摘要
Differential use of Chinese and western drugs, and combination of traditional theory of materia medica with the results of modern pharmacological research can be regarded as a general principle in the treatment of a disease, while combination of lowering blood pressure with preventing and treating complications is a specific method in the treatment of hypertension. As to the use of drugs based on differentiation of diseases and/or symptoms, drugs which have the action of relieving symptoms but also reducing blood pressure should be used as the first choice. For those drugs which have the action of relieving symptoms but can not lower blood pressure should not be used or should be used as less as possible. Drugs with action of raising blood pressure are contraindicated. When patients have the symptoms of hyperactivity of yang resulting from yin deficiency, Huang Bo ([symbol: see text] Cortex Phellodendri) and Zhi Mu ([symbol: see text] Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) are used together to enhance the effects of both nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire, and reducing blood pressure. This practice conforms to the TCM theory and also to the modern pharmacological research.
There are three principles which need to be grasped in the clinical use of Chinese drugs in the treatment of hypertension: Combination of syndrome differentiation in TCM with disease-differentiation in western medicine; combination of the theory of TCM with the results of modern pharmacological researches; and combination of symptom improving, blood-pressure reducing with complications preventing measures.Use of Chinese Drugs Based on the Western Medical Stages of Hypertension Patients should be classified for clinical stages of hypertension according to western medical criteria before TCM treatment program is made. For instance, in hypertension patients, apart from high blood pressure, there may also be other symptoms such as headache, dizziness, distending sensation in the head, stiff sensation in the neck, dim eyesight, tinnitus, poor memory, inability to concentrate the mind, insomnia, disphoria, general weakness, numbness of the four limbs, and palpitation. In some patients, these symptoms may not always be directly related to hypertension. In these cases, treatment for reducing blood pressure may not be taken into consideration, and the treatment based on general differentiation of the symptoms may serve the purpose. Only after the differential use of Chinese drugs shows no obvious improvement of the symptoms and high blood pressure, the treatment will be aimed at hypertension per se. When Chinese drugs alone can not reduce blood pressure, western medicine is often used in combination to reduce blood pressure, blood lipids and uric acid, correct water-electrolyte metabolism, and improve blood rheology. The combined Chinese and western medical treatment can make up each other's deficiencies so as to give better therapeutic effects.
