Although thousands of years have elapsed since the original of the 

 Chinese sketch was made by eminent herbalists in China, yet great 

 numbers of sufferers from heart trouble in the United States as well 

 as in the Orient are daily obtaining great benefit from this ancient 

 Chinese knowledge by using the Chinese herbal remedies. 



The heart, which is red like the sun, is classified under the fire ele- 

 ment. When the five principal elements are working with equal balance 

 and power the heart is free from disease. The two main causes of dis- 

 ease of the heart are inflammation and weakness of the heart. 



If the blood of the heart is inflamed, it causes high blood pressure 

 and enlargement of the heart, in which latter case the heart swells, 

 cracks and leaks. Inflammation produces pain, gas, palpitation, sore 

 chest, shortness of breath, hardening of the arteries, angina pectoris, 

 swollen legs, dropsy, fits, nervousness, headache, fatigue after slight 

 exertion, a pounding noise in the heart, insanity and heart failure. 



According to the Chinese theories, insanity and fits belong to the 

 same class of ailments, the only difference being that one is more vio- 

 lent than the other. Inflammation of the heart and nerves which run 

 from it to the brain is the cause in both cases. The inflammation con- 

 denses the moisture, which is the reason why most of the people who 

 have it foam at the mouth. Inflammation of the heart sometimes ex- 

 tends to the small intestines and causes them to bleed. This is the 

 blood that appears in the urine. 



Weakness and inflammation combined cause blood clots in the eyes. 

 Such cases frequently baffle the eye specialists. Weakness of the heart 

 sometimes causes one to be afraid of the dark or to fear that someone 

 is plotting to kill him. Such sufferers cry out, lament or have disturb- 

 ing dreams. 



When the heart is weak it causes low blood pressure, paleness, swol- 

 len legs, dropsy, etc. A case of sudden fright affects the heart and re- 

 quires immediate attention. Slight indigestion will cause gas and pal- 

 pitation of the heart temporarily, but is insufficient cause for alarm. 



Each herbalist has his own methods of compounding herbs. The 

 herbs prepared for heart trouble by the Fong Wan specialist cannot be 

 obtained elsewhere. While the herbs in these compounds are mild and 

 harmless, yet they are effective. 



The Fong Wan herbs take away the inflammation from the heart, 

 after which the gas and pain disappear. Some varieties of herbs are 



53 



