The Role of Zixinyin Oral Liquid (or Granules) in Treating Cardiovascular Disease

The formula for Zixinyin Oral Liquid appears in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Part I, 2005 edition. It consists of four herbs: Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix rubra), Beishashen (Glehniae Radix), and Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma), prepared by a specified method into an oral liquid. Zixinyin Oral Liquid or Zixinyin granules are now available on the market, so patients need not prepare it themselves; they can buy the finished Chinese patent medicine.

Zixinyin Oral Liquid nourishes heart yin and activates blood to stop pain. It is indicated for insufficiency of heart yin, with chest impediment (xiongbi) and cardiac pain, palpitations, insomnia, five-pentavus heat (sensation of heat in the palms, soles, and chest), a red tongue with little coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. These patterns are commonly seen in coronary heart disease and angina pectoris; many patients with long COVID also show these signs and may try Zixinyin Oral Liquid.

The formula logic of Zixinyin Oral Liquid borrows from Shengmai Yin (Pulse-Generating Drink), but differs from it. Shengmai Yin consists of Renshen (Ginseng), Maimendong, and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), and is mainly used for heart failure. Zixinyin Oral Liquid replaces the Renshen of Shengmai Yin with Shashen, removes Wuweizi (which boosts qi, generates fluids, and astringes), and adds Chishao and Sanqi, which activate blood and resolve stasis. The result is a formula for chest impediment, palpitations, insomnia, five-pentavus heat, and tachycardia caused by heart-yin insufficiency and blood stasis.

This disease mechanism corresponds to coronary heart disease, myocarditis, and angina caused by blocked cardiovascular vessels, and also resembles long COVID. The above diseases, when they present with chest impediment, palpitations, insomnia, five-pentavus heat, and tachycardia, may all be tried with this formula.