High blood pressure can be a killer, particularly over time. Chinese
medicine treatments for high blood pressure have been around for
thousands of years and are effective.
Chinese Medicine Treatments for High Blood Pressure
High
Blood Pressure or Hypertension is a symptomatic condition. Primary
hypertension has no known cause although it is usually associated with
certain causative factors such as high cholesterol levels or excessive
sodium intake. Secondary hypertension has a known cause such as kidney
disease or endocrine abnormalities. Regardless of the type, it is a
very dangerous condition that can lead to heart attacks or strokes. In
many ways, hypertension is treated in Western Medicine with what seems
more like the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach. The lifestyle,
diet, and general health of the patient are a major part of the
treatment.
Traditional Chinese Medicine views the major cause of
hypertension as a problem with the circulation of vital energy (Qi) in
the body. It is viewed as a liver Meridian pattern disharmony. Since
the liver is thought to control blood in TCM, a circulation problem
usually comes from disharmony of the liver. As in Western Medicine,
certain emotional problems can contribute or increase the condition.
Depression, anger, obesity, and the high intake of fatty foods are all
harmful to the flow of Qi through the liver and thus can cause
hypertension.
Acupuncture therapy is often indicated in the
treatment of high blood pressure. The needle points will be ones that
increase Qi flow through the liver and remove excess heat from that
organ. There are several natural food treatments that are used and have
been shown to have beneficial results. These include water chestnut,
turnip, honey, Chinese celery, Hawthorn berries, and Mung beans.
Kudzu
(Pueraria lobata) is a herbal remedy that is used in TCM in the
treatment of hypertension. It has been shown to help normalize blood
pressure and is a powerful antioxidant. In fact, Kudzu has about 100
times the antioxidant activity of vitamin E. It helps prevent heart
disease and cancer also. When used in the treatment of hypertension, it
can be brewed into a tea for easy digestion.
TCM also looks at
diet and lifestyle choices that can reduce the tendency toward high
blood pressure. This treatment approach is also used in Western
Medicine. The Chinese approach here is not as unusual as it tends to
take this holistic approach to any illness, so in that regard, the
treatment regime for hypertension is not unique to that disease. As
always Chinese Traditional Medicine seeks out the underlying cause of
disharmony and seeks to restore balance. |
