丹参片 / Dan Shen Pian
Treats the following symptoms:
Disperse Blood Stagnation has the effect of promoting Blood circulation and removing Blood Stasis. It is especially suitable for cardiovascular Qi and Blood Stagnation problems. Long-term use has a good preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases, which can strengthen myocardial contractility and improve cardiac function without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption; at the same time expanding the coronary artery and improving microcirculation; improving Qi and Blood circulation. In clinic, it is used for angina pectoris, high cholesterol, hyperlipidaemia and arteriosclerosis.
Contra-indicated in pregnancy.
ANGINA PECTORIS
Typical symptoms:
angina pectorisDisease description:
Angina pectoris is according to the American Heart Association the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease. The condition manifests as chest tightness, discomfort or pain, palpitations and is caused by a reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle as a result of narrow or blocked arteries. The symptoms can radiate into other parts of the body, e.g. back pain, arm or lower jaw. In severe cases, patients may have a sense of fear of dying. It often occurs during labour or emotional excitement and can be relieved by resting. For some patients, it can also be induced by meals or in the cold season.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The main causes of angina pectoris include two aspects:
- one is “Stagnation causes the pain“, which is when Qi and Blood Stasis leads to angina,
- the other is “failure of Nourishment causes pain“, which is caused by the Deficiency of Qi and Blood. Yin and Yang together with Blood Stasis lead to angina pectoris.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Heart Blood Stagnation
Angina pectoris and a dark red or purple tongue.
in case of feeling cold in body or back, use:
Recommended formulas to use:
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recommended formulas to use:
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
Disease description:
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in the blood and naturally produced in the liver. Only a small part of the cholesterol is absorbed with food. Too much Cholesterol is deposited in the blood vessels and stored in the walls of the arteries, leading to a thickening of the vessel wall so that the elasticity of the vessels is reduced, and also narrowing of the vessels (arteriosclerosis). This causes reduced blood flow in the affected vessels and leads to circulatory disorders that exhibit symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, heart attack, stroke, pain while walking caused by the blocked vessels, tiredness.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine calls hyperlipidemia Phlegm. The term Phlegm referred to by hyperlipidemia is a viscous, sedative pathological product that blocks Qi and Blood circulation.
An unhealthy diet is one of the causes: due to partial eclipse, arbitrarily eating fat and thick taste or addiction to alcohol, the Spleen and Stomach are damaged, failure of transform function of Spleen causes thick turbid Phlegm retention in the body.
Aged body weakness is also an important reason: Insufficient endowment or due to ageing, Kidney Qi is declining, Kidney Yang Deficiency can not agitate the Yang of the Five Internal Organs, Fire does not produce soil, can derive Phlegm and turbid fat, Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency can breed Internal Heat and Phlegm is brewed by burning Jin.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Phlegm Retention and Heat (seen in young people)
It is the most common pattern, symptom: overweight (obese).
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi and Blood Stagnation
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yang Deficiency and Phlegm Retention (seen in older patients)
High Cholesterol, weight gaining, tiredness, cold feeling, can be also seen in menopause.
Recommended formulas to use:
HYPERTENSION
Disease description:
Blood pressure is the force that a person’s blood exerts against the walls of their blood vessels. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure (Hypertension). Currently, blood pressure values up to 139/89 mmHg are considered normal or high normal, while 120/80 mmHg are classified as optimal. Often, with no warning signs at first and developing insidiously, hypertension damages organs after a short time, because the small blood vessels are particularly affected. Later on, general symptoms may occur at first, such as dizziness, headaches, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, nervousness and sometimes even sleep disturbances.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The causes of hypertension in Chinese Medicine are emotional disorders, eating disorders, labour and rest disorders. Long-term emotional depression and anger cause Liver Qi Stagnation and further cause Liver Fire, which consumes Yin fluid. Overeating fat and sweet, thick taste hurts the Spleen and Stomach, gathers Dampness and produces Phlegm. Phlegm disturbs and blocks the head, causing Phlegm-type hypertension.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Liver Yang Rising
Increased blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, a flushed face, swollenness in the head and eyes, tinnitus, irritability, scanty sleep, bitter taste.
Tongue: Red tongue tip, edges, yellow coating.
Relieve Interior Wind + Disperse Blood Stagnation
If blood pressure goes up suddenly very high: Clear Hyperyang
Recommended formulas to use:
Phlegm Disturbance
Blockage of Phlegm disturbs the flow of Qi increasing blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, heavy headedness, chest oppression, nausea, drowsiness, poor appetite, patients have obesity.
Tongue: Thick, white, greasy coating