Although modern cardiology is the established standard method for treating congestive heart failure (CHF), techniques from KAMPO medicine are sometimes useful for managing patients with CHF involving complex hemodynamics. Thus, it would be beneficial for KAMPO medicine to be recognized as an adjunctive therapy for CHF. When combining KAMPO techniques with those of modern cardiology, traditional KAMPO methods are best understood based on knowledge of modern medicine. This can be done by viewing cardiac yang-ki deficiency and accumulation of water as forward and backward failure of CHF, respectively. This enables us to equate a feeble pulse (and floating pulse) detected by KAMPO sphygmopalpation as a sign of forward failure. Similarly, rigidity of the upper abdomen observed by abdominal palpation can be considered as a sign of backward failure. Such conceptualization will facilitate using KAMPO medicine in combination with modern cardiology, and help to establish KAMPO cardiology as an integrated medical practice.
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