From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), high blood pressure(hypertension) is mainly caused by heart failure, including coronary heart disease or coronary arteriosclerosis, cellular ischemia and hypoxia due to decline of cardiac pump output, capillary narrowing, arteriosclerosis due to high blood sugar, blood lipids, and cholesterol, increased blood circulation resistance due to long-term stomach distension and indigestion, and tumors or kidney function problems.
According to the cause, hypertension may be categorized as either primary(essential) and secondary hypertension. For most patients with essential hypertension, TCM can effectively reduce the use of hypertension medication, it is not necessary to rely on long-term use of anti-hypertensive drugs.
The TCM ancient receipt “Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction(Blood Stasis-Expelling Decoction)” has obvious effects of antihypertensive and blood lipid regulating. It also can help improve blood viscosity and heart function, and effectively treat high blood pressure. In addition, through clinical trials and the research report of the World Health Organization, acupuncture combined with herbal medicine can significantly treat essential hypertension, reducing blood pressure by an average of 8mmHg.
In TCM, hypertension is clinically divided into two syndromes of deficiency and excess, and TCM doctor will prescribe with a tailor-made treatments and medication based on patients’ characteristics. The syndrome of deficiency in hypertension include three common types:
- The type of liver-yang hyperactivity
Herbal medicine is used to treat the type of hypertension, such as gastrodia elata, uncaria, and stone cassia. It can calm the liver and subdue yang.
- The type of phlegm turbidity and moderate obstruction
Herbal medicine is used to treat the type of hypertension, such as Pinellia, Atractylodes Rhizoma Atractylodes Rhizome, and Poria cocos. It can invigorate the spleen and resolve phlegm.
- The type of blood stasis
Herbal medicine is used to treat the type of hypertension, such as peach kernels, safflower and red peony. It can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.
“Deficiency of the liver and kidney” is the most common among the “deficiency syndrome” of hypertension. In TCM, herbal medicine such as Rehmannia glutinosa, yam and Eucommia can be used to nourish the liver and kidney, and help improve theses conditions such as dizziness, tinnitus, and frequent urination at night.
Chinese medicine can improve the symptoms of high blood pressure from the root, and effectively avoid side effects. At the same time, it is needed to rely on Chinese medicine doctors to prescribe the right medicine according to different cases.
