Introduction
CVD is the leading cause of death in both rural and urban areas of China, accounting for 44.8% and 41.9% of deaths, respectively. CVD is still the most common cause of death in Europe, accounting for 45% of all deaths. Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death, accounting for 20% of all such deaths. The number of people affected by CHD is constantly rising, and the problem is still severe, making it a major public health concern. A borderline coronary lesion is a 30% to 70% blockage of the coronary artery. Despite the fact that severe coronary stenosis has been typically associated with myocardial ischemia, research has shown that coronary occlusion and myocardial infarction most often develop from mild to moderate stenosis. Other studies have recently shown that about 87% of lesions that needed subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were originally only 60% severe, and that 6% of patients with intermediate lesions needed PCI within one year because of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). There is evidence that BCL may become unstable and lead to ACS. according to studies, people with BCL have a greater mixture of plaque types, with 46% being mixed plaque and 33% being non-calcified plaque (also called vulnerable plaque). Despite the use of evidence-based secondary preventive measures, the number of deaths resulting from BCL continues to rise. A lower rate of MACEs has been associated with plaque regression. We need a management method that involves multiple disciplines in order to stop or reverse the plaque buildup that leads to MACEs in patients with BCL.
The three primary methods of treating BCL at the moment are making changes to one’s lifestyle, medical treatment, and coronary revascularization. Treatments for coronary artery disease, such as revascularisation through PCI and CABG, are recommended for patients with a significant blockage in the artery to improve survival and symptoms. Some might suggest that in the era of drug-eluting stents, stenting all BCL is a suitable therapy. Even though there have been improvements to revascularisation procedures, there are still some issues, such as in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis.10 Also, studies have shown that revascularisation is not effective in improving long-term survival for patients with BCL, so it may not be worth doing for those patients. Routine medications that are most important for treating BCL are antiplatelet drugs and lipid-lowering drugs. The most commonly used antiplatelet medications to reduce MACEs in patients with BCL are aspirin and clopidogrel. Between 5 and 45 percent of people with CHD are resistant to aspirin, 4 to 30 percent are resistant to clopidogrel, and 10 percent are resistant to both. The previous study demonstrates that using high-dose statins can reduce coronary plaque volume and improve long-term progression. However, long-term statin therapy may cause some unpleasant symptoms, such as muscle pain or weakness, that are caused by an increase in creatine kinase levels in the blood. It can also cause a type of stroke that bleeds. Additionally, many patients don’t receive traditional treatments because of the side effects, contraindications, and unsatisfied relief of symptoms. Since BCL is so difficult to treat, it is important to find other ways to treat it.
CHM is a popular type of supplementary and complementary medicine in China that plays a significant role in treating BCL. A syndrome in TCM is a group of related symptoms that occur at a certain stage of the disease. This framework has been used in China for over 3000 years. Patients with BCL can be divided into varied syndromes. The three important symptoms in the diagnosis of BCL from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and past clinical experience are phlegm, blood stasis, and heat syndrome. The principle of “removing heat, resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation, and removing blood stasis” is applied in the treatment of BCL. TCM practitioners believe that it is better to prevent a disease from happening in the first place, rather than trying to treat it once it has developed. Some benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in slowing the progression of plaque buildup in Behçet’s disease include:
Xuanbi antong granule is used to prevent BCL in China. It is based on the TCM theory of ‘clearing up heat, resolving phlegm, and promoting blood circulation’. According to clinical trials, XAG is an effective way of not only improving clinical symptoms, but also quality of life in patients post-PCI by protecting endothelial cells and regulating platelet function. Experimental studies have found that XAG can significantly improve the heart function of ventricular remodeling rats after myocardial infarction, by reducing the levels of the inflammatory factor TNF-a. XAG includes eight herbal medicines: salviae miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen), puerariae lobatae radix (Ge Gen), peaoniae radix rubra (Chi Shao), cistanches herba (Rou Cong Rong), pinellia rhizoma (Ban Xia), ginseng radix et rhizoma (Ren Shen), coptis chinensis (Huang Lian), and panax notoginseng (San Qi). The three main pharmacologically active components are salvia miltiorrhiza, panax notoginseng, and coptis chinensis. The various pharmacological effects of yoga include reducing oxidative stress, helping to prevent atherosclerosis, reducing lipids in the blood, helping to prevent blood clots, protecting vascular endothelial cells, and reducing inflammation. There is no evidence that XAG can help treat BCL. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of XAG in the treatment of BCL. The study was designed as a central-randomized, double-blinded, multicentre trial.
Discussion
The majority of the plaques in BCL are thin-cap fibroatheromas, which are prone to progressing into ACS. Myocardial infarction is caused by the rupture of vulnerable plaques and thrombosis. Coronary atherosclerotic plaque assessment can help doctors better identify which patients are at risk for ischemia than using stenosis assessment alone. A coronary artery angiography is considered to be the most accurate method for diagnosing coronary artery stenosis. However, it cannot observe the characteristics of plaque. Although non-invasive testing with the DSCTA is widely used in clinical practice to measure the degree of coronary artery stenosis, it can also accurately measure plaque compositions. The primary outcome indicators (target plaque volume, degree of stenosis, CT value, and calcification score) can reflect not only the size of the plaque, but also the stability of the plaque. CT value demonstrates the density of the plaque. This CT scan shows lesions that are vulnerable to damage, with low-density plaques and NCP that appear as areas of less than 30 HU on the CT scale. This study will investigate the effect of XAG on reversing or stopping plaque progression by reducing plaque volume and making plaque more stable by turning NCP and MP into calcified plaque.
A better approach to treating patients with BCL is to combine TCM with routine medicine. TCM is a form of medicine that is attracting our attention because it can be used in addition to, or alongside, traditional medicine. obesity and abnormal lipid metabolism rates have increased significantly due to lifestyle and dietary changes. The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased in patients with the ‘intermingled phlegm and blood stasis’ syndrome, according to TCM studies. As people face more pressure, they are become increasingly anxious, a condition which Traditional Chinese Medicine attributes to an excess of ‘heat.’ The core pathogenesis of BCL is an imbalance of phlegm, blood stasis, and heat. XAG can help to reduce inflammation, clear congestion, and improve circulation. The main active ingredients in salvia miltiorrhiza are thought to have antioxidant, lipid-lowering, anti-clotting and coronary artery-dilating properties, based on pharmacological studies. Panax notoginseng is known to help protect vascular endothelial cells from damage caused by a lack of oxygen and also has been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis, lower lipid levels, prevent platelet aggregation, and act as an anti-clotting agent. Coptis chinensis, an anti-inflammatory agent, can help to stabilize plaque, according to previous studies. Although silver has shown promise in treating BCL, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness. Large-sample, multicentre, randomized controlled clinical trials are required. The study’s objective is to determine the effectiveness and safety of XAG in treating BCL. The study is designed as a multicentre, central-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
There are also some limitations in this study. Diffuse irregular calcification of plaque always produces image artifacts in DSCTA, which might lead to inaccurate measurements of the degree of stenosis in CP. The use of Intravascular Ultrasound to evaluate the characteristics of plaques in coronary lesions is more accurate than not using it. We will be conducting our experiments in three regions of China. It’s unclear if other ethnic groups and regions can get similar results.
More Chinese Herbs for Heart Health
Reishi
The mushroom known as Reishi has been traditionally referred to as “the mushroom of immortality.” It is one of the most renowned Shen tonics. The herb known as Ling Zhi in Chinese medicine has long been classified as a superior herb. Reishi is mentioned in the first Chinese herbal text, Shen Nong’s Pharmacopeia, as a tonic that promotes health and enhances life.
According to recent scientific studies, Reishi mushrooms have anti-aging properties, which is something that has been known by people for thousands of years. Reishi contains polysaccharides that can help improve the body’s antioxidant and immune system.
This mushroom has the ability to help the body adapt to stress and improve conditions that are caused by stress, such as inflammation, damaged blood vessels, hormonal imbalances, and decreased energy levels. There are no significant side effects associated with taking Reishi, making it a safe choice for heart health.
Albizia
Since Albizia has been revered as a Shen tonic and Chinese herb for heart health for thousands of years, it is no wonder that it is still in use today. The taste of a plant is considered to be an important aspect of its medicinal qualities in herbal medicine. Albizia has a sweet taste, which indicates nourishment. This Chinese herb is known for calming and uplifting the spirit, and is used in TCM and Ayurveda for heart health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that the albizia herb invigorates the blood and is connected to the heart’s energy. The benefits of green tea have been studied extensively and it has been shown to improve blood circulation and possess anti-oxidant properties. It can help to improve unbalanced emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, and irritability, that are caused by Shen imbalance.
Longan Berry
Longan Berries (Dimocarpus longan Lour) have a delightfully sweet taste. Shen-Nong Herbal Classic This herb is known for its ability to build blood and nourish Shen, which results in a sense of deep relaxation. The fruit is an oval-shaped berry that is green when it ripens The Chinese name for “Dragon eyes” is long yan rou. The fruit is an oval-shaped berry that is green when it ripens. It actually looks like an eye. The flesh of the fruit is see-through, and there is a black, shiny seed in the middle of it (like a pupil).
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longan Berry is used to support the heart meridian. It has a long history of being used as a heart and blood tonic. The longan berry may be helpful to the elderly, as it can help protect blood vessels and prevent the hardening of arteries.
The Longan Berry is rich in iron, which helps improve the quality of your blood. Iron is needed to help oxygen move from the lungs to the rest of the body. According to Shen Nong’s Pharmacopeia, longan berries can help with weight loss and keeping a youthful appearance. Studies have found that the compounds in science help to reduce aging. Some people believe that longan berry can improve mental functioning and memory.
The Longan Berry has been used for its calming effects for a long time. This technique can be helpful in reducing anxiety and improving sleep. It can also create a feeling of calmness.
Gynostemma
This herb, called Jiagulon in Chinese, is known as “The Herb of Immortality.” It contains high levels of saponins called “gypenosides,” which give it strong adaptogenic properties. Ginseng, another well-known adaptogen, contains saponins known as “ginsenosides.” Some of the saponins in Gynostemma can actually convert to ginsenosides when ingested! Gynostemma is more plentiful and less difficult to cultivate than ginseng, making it less expensive and occasionally more sustainable than ginseng depending on where it is sourced. This herb was used by the common people of China, while Ginseng was used by the rich. While they are different plants, they have some similar healing properties as both being powerful adaptogens.
Gynostemma has been shown to enhance circulation. It can help balance cholesterol levels and stabilize blood pressure. It has been shown in studies that it can cause the body to release nitric oxide, which has the effect of relaxing blood vessels and making people feel more relaxed in general. The plant is called the “Plant of Immortality” for a reason. It is believed that consuming goji berries can help with anti-aging due to their ability to increase antioxidant activity within the body.
This herb can help to both balance and restore the body, as it comes from the Shen category.
Beets
Although it is classified as a food, beet juice powder can be a great supplement. Support your heartbeat by taking beet powder. Dietary nitrates found in beets are converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide increases circulation by relaxing the blood vessels. This relaxation technique not only physically relaxes the entire body, but also creates a state of emotional calmness.
Athletes commonly use beet juice powder as a supplement to increase stamina and combat fatigue. The powder is high in nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator that increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to the muscles. Nitric oxide is important for cognitive function and for being able to have and keep an erection. Increased blood flow helps to increase oxygen levels and recycle waste throughout the body for optimal functioning.
The store-bought beets are usually red and have you thinking about the heart and blood. This color suggests that the plant contains nutrients that can act as antioxidants. Like the other herbs in the Shen class, beets also help to keep you looking young. Their high iron content contributes to their blood-building properties. The powder from beets has a sweet taste and can be mixed with water to make a tasty drink.