Hypertension:Other Treatment Alternatives

Alternate forms of therapy have been used for several decades for the treatment of elevated blood pressure.The two most popular forms of therapy are:

1. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

2. MIND BODY MEDICINE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tends to describe hypertension in colorful terms, the most common of which is liver yang rising. Traditional Chinese medicine views what we know today as hypertension, as a consequence of liver yang rising. This condition is not a clinical isolate, but actually a part of a family of conditions known as liver excess conditions.

In increasing order of severity they are: liver yang rising, liver heart rising, liver fire blazing upward, and interior liver wind. The liver excess conditions are considered excess in nature but in some cases may be as a result of deficient yin of the liver and kidney. In other cases stress and emotional problems may lead to liver overheating resulting in excess liver patterns.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a phenomenal medicine. TCM treats hypertension by regulating the whole body rather than by simply lowering the blood pressure. One of the principles of TCM is treatment based on syndrome differentiation; the therapeutic effects of TCM depend greatly on this principle. A patient’s body state is known as a "syndrome state", also known as "syndrome of TCM". Whether Chinese medicine works or not is closely related to patients body states. In the treatment of hypertension, syndrome differentiation is also very important. Clinically, hypertension may differ in clinical stages, pathological changes, degree of severity and complications. TCM views the pathologic changes in hypertension as diverse in occurrence and therefore syndromic in presentation. The efficacy of Chinese medication depends on the recognition of each concrete syndrome. In TCM treatment of hypertension based on syndrome differentiation regulates the function of the whole body and promote its self-balance.

A patient’s subjective feelings or subjective symptoms are a valuable index for TCM to make a diagnosis and evaluate therapeutic effects. In TCM, alleviation of a patient’s symptom indicates the patient’s body has returned to a new balance state and thus his/ her quality of life has improved. In the case of hypertensive patients, this return to a new balance state is usually accompanied by a reduction in blood pressure.

Some of the therapeutic methods employed by TCM in the treatment of hypertension include:

• Medication
• Acupuncture
• Qigong therapy
• Moxibustion
• Magnet therapy
• Cupping therapy
• Massage therapy

In china, medication is the method of TCM most commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. Several medicinal herbs and compound formulae, after extensive research, have been found to have anti- hypertensive effects. These medicines can not only be taken orally, the can be used externally; as used in external application, inhalation therapy and soaking therapy.

External application refers to the application of medicines to a patient’s body at certain acupoints. Inhalation therapy refers to the method in which the patient breathes in the odor of the medicines. Soaking therapy involves soaking a part of the patient’s body in medicinal liquid. In these treatments, the effective elements of the medicines are absorbed into the patient’s body through the skin or through the air passage. These medicines are believed to give the body a regulation by stimulating the body from the exterior. It has been proven that Chinese medicinal herbs lower hypertension mainly by increasing urine excretion by the kidneys, dilating blood vessels, regulating blood supply to the internal organs and regulating the function of the endocrine, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

A lot has been said and written about acupuncture and its benefits or otherwise in the treatment of hypertension. Acupuncture basically involves the insertion of needles at certain points in the body known as acupoints. It has been proven that acupuncture lowers blood pressure by blocking beta receptors and regulating the adrenalin-angiotensin system. Certain clinical reports have shown that the effective rate of acupuncture for hypertension is about 72-80%. Acupuncture therapy includes body needling, head needling, ear needling, laser-needle therapy, hydro-acupuncture therapy and so on. Body needling is the most common method of acupuncture therapy used today.

Quigong therapy uses traditional Chinese knowledge and skill in the regulation of respiration and concentration of the mind. It is practiced for physical training and for prevention and treatment of diseases. It is believed to lower blood pressure by regulating the whole body, especially by regulating the functions of the central nervous system.

Moxibustion refers to the therapeutic method of applying an ignited cone or stick of mugwort or other medicinal herbs over certain acupoints in the body. The effective components of these herbs are absorbed into the body via these acupoints.

Magnet therapy refers to the application of a magnet at certain acupoints in the body to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Generally, the acupoints used in magnet therapy are the same as those chosen in acupuncture therapy.

Cupping therapy refers to the the application of vaccum cup to certain parts of a patients body.

Massage therapy has been employed for several decades not only in china but in many parts of the world. In addition to relieving stress and tensed muscles, it has been observed that massage therapy reduces blood pressure to some degree.

As earlier stated, TCM is a phenomenal medicine. TCM treats hypertension based on the principle of syndrome differentiation with the overall therapeutic effect of helping to regulate the functions of the whole body, and promoting its self-balance. Also, TCM therapies are mainly natural therapies. They tend to work a little slower than orthodox medication but they are safe with minimal side effects.

However, the mechanisms by which some TCM therapies lower blood pressure remains unknown, and this makes it hard for some individuals and even health workers to accept TCM therapy. Furthermore, a doctor has to be knowledgeable about the principles and methods of syndrome differentiation before recommending TCM. Therapeutic effects may be greatly influenced if a doctor has not fully grasped these principles and methods.

MIND- BODY MEDICINEM.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to meet the health care needs of individuals appears to be gaining some popularity. It is estimated that 42% of Americans have used CAM to meet their health care needs and over 3 million individuals have tried mind-body techniques to treat their hypertension. Sadly, there has been little quality research to discriminate between hypertension and the benefits of CAM, and practices that are considered effective and safe in hypertensive patients.

Mind-body therapy is one of the five major branches of CAM therapeutics. It uses behavioral techniques to augment the minds capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms utilizing various techniques such as meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music and dance.

Mind-body techniques that may be beneficial for hypertensive patients include:

• Yoga: is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. The Sanskrit word yoga connotes the joining of the lower human nature with the higher. Yoga techniques comprise a series of body positions and movements developed in order to help relax the body and calm the mind. It involves breath control, physical exercises and meditation. Yoga can be learned and practiced at home; however, modified movements may be required during pregnancy or if a person has a condition such as hypertension.
• Meditation: Buddhist meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity and emotional positivity. Meditation basically involves a systematic mental focus on particular aspects of inner or outer experience involving engaging in an activity that directs the mind to a single point of focus, using breathing techniques, or imagery in order to feel a state of calmness.
• Biofeedback: uses computerized machines to measure and display body functions and states such as heart rate, skin temperature, muscle tension, and brain activity. By monitoring these functions through states of rest and activity, patients are able to see how and why they change and eventually can learn to control them.
• Guided imagery: teaches patients to imagine scenarios that may help influence certain physiological conditions. While there are no conclusive studies on imagery, patients often report physical and psychological benefits.
• Support groups: bring together people who are suffering from the same disease or similar types of trauma. Within the group, they share experiences and feelings, which may yield great psychological benefits and perhaps improve the functioning of their natural body defenses as well.

You should always consult your doctor and if alternative treatments don't work for you, your doctor might prescribe a prescription treatment to help deal with your hypertension. If this happens and you are not able to afford your medications, you might consider using a canadian pharmacy to purchase drugs at a cheaper rate. It can be a very cost effective way for those on fixed incomes or those unable to afford their medications.