Menopause Symptoms - Heart-Kidney Disharmony Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Menopause Symptoms · Heart-Kidney Disharmony Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Heart-Kidney Disharmony is a common pattern in menopause symptoms, characterized by 5-HT/NE neurotransmitter imbalance, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, poor memory, and restlessness. The core pathogenesis is Kidney-Yin deficiency failing to nourish Heart, leading to autonomic dysfunction, neurotransmitter imbalance, and emotional symptoms.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, poor memory |

| Associated Symptoms | Restlessness, irritability, hot flashes, night sweats |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with little coating, thready and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Kidney-Yin deficiency failing to nourish Heart |

| Etiology | Menopause-related hormone changes, stress, chronic illness |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Xinshu (BL15) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to T5 | Back-Shu point of Heart meridian; nourishes Heart-Blood |

| Shenshu (BL23) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to L2 | Back-Shu point of Kidney meridian; nourishes Kidney-Yin |

| Shenmen (HT7) | On the wrist crease, ulnar side | Source point of Heart meridian; calms the spirit |

| Taixi (KI3) | Depression between medial malleolus and Achilles tendon | Source point of Kidney meridian; nourishes Kidney-Yin |

| Neiguan (PC6) | 2 cun above the wrist crease, between the tendons | Relieves chest tightness and calms the spirit |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reinforcing method; may combine with auricular acupuncture to calm the spirit.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (天王补心丹) + Jiao Tai Wan (交泰丸)

Composition:

Rehmannia (Sheng Di), Scrophularia (Xuan Shen), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), Angelica (Dang Gui), Sour Jujube Seed (Suan Zao Ren), Polygala (Yuan Zhi), Coptis (Huang Lian), Cinnamon (Rou Gui)

Action: Nourishes Heart and Kidney, calms the spirit, and harmonizes Yin and Yang.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe insomnia | Add Suan Zao Ren, Bai Zi Ren to calm the spirit |

| Palpitations | Add Long Gu, Mu Li to anchor the spirit |

| Anxiety | Add Yu Jin, He Huan Pi to relieve depression |

| Hot flashes | Add Zhi Mu, Huang Bai to clear deficiency heat |

Western Mechanism Reference

5-HT/NE neurotransmitter imbalance causing mood swings and insomnia, autonomic dysfunction, and HPA axis dysregulation. Heart-Kidney Disharmony corresponds to menopause with prominent psychological symptoms, where neurotransmitter imbalance and HPA axis dysregulation contribute to insomnia, anxiety, and mood swings.

References

  1. Gynecology of TCM - Menopausal Syndrome with Heart-Kidney Disharmony.

  2. Zang-Fu Pattern Differentiation: Heart-Blood Deficiency + Kidney-Yin Deficiency.

  3. WHO. (2023). Women’s health. World Health Organization.

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