It is also called coronary or ischaemic heart disease. It is characterized by paroxysmal pericardial pain usually distinctive in character, location, and radiation. Most characteristically it is induced by walking and is rapidly relieved by rest, in less than 15 minutes. In Ayurveda it is called “Hrit shoola,”
Decreased coronary blood flow due to : gradual narrowing of one or more major coronary arteries; spasm of coronary vessel, low diastolic pressure due to acute hemorrhage or shock, and increased oxygen consumption in hyperthyroidism and severe anaemia. Predisposing causes are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterol, lack of physical exercise, and obesity. The heart is the organ most affected by emotion. Hence continuous stress and suppressed emotions can be a predisposing factor.
In this condition there is pain in the dolor pectoris region of chest. The word angina means a choking or strangling sensation. Many patients feel sense of heaviness or constriction in the sternal or the middle portion of the chest. The pain of angina may be mild or severe, it usually radiates to left upper extremity with shoulders to fingers. Rarely it radiates to throat, jaw, back of thorax, and to the face. Other locations of pain are epigastrium and the left side of chest in the third intercostals space.
If the pain has been induced by exercise like walking, the duration of pain is about 5 minutes, and is promptly relieved by rest. When pain occurs as a result of emotions like anger, fear, or excitement, it often lasts for more than 5 minutes. The frequency of pain may be quite variable. Most patients feel pain when walking in the morning. In the most distressing cases, there are numerous recurrences in a single day.
Physical and mental rest is essential. The patient must eliminate all strain and worry or treatment will be less effective. Oxide of deer-horn is useful. It must be given with honey and fresh juice of ginger in dose of 10 milligram every 10 minutes till the pain is relieved.
Along with this, herbs having demulcent and soothing action that calm the nerves and heart muscles like jatamansi and brahmi are useful. Any one of these can be given 500 mgm. At night for 1 month.
Tab. Brihat vata chintamani (BR) 125 mgm, a day or tab. Maha laxmivilas (BR) 125 mgm, a day for 1 month gives beneficial reslts. Tab. Hemagarbha pottali rasa (BR) 125 mgm,2 to 3 times a day with ashwagandharshta 15 ml. 3 times a day is also useful .
When these are not available, Chinese herbs like salvia and western herb like hawthorn berries should be used for action on heart muscles. For calming effect gotucola, sage and skullcap can be used with valerian.
