eyes appear dull; the tongue becomes dark red, with bruises or spots, and the pulse becomes rough or string-like—all signs of blood stasis. Treatment should focus on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, while also regulating qi, cooling the blood, and clearing heat. In this formula, Peach Kernel breaks up blood stasis and moistens dryness, Honghua activates blood circulation and relieves pain, working together as the principal herbs. Chi Shao and Chuanxiong assist the principal herbs in activating blood circulation and resolving stasis; Niuxi excels at removing stasis and promoting blood flow, guiding blood stasis downward, serving as the minister herbs. Danggui nourishes blood and activates circulation, removing stasis and generating new blood; Shengdi cools the blood and clears heat, eliminating stasis-related heat, while working with Danggui to nourish the blood and moisten dryness, ensuring that removing stasis doesn’t harm the body; Zhike clears qi stagnation in the chest; Jiegeng opens the lungs and regulates qi, pairing with Zhike to create a balance of ascending and descending, opening the chest and regulating qi, allowing qi and blood to flow freely; Chaihu soothes the liver and regulates qi, acting as the assistant herb. Gancao harmonizes all the herbs, acting as the coordinating herb. This formula works in conjunction with blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs, regulating qi, nourishing blood, and resolving stasis, making it a foundational formula for treating all types of blood stasis and qi stagnation.
3. Shixiao San