Hypertension
A primary cause of vascular morbidity and mortality is hypertension, a chronic condition characterized by increased blood pressure (BP) in the arteries. Compared to people with normal blood pressure, hypertensive patients are more prone to suffer from disorders of the heart, brain, kidney, and peripheral arteries. The ultimate goal of hypertension treatment is to lower mortality and morbidity with the fewest possible side effects. Antihypertensive medications include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Despite the wide range of anti-hypertensive medications available, over two thirds of individuals receiving treatment do not have their blood pressure levels at the desired level. Despite maintaining normal blood pressure, patients may nonetheless experience significant rates of cardiovascular morbidity and death.
For millennia, Chinese herbal therapy has been utilized as a treatment for hypertension. TCM states that deficiencies in blood and qi, excess liver "Yang," liver and kidney "Yin," and blood and fluid stagnation are the primary causes of hypertension. The primary method employed by TCM to treat hypertensive patients is the differentiation of syndromes based on the symptoms and indicators of hypertension. Three syndromes—heat syndrome, fluid retention syndrome, and deficiency syndrome—are used to categorize hypertension in traditional Chinese medicine. Three basic concepts of treatment apply to these three syndromes: eliminating heat, eliminating excess fluid, and strengthening organs. Following the principles of traditional theory, a TCM practitioner typically uses a blend of multiple (often over ten) herbs that constitute a formula. The effect of Chinese herbal medicine on primary hypertension has been the subject of multiple systematic reviews that have been published. These reviews have shown that Chinese herbal medicines, such as Tianma gouteng yin and the Liuwei dihuang pill, are safe and effective treatments for primary hypertension.
Patients with mild or borderline hypertension who wish to minimize medication costs, side effects, and problems can benefit from acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture has been utilized as a nonpharmacological intervention to treat a wide range of disorders to regulate cardiovascular diseases. Acupuncture has been shown in several systematic reviews to have a promising effect on lowering blood pressure; the drop in blood pressure can range from 3 to 40 mmHg. Acupuncture may lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients by a variety of processes, such as altered plasma norepinephrine, serotonin, and endorphin levels; elevated sodium excretion; and decreased plasma renin, aldosterone, and angiotensin II activity.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia is defined as irregularities in the quantity and quality of lipids in the blood, typically seen as decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and/or higher total cholesterol (TC) and/or triglyceride (TG). One of the main risk factors for heart and brain disorders is hyperlipidemia. Increased incidence and death rates of cardio-cerebrovascular illnesses could result from hyperlipidemia's induction of atherosclerosis, which could lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction. About 50% of persons in Australia have high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
The first-line treatment for decreasing lDL levels is statins, which work by blocking 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Statin side effects, however, can include muscular myopathy and abnormalities in liver function. Hence, controlling hyperlipidemia in those who are unable to tolerate the side effects of these traditional medications continues to be a difficult task.
Chinese herbal medicines have been shown in numerous studies to be useful in treating hyperlipidemia. A comprehensive evaluation, for instance, revealed that Yinchenwuling powder was more successful in raising the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol without having a significant negative impact on TC and TG levels. According to a Cochrane systematic review, Xuezhikang was the most often studied herbal formula for hypercholesterolemia; when compared to inositol nicotinate, Xuezhikang demonstrated a substantial effect on TC reduction.
The adjuvant treatment of patients with hyperlipidemia has also made extensive use of acupuncture in recent decades. Acupuncture has been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials to enhance HDL-C and decrease TC, TG, and LDL-C in individuals with dyslipidemia.
Reference:
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Peng, Q, X Yao, J Xiang, Y Wang, and X Lin. "Acupuncture for Hyperlipidemia: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Medicine 97, no. 50 (2018): e13041.
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Yu, J, Y Wei, Y Jing, and Y Gao. "Effect of Acupuncture on Essential Hypertension: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Medicine 100, no. 15 (2021): e25572.
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