Some causes of arrhythmia are still not very clear, but it is known that many heart diseases, including sick sinus syndrome pre-excitation syndrome, heart failure and cardioneurosis, may give rise to various forms of arrhythmia such as achycardia, bradycardia, premature systole, auricular fibrillation or flutter, and atrioventricular block.

According to its clinical manifestations, arrhythmia is categorized as "xin ji" (palpitation). "zheng chong" (severe palpitation), "xuan yun" (dizziness), "yun jue" (syncope)and "mai jie dai" (slow-irregular and intermittent pulse)in TCM. Its pathogenic factors include delicate constitution, improper diet, overstrain, emotional upset, exogenous factors and drug intoxication. Its pathologic changes involve deficiency and excess. The former refers to deficiency of qi, blood, yin and yang; the latter includes phlegm-fire disturbing the heart excessive fluid attacking the heart, blood stasis obstructing collaterals and stagnation of qi and blood.