Hypertension
Hypertension is an abnormally High Blood pressure. It is defined as Blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if above 180/120. While it is often asymptomatic, chronic cases can cause Heart disease, Heart attack and Stroke. Blood pressure is caused by both the amount of Blood pumped by the Heart, and the resistance to blood flow in the arteries. Hardness of the arteries or excess fluid can both contribute to a rise in Blood pressure.
In modern Medicine, blood pressure is generally divided into 2 types:
- Primary or Essential Hypertension–no obvious cause and develops over years
- Secondary Hypertension–caused by an underlying medical condition such as Kidney or Thyroid disease, Sleep apnea, certain medicines or drugs (such as caffeine or amphetamine)
Symptoms may include Headache, Shortness of Breath and Nosebleeding, but these symptoms are often not seen until the Hypertension is severe and/or life-threatening
Risk factors include Age, Obesity, Smoking, Family History, excess Alcohol or Salt consumption, lack of exercise and Stress.
Complications associated with chronic hypertension may include Heart attack, Heart failure, Stroke, Aneurysm, Metabolic syndrome, Memory loss or Dementia.
In Traditional Medicine, Hypertension is generally viewed as a Wind disorder, and many of the traditional herbs and formulas used classically for Wind disorders have shown good effects against Hypertension. In modern society, many people with Hypertension manifest signs of Liver Heat, and can thus be classified as Wind-Heat. These individuals tend to be irritable, have red face and eyes and a strong pulse with red tongue edges and a yellow coating. As is recognised in modern medicine, excess Fluid can also be a causitive factor which is noted in the obese or those with Edema. These individuals can be classified as Wind-Phlegm. Diuretic herbs are indicated in these cases.
General Recommendations
- Reduce intake of Salt, Alcohol, Coffee and Food
- Reduce Food Intake
- Increase exercise
- Reduce stress
In excess cases, especially if overweight, a short course of purgative medicines can be useful. Bloodletting is also an effective method to reduce excess and relieve Hypertension.
Most used Herbal Formulas in Taiwan
A study of Taiwanese Health Insurance database spanning 2003–2009 and treating over 81,000 Hypertension cases found the following formulas to be most used:
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Tian Ma Gou Teng Wan (27.5 %) Gou Teng San (12.5 %) Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (9.2 %) Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San (7.8 %) |
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (6.1 %). Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (5.9%) Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (5.6%) Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (5%) |
Typically, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin was prescribed along with another formula, such as Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan or Long Dan Xie Gan Tang.
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Western Tradition Simples
Sample Combinations: 1. Soup of Celery and Barley (Folk Remedy) 2. Garlic with Hawthorn and Mistletoe 3. Hawthorn, Mistletoe 4. Linden flower, Hawthorn 5. Linden flower, Balm, Mistletoe 6. Linden flower, Nettle, Balm, Broom tops 7. Mistletoe with Hawthorn, Valerian, Horsetail 8. Motherwort with Valerian, Mistletoe 9. Motherwort, Hawthorn, Linden, Yarrow 10. Self Heal with Hawthorn, Balm Decoction of Self Heal Tincture of Rue Tincture of Balm Blood Medicine 11 (Khrag sman bcu gcig) (Tibetan) Sandalwood 18 (Tibetan) Emblic 25 (Skyu ru nyer lnga) (Tibetan) Life Holding Jewel (Srog ‘dzin nor bu) (Tibetan) Nux Vomica 13 (Ko byi bcu gsum) (Tibetan) Safoof-e-Muhazzil Sarpagandha Ghana Vati (Ayurveda) |
Chinese Classification Simples
Sample Combinations: 1. Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Eucommia Du Zhong, Mistletoe 2. Hawthorn with Chrysanthemum flower 3. Mistletoe, Eucommia Du Zhong, Self Heal 4. Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao), Hawthorn (Shan Zha) 5. Oyster shell, Mistletoe, Self Heal Liver Heat Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San) Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San) Wind-Heat (Liver Wind with Heat) Tian Ma Gou Teng Wan Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang Wind-Phlegm Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang Blood Stasis Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang Kidney Deficiency Liu Wei Di Huang Wan Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan You Gui Wan You Gui Yin |
Research
1. Appraisal of the Quality and Contents of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hypertension Management in Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review.
2. [Chinese classical formulas for treatment of essential hypertension].
3. Frequency and co-prescription pattern of Chinese herbal products for hypertension in Taiwan: a Cohort study.
4. Tianma gouteng yin as adjunctive treatment for essential hypertension: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
5. Anti-hypertensive Herbs and their Mechanisms of Action: Part I.
6. Anti-Hypertensive Herbs and Their Mechanisms of Action: Part II
7. A Review on the Hypotheses about Arterial Hypertension from the Viewpoint of Traditional Persian Medicine
8. Probable Etiology of Hypertension According To the Iranian Traditional Medicine