High blood pressure is a chronic condition that requires long-term management and treatment. Western medicine and Chinese medicine have different approaches and philosophies for the treatment of hypertension. The following are some commonly used medications and prescriptions for high blood pressure in Western and Chinese medicine.
### Drugs used by Western medicine to treat high blood pressure:
1. Diuretics: Hydrochlorothiazide, such as hydrochlorothiazide, lowers blood pressure by increasing urine excretion and reducing sodium and water in the body.
2. **β-Blockers**: Such as metoprolol and atenolol (Atenolol), which lower blood pressure by slowing the heart rate and reducing cardiac output.
3. Calcium channel blockers: Amlodipine and Nifedipine, which relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure by blocking calcium ions from entering vascular smooth muscle cells.
4. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors): Lisinopril and Captopril, which dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme and reducing the production of angiotensin II.
5. Angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARBs): Losartan and Irbesartan, for example, work by blocking the binding of angiotensin II to its receptors to vasodilators.
6. **α-Blockers**: Such as doxazosin and terrazosin, by blocking α adrenergic receptors, they relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
7. **Central action drugs**: such as clonidine and methyldopa, by acting on the central nervous system, reduce sympathetic nerve activity and reduce peripheral vascular resistance.
### Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription for Hypertension:
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) usually uses traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat hypertension according to the patient's specific constitution and condition. The following are some examples of common TCM prescriptions for hypertension, but please note that these prescriptions need to be used under the guidance of a TCM practitioner:
1. **Gastrodia hook vine drink**: It is composed of gastrodia, hook vine, chrysanthemum, prunella vulgaris, etc., and is suitable for high blood pressure of the upper liver yang, which is manifested as headache, dizziness, redness, irritability and other symptoms.
2. **Gentian Liver Soup**: It is composed of gentian grass, bupleurum, skullcap, gardenia, etc., and is suitable for high blood pressure of the liver fire type, which is manifested as headache, red eyes, bitter mouth, constipation and other symptoms.
3. **Salvia Drink**: Composed of Salvia, Chuanxiong, Red Peony, Licorice, etc., it is suitable for blood stasis type hypertension, which is manifested as headache fixation, purple tongue or ecchymosis.
4. **Liujunzi Soup**: Composed of ginseng, atractylodes, poria cocos, licorice, etc., it is suitable for qi deficiency type hypertension, manifested as fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, self-sweating and other symptoms.
5. **Nourishing Yin and Lowering Fire Soup**: It is composed of Rehmannia radix, Radix radix, Ophiopogon vulgaris, Dendrobium officinalis, etc., which is suitable for high blood pressure of Yin deficiency and Huowang, manifested as dizziness and tinnitus, insomnia and dreams, five heart irritability and other symptoms.
A medical professional should be consulted before using any medication, especially Chinese medicine, as the treatment of hypertension needs to be individualized and the use of Chinese medicine needs to be adjusted according to the specific situation of the patient. In addition, when treating hypertension with traditional Chinese medicine, blood pressure levels should be closely monitored to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.