Experienced formulas for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

In modern medicine, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases fall under the categories of dizziness, headache, chest pain, palpitations, stroke, and collaterals disorders in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The heart governs blood vessels, and the circulation of blood throughout the body relies on the heart's qi. The brain is the residence of the spirit, and unobstructed blood flow nourishes it. Blood circulation also depends on the liver's function of regulating qi, the spleen's function of transforming and transporting nutrients, and the kidneys' function of nourishing the body. Therefore, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are located in the heart and brain, and are closely related to dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Long-term emotional imbalance, a diet high in fatty and sweet foods, irregular sleep patterns, and aging can all lead to an imbalance of yin and yang in the internal organs, disrupting the flow of qi, blood, and body fluids. This gradually generates qi stagnation, phlegm, dampness, blood stasis, and turbidity, obstructing blood vessels and becoming the core root cause of these diseases. Common chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases mainly include hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmia, cerebral ischemia, sequelae of cerebral infarction, carotid artery plaque, migraine, and dizziness. High blood pressure, dizziness, and headaches often fall under the category of "dizziness." This is frequently caused by prolonged worry and anger, leading to stagnation of liver qi, which transforms into fire, causing liver yang to rise and disturb the head and eyes; or by spleen deficiency resulting in internal phlegm and dampness, preventing the clear yang from ascending and allowing turbid yin to obscure the view; or by liver and kidney yin deficiency, where water fails to nourish wood, causing deficient yang to float upwards, resulting in dizziness, headache, flushed face, and red eyes. Prolonged illness can penetrate the collaterals, causing blood vessel disharmony and blood stasis, further aggravating blood vessel damage. Coronary heart disease and angina pectoris correspond to "chest pain" and "heart pain" in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The pathogenesis is often a combination of deficiency and excess. The root cause is deficiency of heart qi, insufficient heart yang, and depletion of yin and blood; the manifestations are phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the heart vessels. Excessive consumption of oily foods damages the spleen and stomach, leading to internal phlegm, which ascends to the chest, obstructing qi flow, hindering blood circulation, and causing blood stasis obstructing the heart vessels, resulting in chest tightness, chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath, with symptoms worsening after exertion. Arrhythmias and premature beats/palpitations fall under the category of "palpitations." This condition is often caused by insufficient heart qi and blood, leading to malnourishment of the heart spirit; or by yin deficiency with excessive fire, phlegm-fire disturbing the heart; or water retention affecting the heart, causing irregular heartbeat, palpitations, and recurring symptoms. Insufficient cerebral blood supply, cerebral infarction, and sequelae of stroke fall under the categories of "stroke" and "hemiplegia." Liver and kidney deficiency, insufficient qi and blood, and malnourishment of the brain vessels; phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the brain's collaterals, preventing qi and blood from reaching the head, resulting in mild symptoms like dizziness, forgetfulness, and limb numbness, or severe symptoms like meridian blockage and hemiplegia. The later recovery period is often characterized by qi deficiency and blood stasis, with weak vital energy and stagnant blood in the meridians, leading to slow recovery. Overall, chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are generally characterized by deficiency in the root and excess in the branch. Deficiency of vital energy in the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys is the root cause; qi stagnation, phlegm turbidity, blood stasis, liver yang excess, and fire disturbance are the branching pathogens. The course of the disease is long and often involves a mixture of deficiency and excess. Blood stasis obstructing the collaterals is a key factor throughout the middle and later stages of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases emphasizes holistic diagnosis and individualized treatment plans. The root cause is often addressed by tonifying Qi and nourishing the heart, tonifying the liver and kidneys, and strengthening the spleen and resolving phlegm. Symptom relief is supplemented by calming the liver and suppressing Yang, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and clearing the meridians and opening the orifices. This approach addresses both the root cause and symptoms, harmonizing Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang, clearing blockages in the blood vessels throughout the body, improving organ function, restoring smooth blood flow to the heart and brain, and gradually optimizing the body's internal environment of phlegm and dampness stagnation.