Hypotension
The normal blood pressure is the systolic pressure between 90 and 140mm of mercury and the diastolic pressure between 60 and 90mm of mercury. Hypotension means that the systolic pressure is lower than 90 and the diastolic pressure is lower than 60mm of mercury.
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Hypotension, or low blood pressure, can cause various symptoms and complications in affected individuals. Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to treating hypotension by addressing underlying deficiencies and imbalances. In this article, we will discuss three common deficiencies associated with hypotension and the corresponding Chinese medicine treatments for each: Spleen-Kidney deficiency, simultaneous deficiency of yin and energy, and Heart-Kidneys yang deficiency.
- Spleen-Kidney Deficiency
Symptoms of spleen-kidney deficiency may include deafness, diarrhea, difficult urination, dizziness, fatigue, forgetfulness, insomnia, misty vision, palpitations, ringing in the ears, shortness of breath, and a yellowish complexion. To address this deficiency, Chinese medicine practitioners may prescribe Shen-Huang-Gan-Qi-Tang to tone the spleen and kidneys. This remedy often includes ingredients such as chicken egg yolk, common button mushroom, wheat bran, rice, beef, cherry, bird's nest, coconut meat, dates, tofu, mustard seed, sweet potato, red and black dates, rock sugar, apple cucumber, carrot, chestnut, Irish potato, abalone, asparagus, chicken egg, white fungus, black sesame seed, beef kidney, chicken liver, lobster, pork kidney, raspberry, scallop, sea cucumber, shrimp, string bean, and walnut.
- Simultaneous Deficiency of Yin and Energy
Symptoms of simultaneous deficiency of yin and energy may include constipation, dizziness, dry cough with scant sputum, dry mouth, discharge of dry stools, excessive perspiration, fatigue, fever, frequent vomiting, hot sensations in the palms of hands and soles of feet, light stomachache with swelling, palpitations, poor appetite, scant urine, sore throat, and thirst. To treat this deficiency, Chinese medicine practitioners may prescribe Sheng-Mai-San to tone the energy and yin simultaneously. This remedy often consists of ingredients such as bird's nest, cheese, kidney bean, abalone, asparagus, chicken egg, cuttlefish, duck, duck egg, white fungus, oyster, pork, royal jelly grape, longan nuts, maltose, mandarin fish, Irish potato, sweet rice, apple cucumber, bog bean, gold carp, carrot, chestnut, ham, horse bean, hyacinth bean, Job's-tears, royal jelly, string bean, whitefish, yam, red and black dates, mutton, squash, and rock sugar.
- Heart-Kidneys Yang Deficiency
Symptoms of Heart-Kidneys yang deficiency may include cold limbs, cold sweats, discharge of watery, thin stools, edema, frequent urination particularly at night, heavy head with light feet sensations, orthostatic hypotension (hypotension occurring when a person assumes an erect position), pain in the chest, palpitations, nervousness, and shock. To address this deficiency, Chinese medicine practitioners may prescribe Shen-Fu-Tang to tone the heart yang and kidneys yang. This remedy often features ingredients such as dried ginger, cinnamon, wheat, water spinach, kidneys, star anise, red and black dates, lobster, sardine, shrimp, sparrow, clove, dill seed, fennel, pistachio nut, sparrow egg, crab apple, raspberry, and walnut.
In conclusion, this article explores the potential of Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypotension, focusing on three primary deficiencies: spleen-kidneys deficiency, simultaneous deficiency of yin and energy, and heart-kidneys yang deficiency. Each deficiency is associated with a unique set of symptoms and requires specific treatment approaches aimed at toning the relevant organs and restoring balance to the body. The article highlights the use of various herbal formulas, such as Shen-Huang-Gan-Qi-Tang, Sheng-Mai-San, and Shen-Fu-Tang, which are composed of a wide array of natural ingredients like vegetables, fruits, meats, and herbs, to address the respective deficiencies.