The pathological region of senile hypotension involves the heart, spleen and kidney. The disease is mostly caused by old age, weak constitution, improper diet, physical and sexual overstrain. The pathogenesis mainly includes deficiency of healthy qi, or deficiency of healthy qi occasionally intermingled with pathogenic sthenia.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment

Asthenia of the heart and spleen

Vertigo and palpitation aggravated by moving and easily induced by overstrain, short breath, low voice, pale and lustreless complexion, or sallow complexion, pale tongue, thready pulse without force. It is advisable to tonify the heart, strengthen the spleen, promote qi flow and blood production. The prescription used is the modified Guipi Decoction (Decoction for Invigorating the Spleen and Nourishing the Heart) or Renshen Yangrong Decoction (Ginseng Nutrition Decoction).

Deficiency of the middle energizer qi

Occasional vertigo, mental fatigue, disinclination to speak, poor apetite, lassitude of limbs, loose stool, even down-bearing sensation of the lower abdomen in severe cases, pale tongue, slow or soft and thready pulse. It is advisable to supplement qi, strengthen the middle energizer and raise the pure yang. The prescription used is the modified Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (Decoction for Reinforcing Middle Energizer and Replenishing Qi).

Deficiency of the kidney yang

Dizziness, tinnitus, listlessness, soreness of the waist and flaccidity of legs, amnesia, pale or darkish complexion, cold body and limbs, pale tongue, deep and thready pulse particularly in the chi region. It is suitable to warm and strengthen the kidney yang. The prescription used is the modified Yougui Bolus (the Kidney Yang-Rein-forcing Bolus) or Jinkui Shenqi Bolus.

8.2.3.1.4 Phlegm stagnation in the middle energizer

Dizziness with a heavy sensation, chest tightness, nausea, even vomiting of phlegm and saliva in severe cases, white and greasy fur, soft and slippery pulse. It is advisable to resolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen and regulate the stomach. The prescriptions used include the modified Banxia Tianma Baizhu Decoction (Decoction of Pinellia, Gastrodia and Bighead Atractylodes) and Zexie Decoction (Decoction of Rhizoma Alismatis).
Rehabilitation methods

Physical training

Playing Taijiquan can make qi and blood sufficient, blood vessels full, pulsation harmonious, slow and forceful and is effective for hypotension. The patient with this disease has a poor adaptive capacity for physical training and is susceptible to fatigue. Therefore, it is advisable to select the walking activities with easily controllable amount of exercise and which can enhance the physical strength. At the beginning, walk for 1 km once, in the second week 1.5 km, in the third week 2 km, in one month 3 km, and maintain this final distance. Persisting in walking for 3 km a day is very beneficial to the improvement of the symptoms of hypotension.