🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Dr. He Lihua from the Medical College of Henan University achieved satisfactory results in clinical treatment of coronary heart disease using integrated Chinese-Western medicine therapy, as reported in the Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 2, 2004, accompanied by one typical case.
One hundred and eighty-one patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (92 cases) and a control group (89 cases). The treatment group received modified Xuefu Zhuyu Tang as the primary prescription, composed of Angelica sinensis, red peony root, ligusticum, rehmannia, bupleurum, achyranthes, citrus aurantium, peach kernel, safflower, platycodon, and licorice. Additional herbs were added based on symptoms: add ginseng and ophiopogon for irregular pulse; use fried licorice for weak heart qi. Add trichosanthes and garlic chives for phlegm obstruction. Add cinnamon twig and aconite for deficient heart yang. Add astragalus for weak heart qi. Add prunella, hook vine, and chrysanthemum for high blood pressure. Add hawthorn and salvia for high lipid levels. Take one dose daily, decocted and taken orally. Each course lasted 15 days, with 2–4 courses observed for efficacy. Both groups received oral Western medicine: Isosorbide dinitrate 10 mg, three times daily; Persantin 25 mg, three times daily; Atenolol 12.5 mg, twice daily (contraindicated in III-degree AV block); enteric-coated aspirin 75 mg, taken before bedtime (avoided in thrombocytopenia or bleeding tendency). Each course lasted 15 days, with 2–4 courses observed for efficacy. After treatment, among the 92 in the treatment group, 36 were markedly effective, 51 effective, and 5 ineffective, yielding a total effective rate of 94.6%. Among the 89 in the control group, 21 were markedly effective, 43 effective, and 25 ineffective, yielding a total effective rate of 71.9%. The difference in efficacy between the two groups was statistically significant.
Coronary heart disease falls under the category of “Xiongbì” (chest obstruction) in TCM, primarily caused by deficiency of vital energy, phlegm turbidity, blood stasis, qi stagnation, and cold congealing leading to obstruction of heart vessels. Dr. He Lihua applied the TCM principle “pain arises from obstruction, obstruction leads to pain” using blood-activating and stasis-resolving therapies, achieving good results. Depending on the condition, additional methods such as regulating qi, resolving phlegm, and warming to unblock may be used, with Xuefu Zhuyu Tang as the foundational formula. This formula originates from Wang Qingren’s Yilin Gaicuo of the Qing Dynasty. Ingredients like Angelica, Ligusticum, Peach Kernel, Safflower, and Red Peony activate blood and remove stasis to open vessels. Bupleurum and Platycodon paired with Citrus Aurantium and Achyranthes create a rising and falling mechanism to regulate qi flow and promote blood circulation. Rehmannia clears blood stasis and nourishes yin. Together, these herbs synergistically achieve the effect of removing stasis, opening vessels, and relieving pain. The clinical observations confirm that using Xuefu Zhuyu Tang with modifications, combined with oral Western medicine, yields significant results in treating coronary heart disease.
Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Therapy for Frequent Ventricular Premature Beats Shows Excellent Efficacy
Ventricular premature beats are a common clinical manifestation of cardiac disease. The Hubei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Issue 3, 2004, reported that Chen Shengpeng and Chen Bingxue from the Bethune Military Medical College in Shijiazhuang achieved satisfactory results using integrated Chinese-Western medicine therapy for frequent ventricular premature beats. They used Shengmai San with modifications combined with the Western drug “Slow Heart Rate” to treat 27 patients with frequent ventricular premature beats, comparing outcomes with those receiving only the Western drug “Slow Heart Rate.” Diagnosis followed standards from Clinical Electrocardiography and Internal Medicine for frequent ventricular premature beats, and criteria from Clinical Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine for palpitations: (1) ECG shows ventricular premature beats; Holter monitoring reveals ≥5 per minute or ≥30 per hour; (2) signs such as intermittent pulse. Fifty-one patients with ventricular premature beats were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (27 cases), including 15 males and 12 females; average age 64.5 years; highest frequency 14 per minute, lowest 5 per minute. Control group (24 cases), including 14 males and 10 females; average age 66.2 years; highest frequency 12 per minute, lowest 6 per minute. Treatment: Control group took oral “Slow Heart Rate,” 0.2 g per dose, three times daily. If ineffective, increased to 0.4 g per dose, three times daily. After improvement, reduced to 0.1 g per dose, three times daily. Treatment group received Shengmai San as base formula with syndrome differentiation adjustments: add Nan Sha Shen, Bei Sha Shen, raw rehmannia, whole trichosanthes, angelica, salvia, and stir-fried sour jujube seed for heart yin deficiency; add astragalus, white atractylodes, fried licorice, salvia, and kuan yuan for heart qi deficiency; add red ginseng, codonopsis, cinnamon twig, fried licorice, poria, calcined oyster shell, and winter worm summer grass for heart yang deficiency; combine Linggui Zhushu Tang for fluid retention affecting the heart; combine Tao Hong Jian for blood stasis in the heart; modify Huanglian Wen Dan Tang for phlegm-fire disturbing the heart. Take one dose daily, decocted twice, divided into three doses taken half an hour after meals. Add Allium macrostemon and whole trichosanthes for chest pain; add processed aconite root and cinnamon twig, and cornus fruit for cold aversion and cold extremities; add scorched white atractylodes, poria, and fermented wheat for poor appetite; add angelica and ligusticum for dizziness; add night-blooming cereus and stir-fried sour jujube seed for insomnia. Both groups used one week as one course, with all other antiarrhythmic drugs discontinued during treatment.
Evaluation criteria: Marked improvement: clinical symptoms disappeared or significantly improved, Holter ECG showed near disappearance of ventricular premature beats or reduction by over 50%, frequency <5 per minute or <30 per hour; Improvement: clinical symptoms improved and/or ventricular premature beat frequency decreased; No improvement: no change in clinical symptoms or ECG; Worsening: clinical symptoms worsened and/or ventricular premature beats increased compared to baseline.
Results: Treatment group (27 cases): 9 marked improvements, 15 improvements, 3 no improvement, 0 worsening, total effective rate 88.9%. Control group (24 cases): 4 marked improvements, 11 improvements, 6 no improvement, 3 worsening, total effective rate 62.5%. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Chen Shengpeng and Chen Bingxue noted: Frequent ventricular premature beats belong to the categories of “Jingji” and “Zhengzhong” in TCM, often caused by deficiency of qi, blood, yin, and yang leading to inadequate nourishment of the heart spirit, or emotional disturbances causing disturbance of the heart spirit. Though primarily located in the heart, it relates to dysfunctions of the spleen, kidney, liver, and lung. Clinical observation shows that frequent ventricular premature beats are mostly due to deficiency patterns, often manifesting as organ weakness, linked to recurrent illness, poor constitution, and insufficient vital energy. Integrated Chinese-Western medicine therapy for frequent ventricular premature beats yields satisfactory clinical results.
Advantages of Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine in Treating Angina Pectoris of Coronary Heart Disease
Angina pectoris in coronary heart disease results from inadequate coronary artery blood supply, causing sudden, temporary ischemia and hypoxia in the myocardium. The Hubei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Issue 3, 2004, reported clinical experiences from Li Yanfang and Wang Bixiu of the Branch Hospital of Zhijiang City, Hubei Province, on integrated Chinese-Western medicine treatment for angina pectoris. Diagnostic criteria: clinical symptoms, signs, and ECG findings met the standards for diagnosis and classification of angina pectoris in the 11th edition of Practical Internal Medicine. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (63 cases), including 51 males and 12 females; age 40–70 years, average 61 years; 31 stable angina, 32 unstable angina. Control group (60 cases), including 47 males and 13 females; age 41–72 years, average 62 years; 30 stable angina, 30 unstable angina. There was no significant difference between groups in gender, age, or condition (P > 0.05), making them comparable. Treatment: Control group received sublingual nitroglycerin 0.3–0.6 mg during acute episodes. In remission, received isosorbide dinitrate 5–10 mg, three times daily. Also received oxygen therapy, anticoagulants, and beta-blockers. Continuous 24-hour ECG monitoring during acute episodes. Treatment group: in addition to control group treatment, used modified Wen Dan Tang: Pinellia ternata, poria, citrus aurantium, and tangerine peel, each 15 g; ginseng 30 g; bamboo juice and salvia, each 15 g; licorice 6 g. Adjustments: add astragalus for obvious qi deficiency; add Shixiao San or Tianqi powder for severe chest pain; combine Sijunzi Tang for spleen qi deficiency; combine Shengmai San for yin deficiency; add cassia seed and pearl mother for hypertension; add hawthorn, polygonum, and malt for high lipids; add epimedium and taxillus for kidney deficiency. Take one dose daily, decocted and taken orally. Both groups used two weeks as one course, with efficacy evaluated after two courses. Evaluation criteria: Marked improvement: angina and accompanying symptoms largely disappeared, minimal need for nitroglycerin, ST segment elevation on ECG improved by >0.05 mV; Improvement: angina episodes and nitroglycerin use reduced by over half, symptoms and ECG improved; No improvement: failed to meet improvement criteria.
Results: Treatment group (63 cases): 31 marked improvements, 29 improvements, 3 no improvement, total effective rate 95.2%. Control group (60 cases): 31 marked improvements, 31 improvements, 10 no improvement, total effective rate 83.3%.
Li Yanfang and Wang Bixiu noted: Angina pectoris in coronary heart disease belongs to the TCM categories of “Xiongbì” and “Xintong,” characterized by deficiency of the root and excess of the manifestation. Qi deficiency and yin deficiency form the root, while phlegm and blood stasis constitute the manifestation. Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, phlegm turbidity, and blood stasis form the four key aspects of the pathogenesis. In modified Wen Dan Tang, ginseng tonifies qi and strengthens the body, salvia activates blood and removes stasis, Wen Dan Tang resolves phlegm and regulates qi, promoting smooth flow. Replacing citri fructus with the gentler Citrus Aurantium avoids excessive depletion of qi and breaking of stagnation. Together, these herbs synergistically achieve the effect of tonifying qi, resolving phlegm, and removing stasis. The formula is mild in nature and free of side effects with long-term use. Flexible adaptation based on symptoms, combined with treatment for angina pectoris, yields satisfactory results.