Heart qì and heart blood

Heart qì and heart blood form part of the blood and qì of the whole body and are the basis for the physiological activity of the heart. When heart qì and heart blood are abundant, the heartbeat is regular, the pulse is moderate and forceful, and the complexion is healthy and lustrous. Insufficiency of heart qì and depletion of heart blood are characterized by a lusterless complexion, heart palpitation, and a slow, rapid or interrupted (结代 jié dài) pulse. Heart blood and heart qì are greatly interdependent. Insufficiency of heart qì may lead to blood stagnation characterized by a green-blue or purple complexion and lack of warmth in the extremities. Heart blood depletion leads to impairment of the blood’s nourishing function. It may also deprive heart qì of support, causing dizziness, lassitude of spirit, shortness of breath, and copious sweat.