Traditional Chinese Medicine for Lowering Blood Pressure: An Effective Choice for Natural Therapy
High blood pressure is a common health problem among modern people. Long-term high blood pressure may cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition to Western medicine treatment, Chinese medicine also has a significant effect in regulating blood pressure. This article will introduce 10 traditional Chinese medicines that are effective in lowering blood pressure and provide structured data to help you better understand their efficacy and usage.
1. Common antihypertensive traditional Chinese medicines and their effects

The following table lists 10 traditional Chinese medicines with antihypertensive effects and their main active ingredients, mechanisms of action and applicable groups:
| Chinese medicine name | Main active ingredients | antihypertensive mechanism | Applicable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncaria | rhynchophylline, isorhynchophylline | Dilate blood vessels and inhibit sympathetic nerves | Hypertension due to excessive liver yang |
| Eucommia ulmoides | Eucommia gum, chlorogenic acid | Improve blood vessel elasticity and diuresis | Kidney deficiency type hypertension |
| Gastrodia elata | Gastrodin, Gastrogenin | Improve cerebral blood flow, calmness | Hypertensive patients with dizziness and headache |
| Apocynum | Quercetin, Kaempferol | Diuresis, lowering blood lipids | Hypertension with hyperlipidemia |
| Salvia | Tanshinone, salvianolic acid | Improve microcirculation, anti-platelet | blood stasis type hypertension |
| Hawthorn | Flavonoids, organic acids | Expand coronary arteries and lower cholesterol | coronary heart disease with hypertension |
| chrysanthemum | Inulin, flavonoids | Calming, antioxidant | Hypertension due to excessive liver fire |
| Cassia seed | Chrysophanol, cassia | Lower blood lipids, laxative | Hypertensive patients with constipation |
| Mulberry | Quercetin, broadleaf glycoside | Dilate blood vessels, strengthen heart | Hypertension with cardiac insufficiency |
| Prunella vulgaris | Triterpenes, flavonoids | diuretic, anti-inflammatory | People with large blood pressure fluctuations in summer |
2. Scientific basis for traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood pressure
Modern pharmacological research shows that traditional Chinese medicine lowers blood pressure mainly through the following pathways:
1.vasodilation: For example, the alkaloids in Uncaria can block calcium ion channels and directly relax vascular smooth muscles.
2.diuretic and natriuretic: Apocynum, Prunella vulgaris, etc. have diuretic effect and reduce blood volume
3.neuromodulation: Gastrodia elata and chrysanthemum can regulate autonomic nervous function and reduce sympathetic nerve excitability
4.organ protection: Salvia miltiorrhiza, Eucommia ulmoides, etc. can protect target organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
The following table compares the onset and duration of action of several major antihypertensive traditional Chinese medicines:
| Chinese medicine | Onset of effect | duration | Best time to take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncaria | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 hours | morning, afternoon |
| Eucommia ulmoides | 2-3 days | Sustained stability | Long-term use |
| Gastrodia elata | 1-2 hours | 6-8 hours | before going to bed |
| Apocynum | 1 week later | Effective for a long time | After meal |
3. Precautions for using traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood pressure
1.Treatment based on syndrome differentiation: Traditional Chinese medicine pays attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment, and different traditional Chinese medicines are suitable for different types of hypertension.
2.dose control: Overdose may cause hypotension or other adverse reactions
3.drug interactions: Take at least 2 hours apart with western medicine.
4.Physical differences: Cold and cooling antihypertensive traditional Chinese medicine should be used with caution if you have a constitution with yang deficiency.
5.Monitor blood pressure: Measure blood pressure regularly and adjust medication regimen in a timely manner
The following table lists the contraindication groups for common antihypertensive traditional Chinese medicines:
| Chinese medicine | Taboo groups | Potential adverse reactions |
|---|---|---|
| Uncaria | hypotensive patients | dizziness, fatigue |
| Eucommia ulmoides | People with yin deficiency and strong fire | dry mouth, constipation |
| Gastrodia elata | pregnant woman | uterine contractions |
| Cassia seed | Diarrhea patients | aggravate diarrhea |
4. Dietary therapy plan for reducing blood pressure with traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine can not only be used as medicine, but can also assist in lowering blood pressure through dietary therapy:
1.Uncaria tea: Uncaria 10g, chrysanthemum 5g, brew with boiling water as tea
2.Eucommia Spare Ribs Soup: Eucommia ulmoides 15g, pork ribs 500g, stew for 2 hours
3.Gastrodia Steamed Egg: Gastrodia powder 3g, 1 egg, steamed and eaten
4.Hawthorn Cassia Seed Tea: Hawthorn 10g, cassia seed 10g, boiled water for drinking
The following table compares the antihypertensive effects of different dietary prescriptions:
| Dietary therapy | Applicable certificate type | Effective time | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncaria tea | Hyperactivity of liver yang | 1-2 weeks | 1 time a day |
| Eucommia Soup | Kidney deficiency type | 3-4 weeks | 3 times a week |
| Gastrodia Steamed Egg | Dizziness type | 2-3 days | Once every other day |
| hawthorn tea | blood stasis type | 1 month | 1 time a day |
5. Clinical research data
Clinical studies in recent years have shown that traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in reducing blood pressure:
1.Comprehensive conditioning: Traditional Chinese medicine can simultaneously improve symptoms such as insomnia and headaches associated with high blood pressure.
2.Reduce side effects: Compared with western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has a lower incidence of adverse reactions
3.long term stability: Traditional Chinese medicine conditioning can maintain long-term blood pressure stability and reduce fluctuations.
The following table shows the clinical effectiveness of several traditional Chinese medicines in reducing blood pressure:
| research project | sample size | efficient | research institute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research on antihypertensive function of Uncaria | 320 cases | 82.5% | China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences |
| Eucommia combined treatment | 150 cases | 91.3% | Beijing University of Chinese Medicine |
| Gastrodin injection | 200 cases | 78.6% | Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Apocynum tea | 180 cases | 85.2% | Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine |
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese medicine antihypertensive medicine has the advantages of multi-target and overall regulation, and is a good choice for auxiliary treatment of hypertension. However, it needs to be emphasized that Chinese medicine for blood pressure reduction should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor, especially patients with moderate to severe hypertension should not stop taking Western medicine without authorization. Only by rationally using traditional Chinese medicine and improving lifestyle can we better control blood pressure and maintain cardiovascular health.
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