II. My Clinical Experience

Based on these classical treatises, I have employed methods such as promoting the flow of chest yang, activating blood circulation to remove stasis, and strengthening the spleen and stomach in the treatment of coronary heart disease. Through clinical adjustments and modifications, I have achieved remarkably effective results.

Expanding the chest and regulating qi is a primary therapeutic approach for coronary heart disease. The “Golden Cabinet Essentials”’s decoctions of bitter melon and white peony root wine, as well as the bitter melon, white peony root, and half-buried ginger decoction, are the most important remedies for expanding the chest and regulating qi. Bitter melon and white peony root help to regulate qi, expand the chest, clear heat, and eliminate phlegm; white peony root promotes qi flow and resolves depression, while adding a small amount of white liquor enhances the ability to promote qi flow and disperse stagnation. White liquor in ancient times was the same as modern yellow rice wine, and its addition, combined with its pungent, warming, and dispersing properties, greatly amplifies its effects. The decoctions of citrus fruit, white peony root, cinnamon twig, ginseng, poria, almond, licorice, and orange peel with ginger are all used to promote the flow of chest yang; I also frequently employ these formulas, as the “Golden Cabinet Essentials” states: “When chest oppression causes discomfort in the chest, with qi stagnation in the chest, accompanied by chest fullness and a feeling of pressure in the flank, then the decoction of citrus fruit, white peony root, and cinnamon twig is prescribed; the ginseng decoction is also effective.” “When chest oppression causes chest tightness and shortness of breath, then the decoction of poria, almond, and licorice is prescribed; the decoction of orange peel and ginger is also effective.” “When heart pain radiates to the back, and back pain radiates to the heart, then the decoction of aconite and red stone fat is prescribed.” Zhongjing noted that chest discomfort, chest fullness, pressure in the flank, heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, heart pain radiating to the back, and back pain radiating to the heart—all these are among the most common clinical symptoms of coronary heart disease. All of the aforementioned formulas are effective in treating coronary heart disease, and over decades, I have consistently seen remarkable results when using these formulas to treat coronary heart disease. Besides bitter melon and white peony root, ingredients like citrus fruit, white peony root, citron peel, aconite, processed aconite, Sichuan pepper, dried ginger, almond, and red stone fat are all commonly used in my treatment of coronary heart disease.

Activating blood circulation to remove stasis is another key therapeutic approach for coronary heart disease. Since the advent of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, people have begun employing methods to activate blood circulation to remove stasis in the treatment of coronary heart disease, aiming to eliminate atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries and reduce myocardial infarction. Initially, people noticed that Wang Qingren’s “Blood Palace Dispersing Stasis Decoction,” listed for conditions such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing—symptoms similar to those of modern coronary heart disease—was effective in treating coronary heart disease.

Subsequently, a collaborative group in Beijing developed Coronary Heart Disease No. 2 (red peony root, chuanxiong, safflower, fragrant sandalwood, dan Shen) based on this formula. The invention of this formula significantly raised the overall level of TCM treatment for coronary heart disease; combining this formula with the previously mentioned bitter melon and white peony root decoction yielded even better results. When I added 10g of leech and 3g of Sanqi from the Han Dynasty to the above formula, the effect became even more pronounced. These herbs were combined into a single formula, processed by the Lanzhou Chinese Medicine Factory into “Pei’s Coronary Heart Ningshi Granules,” which have been widely used in Gansu Province for many years and enjoy high credibility among both doctors and patients. The Dan Shen and Fragrant Sandalwood in Coronary Heart Disease No. 2 are the same ingredients found in commonly sold “Compound Dan Shen Tablets”; after further purification and concentration, advanced technologies were employed to create “Compound Dan Shen Drops,” which, thanks to their remarkable efficacy, have passed FDA certification in the United States and are now widely distributed around the world, bringing good news to countless patients with coronary heart disease.

During acute episodes, Western medical treatments such as intravenous medications and angioplasty may seem more convenient. Currently, interventions like coronary dilation, stent placement, bypass surgery, thrombolysis, and anticoagulation are considered the best options for acute myocardial infarction. However, some patients still experience chronic chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and chest tightness even after undergoing these treatments; moreover, some patients fail to receive the aforementioned emergency treatments due to various reasons, remaining in a state of chronic myocardial ischemia for extended periods. In such cases, traditional Chinese medicine often yields ideal results.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Hypertension-Related Cerebral Hemorrhage

Hypertension falls within the category of Yin Deficiency and Yang Excess in TCM; its complications from arterial sclerosis are associated with Yang Excess leading to Wind. Cerebral hemorrhage, due to its sudden onset and often accompanied by hemiplegia, is referred to in TCM as “Cerebral Stroke.” The statement in “Suwen”: “When blood and qi travel upward together, they lead to great collapse,” vividly describes the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of cerebral hemorrhage. Following this insight, Zhang Xichun created the Zhen Gan Xi Feng Decoction, which heavily emphasized the use of Huai Niuxi to guide blood downward, opening up a new avenue for the treatment of hypertension. Wang Qingren developed the Blood Palace Dispersing Stasis Decoction, listing dozens of indications: headache, dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms—each of which is a clinical manifestation of hypertension-related arterial sclerosis. Wang’s Bu Yang Huan Wu Decoction specializes in treating cerebrovascular stroke with hemiplegia; in recent years, medical professionals have praised the efficacy of these two formulas. Building upon Wang’s emphasis on activating blood circulation to remove stasis, a collaborative group in Beijing developed Coronary Heart Disease No. 2 (red peony root, chuanxiong, safflower, fragrant sandalwood, dan Shen), which, though named Coronary Heart Disease No. 2, has proven even more effective in treating cerebral arterial sclerosis. Over the past 20 years, this formula has become popular nationwide, regarded as the first-choice remedy for treating hypertension-related arterial sclerosis in TCM. Extracting Dan Shen and Fragrant Sandalwood from Coronary Heart Disease No. 2, the formula is known as Compound Dan Shen Tablets, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for treating hypertension-related arterial sclerosis in China today. In recent years, after undergoing rigorous pharmaceutical processes, this formula has been refined using advanced technology to produce Compound Dan Shen Drops, which have now passed FDA certification in the United States and are now widely distributed around the world. They are said to have exceptionally significant long-term effects in reducing arterial sclerosis, while also offering notable preventive benefits against cerebral hemorrhage.

Currently, I follow the following diagnostic principles when treating hypertension, which I record here for readers’ reference: