Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

referred to as a pathogenic toxin in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

in the convalescent period suffer from a high incidence of palpitations and generally present TCM patterns of qi deficiency. The main pathogenic mechanisms are that (i) the toxin of plague severely injured the human body

resulting in acute deficiency of vital qi; (ii) the damage of sanjiao (a TCM term) energy resulted in the deficiency of producing nutrient qi

defensive qi

and pectoral qi; and (iii) the qi and yin of heart and lung were drained

leading to internal blockade of blood stasis

qi collapse in the chest

qi obstruction

malnutrition of heart blood

and static blood blocking the hear collateral. There is also the pathogenesis of palpitations caused by excessive sweating and disharmony of yin and yang. Furthermore

some COVID-19 patients with palpitations in the convalescent period suffer from qi deficiency inducing dampness obstruction and lingering remnant pathogen. Treatment of symptoms related to palpitations caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron should focus on strengthening vital qi to eliminate the pathogenic factor

including benefiting qi and nourishing yin

invigorating qi for ascending

and promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis

while diffusing pathogen and removing dampness in the condition of lingering remnant pathogen.