I. General description
Hypertension is a systemic disease characterized by increased arterial systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg), often accompanied by functional or organic changes in organs such as the heart, brain, kidney and retina. For hypertension whose cause has not been fully elucidated to date, it is called primary hypertension. Patients with hypertension may have symptoms such as headache, vertigo, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, and tinnitus, but not necessarily related to blood pressure levels. It is often asymptomatic in the early stages and can be self-perceived as good for many years and occasionally found to be elevated on physical examination. A few patients are found only after the occurrence of heart, brain and kidney complications. Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, and according to statistics, more than 100 million people are suffering from hypertension. Hypertension not only multiplies the incidence of coronary heart disease, but is also an important cause of cerebrovascular accidents and damage to heart and kidney function.
Hypertension belongs to the category of “vertigo” and “headache” in Chinese medicine.
Chinese medicine identification and treatment
1. Hyperactivity of liver and Yang
[Dizziness and tinnitus, headache and swelling, with dizziness and headache aggravated by irritation or anger, flushing of the face, irritability, sleeplessness and dreaminess, bitterness in the mouth, red tongue, yellow fur, string pulse.
[Treatment] Calming the liver and submerging Yang, nourishing the liver and kidney.
[Formula] Tian Ma, Gou Teng, Shi Dou Yuan, plus or minus.
Asparagus, hooked vine, stone cassia, gardenia, scutellaria, cow’s knee, dulcimer, motherwort, mulberry, nightshade, porcupine, etc.
2.Deficiency of Qi and Blood
[Main Evidence] Dizziness is aggravated by movement, and it occurs with exertion, with white face, non-flamboyant lips and nails, poor hair color, palpitations and sleeplessness, fatigue and laziness of speech, reduced diet, light tongue and weak pulse.
[Treatment] Nourishing Qi and Blood and tonifying the spleen and stomach.
[Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Astragalus, Radix et Rhizoma Spleen.
Ginseng, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Muxiang, Poria, Yuan Zhi, Longan, Roasted Licorice, Sour Date, etc.
3.Deficiency of kidney essence
[Dizziness with depression, sleeplessness and dreaminess, forgetfulness, weakness of the waist and knees, seminal emission, tinnitus. In the case of Yin deficiency, the five hearts are troubled and hot, the tongue is red, and the pulse is thin and counted. In case of Yang deficiency, the limbs are not warm, the form is cold and timid, the tongue is pale, and the pulse is sunken and weak.
[Treatment] For Yin deficiency, the treatment is to tonify the kidney and nourish Yin. In case of Yang deficiency, the treatment is to tonify the kidneys and help Yang.
[Formula] To nourish the kidney and nourish yin, Zuo Gui Wan is the main formula.
Radix Rehmanniae, Chinese yam, Fructus Lycii, Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, Semen Cuscutae, Radix Achyranthes Bidentatae, Tortoise Plate Gum, Antler Gum, etc.
4.Phlegm and turbidity obstruction
[Main symptoms] Dizziness with head heaviness like hoodiness, chest tightness and nausea, little food and much sleep, white and greasy coating, moist and slippery pulse.
[Treatment] To dry dampness and dispel phlegm, strengthen the spleen and stomach.
[Formula] Radix et Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, plus or minus.
Fu Ling, Semen, Chen Pi, Atractylodes Macrocephala, Tian Ma, ginger, jujube, etc.
Third, regulation and care
The elderly should do regular medical checkups, especially those with a family history of hypertension, should check their blood pressure more often to achieve early detection and early treatment. Since the blood pressure of the elderly is more volatile, the blood pressure should be measured at a fixed time to adjust the treatment measures in time. Pay attention to rest, keep the environment quiet and relaxed, avoid mental stimulation, emotional excitement, anxiety and tension, strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue, etc. Ensure adequate sleep, about eight hours a day, and develop the habit of taking a nap, but avoid prolonged lying down to hurt the gas. Currently popular rest therapy and music therapy have good efficacy in treating hypertension and can be chosen. Diet with low salt, low fat, low cholesterol as the principle, maintain a normal weight, do not smoke, less alcohol. Keep bowel movements smooth, constipation when the bowel effort, will make a sharp rise in blood pressure, and even easy to cause cerebral hemorrhage and myocardial infarction. Be careful not to overdo your sex life, sex is a big burden on the nerves and heart vessels. Participate in appropriate physical activities and physical exercise, such as qigong for the treatment of hypertension in the elderly, not only has a good recent antihypertensive effect, but also has a good effect on stabilizing blood pressure, consolidating the effect of treatment, reducing and delaying complications. To practice mainly static gong, appropriate combination of dynamic gong. According to the condition and objective conditions, bath therapy (such as mineral bath, hot water bath), magnetic therapy, etc., can also be used.
Hypertension is very dangerous to human health, so even if you suffer from mild hypertension, you should also actively treat it. For elderly patients with hypertension, care should be taken not to bring down the significantly elevated blood pressure too quickly, otherwise, although the blood pressure is reduced to normal, the symptoms will be aggravated. According to long-term observation and research, as long as life on the crutch and adhere to the medication treatment, the general life expectancy of hypertensive patients is similar to that of normal people, the complications of hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents account for the first, followed by heart failure and renal failure, should be actively prevented. When a hypertensive patient suddenly develops severe headache, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, or even irritability, it may be a hypertensive crisis. It is usually caused by a sudden and substantial increase in blood pressure. At this time, the blood pressure should be measured promptly, and the patient should be comforted not to be nervous, told to rest in bed, appropriate application of sedatives, and the use of better antihypertensive effect of drugs, and further treatment by a doctor. If palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, inability to lie down, cyanosis of lips and mouth, coughing up pink foam and other symptoms suddenly appear, this is a manifestation of acute left heart failure caused by hypertension. Ask the patient to remain quiet, not to be irritable, to take a sitting position with legs down, and to perform emergency treatment at the same time. If the patient suddenly has a headache and vomiting, tongue failure, slurred speech, numbness of one half of the body or impaired movement of one limb, or even unconsciousness, this is a manifestation of stroke. The patient should be allowed to lie down, head to the side, so as not to vomit into the airway, causing asphyxiation, and as soon as possible to hospital rescue.
Four, food therapy and test prescription
10g of Xia Ku Cao, 500g of lean pork, boil soup, remove the dregs, eat the meat and drink the soup, used for Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity.
Fresh hawthorn, apple 30g each, fresh celery 30g chopped with water, steam for 30 minutes. Add 10g of rock sugar and eat the soup dregs together, 1 dose daily, for hypertension.
Black sesame, walnut meat 20g each, mulberry leaves 10g, decoction of mulberry leaves, divided into 2-3 times to take the soup dregs, 1 dose daily. Used for kidney deficiency.
Ground Bone Bark 60g, can add a small amount of sugar or pork, decoction with water to remove the dregs, eat soup with pork, l dose every other day, used for patients with deficiency fire.
Xia Ku Cao 30g, Wild Chrysanthemum 15g, decoction in water, divided into 2 doses, 1 dose daily, for those with hyperactive liver fire.
Chrysanthemum 5-10g, bitter tea 10g, cassia seeds 10-15g, rooibos leaves 5-10g, any one of them, add water and decoct for 3-5 minutes, then take the juice and drink as tea, for those with Yin deficiency and liver exuberance.