High Blood Pressure

In Chinese medicine (TCM), high blood pressure, or hypertension, is understood as an imbalance of the body's internal energy (Qi), blood, and organ systems. The condition is typically classified based on its underlying patterns rather than as a single disease entity. Here are common TCM explanations for high blood pressure:

1. Liver Yang Rising (肝阳上亢)

Cause: Emotional stress, overthinking, or suppressed anger can disrupt the Liver's ability to regulate Qi, leading to excessive Yang energy.

Symptoms: Dizziness, headaches (especially on the temples), red face, irritability, and a wiry pulse.

2. Kidney Deficiency (肾虚)

Cause: Aging, overwork, or chronic illness depletes Kidney Yin or Yang, leading to an imbalance between Yin and Yang.

Symptoms: Weakness in the lower back and knees, tinnitus, dizziness, night sweats, and fatigue. If Yin is deficient, there may also be heat sensations and dryness.

3. Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction (痰湿阻滞)

Cause: Poor diet, lack of exercise, or weak digestion causes the accumulation of dampness and phlegm.

Symptoms: Obesity, a heavy sensation in the body, chest tightness, nausea, and a slippery pulse.

4. Blood Stasis (血瘀)

Cause: Chronic stagnation of Qi and blood, often due to emotional stress, physical trauma, or aging.

Symptoms: Sharp headaches, chest pain, purple lips or tongue, and a choppy or irregular pulse.

5. Excess Heat in the Liver and Stomach (肝胃火旺)

Cause: Excessive consumption of spicy, greasy, or rich foods, along with emotional stress, generates heat.

Symptoms: Headaches, red eyes, thirst, constipation, and a rapid pulse.

6. Yin-Yang Imbalance

Cause: A breakdown in the balance between Yin (cooling, nourishing) and Yang (warming, active) forces in the body.

Symptoms: Variable blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, and symptoms of both excess heat and deficiency cold.

Treatment Approaches:

Tailored herbal formulas 

Acupuncture: Points such as LI4 (Hegu), LR3 (Taichong), GB20 (Fengchi), and KD3 (Taixi) to regulate Qi and balance organ systems.

Dietary Therapy: Avoiding greasy and spicy foods, and incorporating cooling and nourishing foods like celery, chrysanthemum tea, and pears.

Lifestyle Adjustments: Stress management, moderate exercise, and adequate rest.

High blood pressure in TCM is addressed by identifying the root imbalance and restoring harmony, rather than treating just the symptoms.