Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, coronary artery disease (CAD) is among one of the most common heart conditions, affecting approximately 18.2 million adults. CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become damaged or diseased due to plaque. Plaque are cholesterol-containing deposits that build up and cause the arteries to become narrow, decreasing blood flow to the heart.
Cardiovascular Disease: Understanding the Cause
The cause of cardiovascular disease is thought to begin with an injury to the inner-layer endothelial cells of a coronary artery. This injury or damage could begin as early as childhood. Injury to the inner layer of the arteries can occur from smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, infections, or a sedentary lifestyle. Once the inner layer of an artery becomes damaged, plaque accumulates at the site of the injury in a process called atherosclerosis.5
Normal endothelium cells produce anticoagulation factors, such as heparin and nitric oxide, to prevent blood-clotting formation. However, the injured endothelium cells produce pro-coagulant proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines that can destabilize the plaque.5 If the plaque ruptures, platelets clump at the site of injury, which can block the artery, leading to a heart attack.
The TCM Perspective
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views atherosclerotic plaque as a type of blood stasis in combination with a qi and blood deficiency. Herbal formulas that contain ingredients such as Radix Salviae miltiorrhiza (danshen, danshen root) and Angelicae sinensis (danggui, Chinese Angelica) help remove blood stasis and nurture heart qi and blood. This helps to improve heart blood circulation, reduce blood vessel restriction, remove the atherosclerotic plaque, and repair artery damage.
Radix Salviae miltiorrhiza is characterized as a common herb for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in the textbooks of academic TCM.3 It has been shown to have many cardiovascular benefits including decreasing the development of atherosclerosis. Radix Salviae miltiorrhiza has the ability to inhibit oxidative stress, which disrupts adhesion molecules and prevents low-density lipoprotein from oxidation, which in turn reduce atherosclerotic areas in the abdominal and thoracic aorta.3 It also has been shown to decrease levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which decreases the susceptibility of plaque formation.3
Radix Angelicae sinensis also exerts many beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, as it enriches the blood, promotes blood circulation and modulates the immune system.4 It promotes anti-atherosclerotic, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.4
Case Study: Healing of Heart Arrhythmia, Blocked Heart Arteries and Prostate Hypertrophy
—Jacklin Arastouzadeh, BA, LAc, Dipl. Ac., NBAO; qualified medical evaluator and former UCLA research acupuncturist
A male patient, age 62, came for treatment after being diagnosed with two blocked heart arteries. The MD recommended using medication until surgery became necessary. The patient also suffered from an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and hypertrophy of his prostate.
A four-month program for the heart arrhythmia and the two blocked heart arteries (one session for one hour per week) was initiated, which included herbal formulas consisting of Radix Salviae miltiorrhiza, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Radix ophiopogonis, Fructus lycii, Rhizoma pinelliae preparata and 17 other Chinese herbs. The results have been astounding. After only four months, the heart arrhythmia was completely eliminated and the two blocked arteries completely reopened. Results have been confirmed based on a subsequent angiogram. In fact, a medical professor at UCLA testified that the patient's heart was now working better than his!
A six-month program for hypertrophy of the prostate (one session per week) also was prescribed, consisting of acupuncture and herbal formulas that contained Ganoderma lucidum, American ginseng, Cortex cinnamomi, Radix astragali, and 16 other Chinese herbs. The results have been amazing. The size of the prostate completely normalized (only from using acupuncture and herbs). No surgery was necessary. These results have been sustained.
References
- Dechend R, Maass M, Gieffers J, et al. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells activates NF-kB and induces tissue factor and PAI-1 expression. Circulation, 1999;100:1369-1373.
- Joshi R, Khandelwal B, Deepti Joshi D, et al. Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection and cardiovascular disease. N Am J Med Sci, 2013 Mar;5(3):169-181.
- Wang L, Ma R, Liu C, et al. Salvia miltiorrhiza: a potential red Light to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Curr Pharm Des, 2017;23(7):1077-1097.
- Wu YC, Hsieh CL. Pharmacological effects of Radix Angelica sinensis (danggui) on cerebral infarction. Chinese Med, 2011;6:32.
- Rafieian-Kopaei M, Setorki M, Doudi M, et al. Atherosclerosis: process, indicators, risk factors and new hopes. Int J Prev Med, 2014;5(8):927-946.
Dr. Sarah Li is the founder of Wei Laboratories, Inc. (www.weilab.com), which offers a full range of Chinese herbal products with compressive training and services. Representative products include FASTT Patch and WHITEE Patch that address many tough-to-treat musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Li attended the University of Science and Technology of China, majoring in biology and graduating with the highest honor as the valedictorian; and completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Dr. Li accomplished her research fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital, focusing on the pathogenesis of type II diabetes. She also worked as a research associate at Harvard Medical School.