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Palpitations

How Chinese medicine differentiates palpitations, the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Chest pain radiating to the arm, jaw, or back, palpitations with fainting or severe shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat that is new or worsening needs urgent medical evaluation to rule out a cardiac cause.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for palpitations — 9 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
BL-15Regulates and tonifies Heart-Qi, calms the Mind, regulates Blood in the chest.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
P-6Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
HE-7Calms the Mind, nourishes Heart-Blood.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
BL-17Invigorates Blood, cools Blood, opens the chest and diaphragm.
The Six Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations that worsen with exertion or after meals; poor appetite with bloating; a pale or sallow complexion; deep fatigue; insomnia with excessive dreaming; loose stools; a reluctance to speak; shortness of breath on activity; brought on by overthinking and worry, poor diet, overwork, or chronic illness; eased by rest and avoiding overthinking, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise, or calming meditation.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, empty at the left Cun position, soft and weak at the right Guan.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Heart-Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations that are worse at night or when lying down; night sweats; a hot sensation in the palms, soles and chest; anxiety and mental restlessness; red cheekbones; brought on by chronic stress, overwork, insufficient sleep, or a long illness; eased by rest, cooling hydrating food, avoiding overheating, or a calm evening routine.
Tongue: Red body, especially at the tip, little or no coating, dry surface, possible midline crack. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak at the deep level, especially at the left Cun position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, nourish Blood, tonify Heart-Qi, clear deficiency Heat.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency).

3. Heart-Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations worsened by exertion; shortness of breath on activity; fatigue and a lack of stamina; a pale complexion; reluctance to speak or a weak voice; brought on by overwork, chronic illness, a long-standing weak constitution, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body, thin white coating. Pulse: Empty, soft initially but disappears under pressure, weakest at the left Cun position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Heart-Qi, calm the Mind.
Note: moxa applicable.

4. Heart-Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations that feel heavy or suppressed, worse with exertion; cold hands and feet; a bright, pale face; chest stuffiness or mild chest pain; mental listlessness and fatigue; deep fatigue and a lack of energy; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, a long illness, or excessive strain on the Heart; eased by warmth, rest, warm nourishing food, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender body with tooth marks, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, Weak, faint at the left Cun position, may be Knotted.
Treatment principle: Harmonize Yin and Yang, calm the Mind, relieve restlessness.
Note: moxa applicable.

5. Phlegm-Fire Harassing the Heart View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations with a sensation of heat or a forceful, pounding quality; chest oppression or fullness; palpitations that worsen after greasy or spicy food; a bitter taste in the mouth; mental restlessness and severely disturbed sleep; copious, thick, yellow, sticky phlegm; brought on by spicy or greasy food, alcohol, hot humid weather, or emotional outbursts; eased by cooling food and drinks, deep breathing, clearing phlegm from the throat, or avoiding alcohol and greasy food.
Tongue: Red, swollen body with a red prickly tip, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid, forceful, full and overflowing at the left Cun position.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, transform Phlegm, clear Liver and Gall Bladder Heat, harmonize the Stomach.
Note: no moxa.

6. Heart-Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Stabbing chest pain in one spot, which may radiate to the shoulder, back, or inner left arm; dark, purplish lips and nail beds; cold hands; anxiety during pain episodes; brought on by an old injury, chronic untreated stagnation, cold exposure constricting circulation, or overexertion; eased by gentle movement, warmth, or gentle massage once the acute pain settles.
Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coating. Pulse: Choppy or Knotted, especially at the left Cun position.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, move Qi, alleviate pain, open the chest, disperse stagnation.
Note: no moxa. Stabbing chest pain radiating to the arm needs urgent medical evaluation before assuming it is this pattern.
Related conditions

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