05 The Private Prescription
To address hypertension, Dr. Guo Yaning recommends a herbal tea prescription:
- Yu-mi-xu (Common corn silk): 6 grams
- Jue-ming-zi (Cassia seed): 6 grams
- Bai-ju-hua (White chrysanthemum): 10 grams
Prepare and drink this tea for mild cases of hypertension. The following is a rundown of each herb.
01 Common Corn Silk
Corn silk helps redirect derailed vital yuanqi back to its normal path and acts as a diuretic. Unlike some antihypertensive drugs, which also function as diuretics, corn silk does not harm the kidneys.
02 Cassia Seed
Cassia seed is another essential ingredient known for its significant blood pressure-lowering effects in traditional herbal medicine. Patients with mild hypertension can manage their blood pressure by making tea with cassia seed.
03 White Chrysanthemum
Adding a bit of white chrysanthemum (not yellow) is crucial. White chrysanthemum dilates the coronary artery, expanding blood vessels. While antihypertensive drugs also aim to reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, white chrysanthemum is much gentler on the body with minimal side effects.
06 More on Private Prescription
To regulate high blood pressure:
Use Wu-xing-jian-pi-san to strengthen the body’s health foundation and nourish the essence.
Follow with herbal tea made from corn silk, cassia seed, and white chrysanthemum.
Prepare the herbal tea by soaking the herbs in water, then boiling it as you would with regular tea. Drink this tea daily.
This ancient prescription, first documented by medical scientist Gong Tingxian in the Ming Dynasty’s “Wan-bing-hui-chun,” is suitable for patients with blood pressure below 160 who have had hypertension for less than ten years. If the condition persists for over ten years and the prescription shows no effect after a month, consult a herbal practitioner to adjust the dosage.
According to Dr. Guo Yaning, Wu-xing-jian-pi-san strengthens the body, while herbal tea addresses high blood pressure symptoms. Most patients see significant health improvements within one treatment cycle (3-4 months). Some may even stop taking chemical antihypertensive drugs unless they experience strong emotional outbursts or severe colds, which can temporarily raise blood pressure. Generally, two treatment cycles (about eight months) are recommended for stable blood pressure.
Traditional herbal medicine can also treat conditions like asthma, rheumatism, angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, and other complex diseases. However, finding a knowledgeable herbal medicine practitioner is crucial, and they are mostly found in China.
07 Whispers On the Side
Dr. Guo Yaning explains why traditional herbal medicine can kill viruses that Western antibiotics cannot. The key lies in strengthening the body’s foundation and nourishing the essence. Traditional herbal medicine focuses on treating the root cause, which is to enhance vitality and build a strong body foundation.
The human body is a powerful medicine storehouse with incredible bactericidal abilities. With sufficient vital yuanqi, the body can eliminate all viruses. Healthy individuals, especially centenarians, have smooth vital yuanqi circulation and superior self-healing abilities. In traditional herbal medicine, vital yuanqi is akin to nutrition in Western medicine.
Herbal practitioners aim to treat the root of the person, not just the disease. A master herbalist tailors treatment to the individual’s body constitution, viewing health problems holistically rather than in isolated parts. The goal is to enhance the body’s disease resistance and self-healing abilities, maintaining health to avoid the need for treatment.
08 Brief Summary
Traditional herbal medicine does not recognize “hypertension” as a disease. It views high blood pressure as a sign of insufficient yuanqi and blood. Vital yuanqi must reach every part of the body to maintain health. Insufficient yuanqi and blood supply to the brain and heart can cause symptoms like dizziness, tinnitus, and accelerated heartbeat. Prolonged insufficiency can lead to serious conditions like coronary heart disease and cerebral atrophy.
When the body detects insufficient yuanqi and blood, it self-regulates by increasing blood pressure to ensure vital yuanqi reaches all areas. High blood pressure is thus a manifestation of the body’s self-regulation, not entirely a bad thing. It indicates the body’s coordination ability is still present but needs support.
Mild hypertension often shows no symptoms as the body can self-regulate. However, sudden drops in blood pressure can cause dizziness, palpitations, and limb numbness, indicating very weak vital yuanqi. Treatment cycles vary from one to two cycles depending on severity.
Dr. Guo’s combination of Wu-xing-jian-pi-san and herbal tea has been clinically effective for many years. This approach strengthens the body and controls high blood pressure symptoms.
09 What is Next
We have explored the origins, prolongation, and root causes of hypertension, along with Dr. Guo Yaning’s treatment methods. Next, we will delve into how traditional herbal medicine can address high sugar levels and other chronic issues.
For more on Huang Yuanyu’s herbal medical theories and contributions, stay tuned for the next episode.
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