Chinese Herbs in Heart Disease Management
Study Shows Positive Herbal Influence on Nitric Oxide Production
The use of traditional Chinese herbal medicines in treating heart disease has been considered controversial in the West, as controlled studies of their effectiveness has been limited. Work at the University of Texas at Houston provides scientific evidence of at least one way in which some of those herbs work.
The Role of Nitric Oxide in Cardiovascular Health
In 1998, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery that nitric oxide acts as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide works by relaxing arterial contractions, allowing blood to flow through the now dilated arteries. This controls blood pressure and prevents thrombi (clots) from forming.
Chinese Blood Invigorating Herbs Convert Nitrite to Nitric Oxide
Several of the herbs commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating symptoms matching those of heart disease have been found to have nitrite and nitrate in them. In addition, many show high levels of nitrite reductase activity. Nitrite reductase enzymes convert nitrite to nitric oxide.
The study, done at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, explains how herbs such as dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhizae), which is found in many traditional Chinese herbal formulas, may aid improving heart health. Western scientists see this as a first step toward producing medications based on the traditional herbs. For TCM practitioners, it is confirmation that centuries of refinement of Chinese herbal knowledge have produced effective methods for enhancing health.
Is There Further Activity in TCM Formulas That Needs to Be Understood?
In western medicine, it is necessary to show exactly how a medication, herbal or otherwise, creates its effect. But attempting to reduce the interaction of various herbs and their components to a simple active ingredient may be counterproductive in the longer term.
Just as the human body is an extremely complex organism, it may be that the very complexity of various plants used in traditional Chinese medicine is, in part, responsible for their effectiveness over the centuries. It is also important to remember that, in TCM, each person is assessed individually and a personalized formula addressing all aspects of the person’s health is designed to be part of their health care plan.
Other herbs and foods such as red yeast rice and hawthorn fruit, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine have been shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol and controlling high blood pressure, reinforcing the TCM practice of using multiple herbs in formulas.
And, although the study authors used Chinese herbal preparations from local stores, quality of TCM formulas varies greatly. Those interested in integrating TCM into their health care program should work closely with a Chinese medicine practitioner who has access to top quality herbal preparations that have been tested for purity.
Source:
Tang Y, et al. Nitric oxide bioactivity of traditional Chinese medicines used for cardiovascular indications.Free Radical Biology and Medicine.2009:47:6:835-840
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