Hypertension in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different hypertension patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition where the force exerted by the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. The condition is typically divided into two types: primary (essential) hypertension, which appears without a clear medical cause and is thought to be influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors; and secondary hypertension, which arises as a symptom of another condition like kidney disease. Managing blood pressure is crucial as uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious health issues including stroke, heart attack, and renal failure.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets hypertension through the lens of energetic imbalances and disturbances in the body's natural harmony. Unlike Western medicine which primarily focuses on physical factors and symptom management, TCM seeks to identify the underlying patterns of disharmony contributing to high blood pressure.
These patterns are defined by an intricate assessment of bodily symptoms and signs considered through Qi (vital energy), Yin and Yang balance, and the state of the internal organs. Correcting these imbalances through herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle modifications is crucial to restoring health and reducing blood pressure according to TCM principles.
TCM Patterns for Hypertension
Wind
Causes: Hypertension
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Hypertension
Along with: Fine tremor, Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Insomnia, Scanty menstruation
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Hypertension
Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Back pain, Oliguria, Night sweats
Qi Stagnation
Causes: High blood pressure
Qi And Blood Stagnation
High blood pressure
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Blood Stasis
Causes: High blood pressure
Qi And Blood Stagnation
High blood pressure
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Yin Deficiency
Causes: Hypertension
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Hypertension
Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Depression, Palpitations, Frequent urination
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Hypertension
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
Hypertension
Along with: Menopausal symptoms, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Depression, Palpitations, Frequent urination
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Hypertension
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Hypertension
Along with: Fine tremor, Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Insomnia, Scanty menstruation
Yang Excess
Causes: Hypertension
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
Hypertension
Along with: Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Poor memory, Back pain, Oliguria, Night sweats
Herbal Formulas for Hypertension
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address hypertension
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes Blood
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Fine tremor, Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat...
Bu Gan Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Fine tremor, Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs...
Er Xian Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys
- Clears Empty Heat
- Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Deficiency of both the Kidney Yin and Yang
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Menopausal symptoms, Irregular periods, Menopausal hot flashes, Excessive sweating, Irritability, Generalized fatigue...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat...
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm
- Stops pain
- Promotes Qi movement
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
High blood pressure
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
High blood pressure
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Fine tremor, Facial tic, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs...
Wen Jing Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the Uterus and vessels
- Nourishes Blood
- Dispels Cold
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
High blood pressure
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these hypertension patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Hypertension Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Hypertension
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Facial tic, Severe dizziness, Tinnitus, Headaches, Dry throat...
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Tonifies Yang
- Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Dries and dissolves Phlegm
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Soothes the Liver and calms Liver Wind (antispasmodic)
- Clear Dampness
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Da Chai Hu Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang
- Drains internal clumping due to Heat
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Purges Heat from the Stomach and Intestines
- Relieves constipation
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Releases the Exterior
- Drains Heat
- Unblocks the bowels
Ge Gen Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior and muscle layer
- Forms Body Fluids
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and relieves acute conditions of the Gallbladder
- Relieves acute Damp-Heat syndromes
- Resolves Phlegm
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Causes Fire to descend
- Eliminates irritability
- Calms the spirit
Huang Lian Jiao Du Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Drains Fire
- Resolves Toxicity
Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Clears Hot Phlegm
- Clears Gallbladder Heat
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Jiao Tai Wan
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Restores the functional communication between the Heart and the Kidneys
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Resolves Dampness
Mai Men Dong Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Stomach
- Generates Body Fluids
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Expels Wind Damp from the Channels
- Invigorates Blood
- Unblocks the channels
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Blood
- Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability
- Clears Heat
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Wen Dan Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Clears Phlegm
- Clears Gallbladder
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Wu Zhu Yu Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies the Liver and Stomach
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
- Stops vomiting
Xiao Cheng Qi Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Moderately purges Heat accumulation
- Circulates Qi in the Middle
Xie Xin Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Drains Fire
- Resolves Toxicity
- Dries Dampness
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Spreads the Liver Qi
- Unblocks the channels
Zhen Wu Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys
- Eliminates Dampness
Zhi Zi Chi Tang
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Alleviates restlessness and irritability
Zuo Gui Wan
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Strengthens the Kidneys
- Fills the Essence
- Augments the marrow
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Heart Qi
- Calms the Mind and clear anxiety
- Nourish the Heart Blood
Yi Guan Jian
Traditional formula for hypertension
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Spreads the Liver Qi