Understanding and Treatment of Hypertension 2000.6.12

Understanding and Treatment of Hypertension 2000.6.12

Traditional Chinese medicine has long regarded kidney yin deficiency and liver yang excess as the fundamental causes of hypertension. Kidney yin deficiency leads to symptoms such as bone-steaming hot flushes and five-heart vexation, while liver yang excess causes headaches and dizziness. When yin is deficient, fire naturally becomes excessive; when heart fire is too strong, palpitations, irritability, insomnia, and frequent dreaming occur. If yin deficiency persists, yang deficiency will eventually follow—this is the principle that solitary yin cannot generate life, and solitary yang cannot grow. The direct result of both yin and yang deficiency is qi stagnation and blood stasis. Since the smooth flow of qi and blood depends on the coordination of yin and yang, when yin and yang are severely deficient, blockage of qi and blood is inevitable. To treat hypertension, one should first nourish yin and subdue yang, using formulas such as Qiju Dihuang Tang and Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang. Subsequently, the following formulas can be added or subtracted based on individual circumstances: Zhenwu Tang, Gui Fu Ba Wei Wan, Jisheng Shenqi Wan, Guanxin No. 2, Xia Ku Cao mixture, Si Wu Yi Huang Gou, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Shi Dong Feng Ju Er Chen Shen, Wu Jia Sang Tong Su Bin Gui, and Zhi Shi Dai Dang Er Chen Sui.