Hypertension is one of the greatest health problems facing industrialized nations and continues to be a major contributing factor in the development of, and death from CAD, stroke, heart failure, and renal failure. Because uncomplicated hyper-tension is an asymptomatic condition, many people are un-aware that they have it. Campaigns by national medical orga-nizations have raised public awareness, and the mass screening of patients has resulted in an increased recognition of the prob-lem so that now only an estimated 30 % of patients with hyper-tension are unaware of their diagnosis. This has contributed to significant decreases in the rates of death from stroke and coro-nary artery disease (CAD). Nonetheless, and only 50 % of pa-tients with hypertension are on therapy, and only 30% have their blood pressure controlled to ideal levels. Because of the asymptomatic nature of this disease (at least until complica-tions develop) and the frequent side effects associated with treatment, initiation of medical therapy and continued compli-ance with a treatment regimen is an ongoing challenge.
As currently defined, systemic hypertension is present in an adult (age18) if the systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140mm Hg or the diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg. According to this definition, an estimated 50 million adult Americans have hypertension. This is a somewhat arbitrary definition in that it is not derived from any pathophysiologic data but, rather, from an analysis of the range of pressures in the population and the risks of associated morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, the current definitions make clinical sense because the longterm risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality clearly rises in direct relation to in-creases in systemic blood pressure.
Differentiation and Treatment of Common Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine
1. Hyperactivity of Liver-yang:
Clinical manifestations: Dizziness, headache, head disten-sion, vexation, temperamental tendency, flushed eyes, bitter taste, red tongue with thin yellow fur, taut and forceful pulse.
Therapeutic method: Calming the liver and subduing hy-peractivity of liver-yang.
Recipe: Modified Decoction of Gastrodia and Uncaria.
Ingredients:
Rhizoma Gastrodiae 9g
Ramulus Uncariae cure Uncis 15-30g
Flos Chysanthemi 9g
Radix Scutellariae 9g
Concha Haliotidis 30g
Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae 12g
Spica Prunellae 15g
Os Draconis 30g
Concha Ostreae 30g
Cortex Eucommiae 12g
Ramulus Loranthi 15-30g
Administration: Decoct the above drugs in water to get 200-300ml of decoction. Take one half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening.
Modification: In case of constipation, add Radix et Rhi-zoma Rhei 10g; in case of severe vertigo, add Concha Mar-garitifera Usta 30g; for those with dry mouth and tongue, add Radix Rehmannia 15g and Radix Scrophulariae 9g; Lumbricus 15g and Herba Siegesbeckiae 12g for treating the case with numbness of the limbs.
