Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction for Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objectives. To assess the current clinical evidence of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction (BBTD) for essential hypertension (EH). Search Strategy. Electronic databases were searched until July 2012. Inclusion Criteria. We included randomized clinical trials testing BBTD against placebo, antihypertensive drugs, or combined with antihypertensive drugs against antihypertensive drugs. Data Extraction and Analyses. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were conducted according to Cochrane standards. Results. 16 randomized trials were included. Methodological quality of the included trials was evaluated as generally low. 2 trials compared prescriptions based on BBTD using alone with antihypertensive drugs. Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of modified BBTD compared with captopril in systolic blood pressure (MD: −0.75 (−5.77, 4.27); P=0.77) and diastolic blood pressure (MD: −0.75 (−2.89, 1.39); P=0.49). 14 trials compared the combination of BBTD or modified BBTD plus antihypertensive drugs with antihypertensive drugs. Meta-analysis showed there are significant beneficial effect on systolic blood pressure in the combination group compare to the antihypertensive drugs (MD: −4.33 (−8.44, −0.22); P=0.04). The safety of BBTD is uncertain. Conclusions. There is encouraging evidence of BBTD for lowering SBP, but evidence remains weak. Rigorously designed trials are warranted to confirm these results

Review Article Trends in the Treatment of Hypertension from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hypertension is a major public-health issue. Much consensus has been reached in the treatment, and considerable progress has been made in the field of antihypertensive drugs. However, the standard-reaching rate of blood pressure is far from satisfaction. Considering these data and the seriousness of the effects of hypertension on the individual and society as a whole, both economically and socially, physicians must look for more effective and alternative ways to achieve the target blood pressure. Could treatment of hypertension be improved by insights from traditional Chinese medicine? As one of the most important parts in complementary and alternative therapies, TCM is regularly advocated for lowering elevated blood pressure. Due to the different understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension between ancient and modern times, new understanding and treatment of hypertension need to be reexplored. Aiming to improve the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating hypertension, the basis of treatment is explored through systematically analyzing the literature available in both English and Chinese search engines. This paper systematically reviews the trends in emerging therapeutic strategies for hypertension from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

Is Yangxue Qingnao Granule Combined with Antihypertensive Drugs, a New Integrative Medicine Therapy, More Effective Than Antihypertensive Therapy Alone in Treating Essential Hypertension?

Background. Yangxue Qingnao granule (YQG) combined with antihypertensive drugs, a new integrative medicine therapy, has been widely used for essential hypertension (EH) in China. This study aims to assess the current clinical evidence of YQG combined with antihypertensive drugs for EH. Methods. Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) published between 1996 and 2012 on YQG combined with antihypertensive drugs versus antihypertensive drugs in treating EH were retrieved from six major electronic databases, including The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang Data. Meta-analysis was performed on the overall effects on blood pressure. Results. Twelve randomized trials were included. Methodological quality of the trials was evaluated as generally low. Meta-analysis showed that YQG combined with antihypertensive drugs demonstrated potential effect for lowing either SBP (MD: −7.31 [−11.75, −2.87]; P=0.001) or DBP (MD: −5.21 [−8.19, −2.24]; P=0.0006) compared to antihypertensive drugs alone. Conclusions. It indicated that YQG combined with antihypertensive drugs is more effective than antihypertensive drugs alone in treating EH. However, more RCTs of larger scale, multicentre/country, longer follow-up periods, and higher quality are required to verify the efficacy of integrative medicine therapy over all antihypertensive therapies

The Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine Gualouxiebaibanxia Decoction for the Treatment of Angina Pectoris: A Systematic Review

We systematically assess the current clinical evidence of Gualouxiebaibanxia (GLXBBX) decoction for the treatment of angina pectoris (AP). We included RCTs testing GLXBBX against conventional drugs and GLXBBX combined with conventional drugs versus conventional drugs. 19 RCTs involving 1730 patients were finally identified, and the methodological quality was evaluated as generally low. The results of the meta-analysis showed that GLXBBX alone had significant effect on improving angina symptoms (RR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.35; P<0.00001), ECG (RR: 1.28 [1.13,1.44]; P<0.0001), and HDL-C (MD: 0.56 [0.54,0.58]; P<0.00001) compared with anti-arrhythmic drugs. A significant improvement in angina symptoms (RR: 1.17 [1.12,1.22]; P<0.00001) and ECG (RR = 1.22; 95% CI = [1.14,1.30]; P<0.00001) was observed for GLXBBX plus conventional drugs when compared with conventional drugs. Eight trials reported adverse events without serious adverse effects. GLXBBX appears to have beneficial effects on improvement of ECG and reduction of angina symptoms in participants with AP. However, the evidence remains weak due to the poor methodological quality of the included studies. More rigorous trials are needed to confirm the results

Trends in the Treatment of Hypertension from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hypertension is a major public-health issue. Much consensus has been reached in the treatment, and considerable progress has been made in the field of antihypertensive drugs. However, the standard-reaching rate of blood pressure is far from satisfaction. Considering these data and the seriousness of the effects of hypertension on the individual and society as a whole, both economically and socially, physicians must look for more effective and alternative ways to achieve the target blood pressure. Could treatment of hypertension be improved by insights from traditional Chinese medicine? As one of the most important parts in complementary and alternative therapies, TCM is regularly advocated for lowering elevated blood pressure. Due to the different understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension between ancient and modern times, new understanding and treatment of hypertension need to be reexplored. Aiming to improve the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating hypertension, the basis of treatment is explored through systematically analyzing the literature available in both English and Chinese search engines. This paper systematically reviews the trends in emerging therapeutic strategies for hypertension from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

The Effects of Xuefu Zhuyu and Shengmai on the Evolution of Syndromes and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

We evaluated the effects of the Xuefu Zhuyu capsule (XFZY) and the Shengmai capsule (SM) on the evolution of syndromes and inflammatory markers in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Ninety patients with UAP after PCI were randomly and equally assigned to three groups: the XFZY group, the SM group, and the placebo group, with 30 patients in each group. Six syndrome factors (including Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm, and Qi stagnation) and 4 inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), endothelins-1 (ET-1), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), and homocysteine (Hcy)) were observed at week 0 and at the 1st, 4th and 12th weeks. In conclusion, the evolution of syndromes present in patients with UAP after PCI followed these trends (1) The deficiency syndromes gradually increased during a 12-week period, but the excess syndromes first gradually decreased and then mildly increased after PCI. (2) XFZY and SM can prevent excess syndromes from increasing in the later stages and prevent deficiency syndromes from increasing in all stages. (3) XFZY and SMcan reduce the levels of the inflammatory markers, especially in the later stages after PCI

The Effects of Xuefu Zhuyu and Shengmai on the Evolution of Syndromes and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

We evaluated the effects of the Xuefu Zhuyu capsule (XFZY) and the Shengmai capsule (SM) on the evolution of syndromes and inflammatory markers in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Ninety patients with UAP after PCI were randomly and equally assigned to three groups: the XFZY group, the SM group, and the placebo group, with 30 patients in each group. Six syndrome factors (including Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm, and Qi stagnation) and 4 inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), endothelins-1 (ET-1), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), and homocysteine (Hcy)) were observed at week 0 and at the 1st, 4th and 12th weeks. In conclusion, the evolution of syndromes present in patients with UAP after PCI followed these trends (1) The deficiency syndromes gradually increased during a 12-week period, but the excess syndromes first gradually decreased and then mildly increased after PCI. (2) XFZY and SM can prevent excess syndromes from increasing in the later stages and prevent deficiency syndromes from increasing in all stages. (3) XFZY and SMcan reduce the levels of the inflammatory markers, especially in the later stages after PCI