{"id":5228,"date":"2011-11-11T14:50:28","date_gmt":"2011-11-11T19:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5228"},"modified":"2012-01-16T18:44:07","modified_gmt":"2012-01-16T23:44:07","slug":"tcm-food-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5228","title":{"rendered":"TCM Food Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

by Helen Hu, OMD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dilated (congestive) cardiomyopathy is a group of heart muscle disorders in which the ventricles enlarge but are not able to pump enough blood for the body’s needs, resulting in heart failure. In North America, the most common identifiable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is extensive coronary artery disease.\u00a0 Coxsackie B virus infection and other causes include certain chronic hormonal disorders such as long-standing, poorly controlled diabetes, morbid obesity, a persistently rapid heart rate, or thyroid disease. Dilated cardiomyopathy can also be caused by use of certain substances, especially alcohol, cocaine, antidepressants, and a few chemotherapy drugs. Rare causes of dilated cardiomyopathy include pregnancy and connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. As in coronary artery disease, the weakened heart stretches in an attempt to compensate, resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy and often heart failure. \u00a0About 70% of people die within 5 years of the first onset of their symptoms. If possible, doctors treat the underlying cause. General treatment measures include avoiding stress, limiting salt in the diet, and having periods of rest, which help reduce strain on the heart, particularly when the cardiomyopathy is acute or severe.<\/span><\/p>\n

In TCM, cardiomyopathy can be classified into different categories such as, heart Qi deficiency, and heart blood deficiency. Since the spleen and kidney organs normally support and balance with the heart, some cases of cardiomyopathy will be related to the spleen and kidneys.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Heart Qi deficiency type: <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The principle treatment for this type is to strengthen bodies energy and to calm the spirit:\u00a0 with this type of pattern, patient tends to have frequent shortness of breath, heart palpitations, pressure feeling on the chest with spontaneous sweating. Feelings of fatigue most of the time, feeling sleepy, not motivated to participate and some are not even willing to talk due to lack of vitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\"\"<\/a>a. <\/strong>Wild Yam and Beef Soup<\/strong><\/p>\n