Chinese Herbal Medicine For Hypertension
November 17th, 2009
Some 50 million Americans have hypertension, or blood pressure measuring above the normal 120/80 mmHg range. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes or kidney disease.
Lifestyle changes are the first-stage treatment for hypertension, but if they are ineffective, medications are prescribed as a secondary therapy.
Many individuals with high blood pressure have sought relief from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In so doing, many have consumed the Chinese herb danshen, an herb used in Oriental medicine to improve blood circulation and to treat cardiovascular disease.
Tanshinone IIA, the active ingredient of danshen, can reduce blood pressure, according to a recent study.
Participants with hypertension received concentrations of tanshinone once a day for two weeks. After the two-week treatment period, mean arterial blood pressure was measured in the right carotid artery. Treatment with tanshinone reduced the mean arterial pressure.
While the mechanisms of how tanshinone, or danshen, work in hypertension are not yet fully understood, these study findings contribute to the effort to integrate complementary and alternative medicine and allopathic care in the treatment of hypertensive patients.
Chinese herbal medicine uses more than 600 different herbs prescribed in different combinations to treat specific diseases. There are hundreds of classic formulas, composed primarily of herbs of plant origin. Chinese herbal formulas take into consideration the therapeutic effect of each herb as well as the combined effect of the herbs when processed together.
Chinese herbal medicine is used both internally and externally. Formulas are prepared as powders, teas, extracts, pills, liniments, pastes, and salves. A formula typically consists of 4-20 herbs to treat related secondary aspects of the health condition as well as the main pathology and to reduce side effects of individual herbs.
Chinese herbal medicine is effective in treating digestive disorders, fatigue, influenza, chronic headaches, skin disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis, among other conditions. Chinese herbs are also effective in health maintenance and disease prevention.
Common herbs used in formulas include: Astragalus for colds, Chinese angelica for anemia, Chinese yam for chronic cough and wheezing, eucommia bark for back and knee ache, ginger for circulation, ginseng for immune system, and licorice for allergies.
For information about Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for health and wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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