What is primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH)?

Pulmonary hypertension is a lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels. Primary pulmonary hypertension has been associated with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. In the US, there are an estimated 300 new cases diagnosed each year. It is most common in women between the ages of 21 and 40.

 

Symptoms of Hypertension

Hypertension is often called the "silent killer". People can suffer from hypertension for years without knowing it. If the hypertension disease goes uncontrolled  it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. For those who are above forty regular check with your healthcare professional is the only way to tell if you have hypertension. According to recent estimates, 25% of U.S. adults suffers from hypertension but since many do not border to check because there are no symptoms the percentage could be much higher.

Treatment of Hypertension

Hypertension can be treated. The conventional treatment for hypertension includes the use of hypertensive drugs, diet, and an exercise program. Unfortunately these prescription drugs have some sort of side effects such as fatigue, depression, impotence, insomnia and liver inflammation which eventually would lead to more problems. (According to a study at the Yale University School of Medicine, the use of medications containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) may increase the risk of a stroke. PPA is a common decongestant found mainly in cold-cough medications as well as slimming products. People with hypertension should avoid taking PPA.)

Fortunately recent scientific research has proven there are natural ways to help hypertension sufferers without the unnecessary side effects. Traditional herbalists have used herbs for centuries to help lower high blood pressure naturally. Not only that these same herbs can also assist in dispersing plaque and help to expand blood vessels to improve blood flow throughout the body. Panax Notoginseng is one of such herbs.

Traditional practise has used herbs like Polygonum Multiflorum, Panax Notoginseng, Schisandra Chinensis and Saposhnikovia Divaricata for treating heart and liver problems and disease of the circulatory system i.e. cardiovascular diseases.

Scientific research has showed and proven beyond a shadow of doubt the validity of these beliefs that herbs like Polygonum Multiflorum, Panax Notoginseng, Schisandra Chinensis and Saposhnikovia Divaricata are truly effective for improving liver and heart functions and they are truly longevity herbs. Scientists have proven that these herbs can increase red blood cell productions as well as improving the functions of these cells (erythrocytes).  They have been proven to have the following functions: anti-aging, improve immune system through its antioxidant effect, treat cholesterol problem, retard and treat arteriosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels) protect liver, regulate and nourish blood and improve its circulation, anti-tumor effect, treat breathlessness, treat cardiac insufficiency, treat edema and hypertension.

Herbs can be used to improve the microcirculation within the body to vitalize blood circulation to treat cardiovascular problems as well as liver problems. Below are pictures (from a herbal article written by Dr. Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon) of such wonderful scientific proof that traditional herbs used to treat such diseases are truly scientific in approach.

 

In addition to managing hypertension, herbs can be used to restore blood vessels damaged by high blood pressure. These group of herbs have traditionally been used to rejuvenate and restore blood vessels (apart from restoring other types of soft tissue injury as well as bones): Radix Achyranthes Bidentatae, Semen Prunus Persica, Radix Panax Notoginseng, Cortex Eucommia Ulmoides, Fructus Psoralea Corylifolia and Herba Lycopus Lucidus (see Nerbonecare ingredients).

Therefore these herbs have traditionally been used for treating the following cardiovascular disease problems holistically and they have been scientifically proven correct:

• For treating high blood pressure

• For treating high cholesterol 

• For rejuvenating blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) 

• For improving blood circulation 

• For cold hands and feet

• For protecting cardiac muscle from ischemic injury (strengthen heart)

• For increasing red blood cells 

• For cancer inhibitive functions (anti-tumor effect)

• For breathlessness

• For anti-fatigue

• For angina

• For cardiac insufficiency

• For improving immunity

Polygonum Multiflorum:

1) Clinical research by western scientists have  proved the anti-arteriosclerosis, hypoglycemic properties, anti-tumor activities and anti-hypertension functions of Polygonum Multiflorum (He Shou Wu). These research were published in scientific papers below.

• Chen F.C. 1987. “Recent Status on Chemical and Pharmacological research on Natural Hypoglycemic Drugs” Chinese Traditional Herbal Drugs 8: 39 – 44.

• Deng W. C. and S.R. Gong 1987 “Progress in research on He Shou Wu” (Polygonum Multiflorum Thumb). Chinese Traditional Herbal Drugs 3:42 – 46 .

• Jiang J.W. 1984 “Achievements in new drugs development from Chinese Herbal Drugs during a 35 year period since the establishment of the Peoples’ Republic”. Chinese Traditional Herbal Drugs 10:1 – 10, 19.

• Li  C.L., 1982 “Research Status on anti-tumor drugs of Plant Origin”. Chinese Pharma Bulletin 2: 19 – 23.

• Song X.P.,  P.P Chen and X. S. Chai 1988. “Effects of puerarin on blood pressure and plasma renin activity in spontaneous hypertensive rating”. Acta  Pharmacol. Sin. 1:55 – 58 (English abstract)

• Wang W and H. D Jin 1984. “Effect of alcoholic extract of prepared Radix Polygonum Multiflorum on preventing arteriosclerosis in Japanese quail”

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Polygonum Multiflorum increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, reduce total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglycerides, retard atherosclerosis, protect the heart, strengthen the membranes of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and has powerful natural antioxidant and free radical scavenger and these have powerful anti-aging benefits in humans.  Foster

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that the extract of the root of Polygonum multiflorum exhibited a significant antioxidant activity. Research have shown a stilbene glucoside, (E)-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1) as the active constituent responsible for the antioxidant property.  33196

Panax Notoginseng is referred to as “the most valuable Chinese herbal medicine” and is nicknamed “priceless” (Compendium of Material Media). Research by Kunming Plant Research Institute of China Academy of Science, Kunming Medical College and scientists from Japan and America prove that Panax Notoginseng has 20 types of saponin active mass, 17 types of amino acids, 11 types of trace elements, lumpy proteins, abundant vitamins, polysaccharide and 3 kinds of anticancerin mass: active selenium, notoginseng-polysaccharide A, B-element. Studies at Wuhan Medical College showed that it enhanced oxygen supply function of the heart muscle, protect cardiac muscle cell from ischemic injury. California Applied Biology Scientific Research Institute of America proves that Panax Notoginseng possesses distinct effects on controlling body weight and reducing fat. This has also been proven by Japanese scholars. The Rg (Ginsenoside Rg) Saponin of Panax Notoginseng improves the composition of DNA of the brains and proteins, has anti-fatigue function and enhances the activities of the brain, thus helping memory.

1) Clinical research  by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng is effective for treating hypertension. Research shows that Panax Notoginseng would be useful as antianginal agent since it dilate coronary vessels. In another research scientists proved that it can reduce cardiac load, lower arterial pressure and improve micro-circulation in and around damaged heart tissue. 18584

2) Clinical research  by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng reduces thrombogenicity (blood clot) and arrhythmias (improves blood and heart function), increases erythrocyte deformability (causes the ability erythrocytes cells to change shape as they pass through narrow spaces, such as the microvasculature i.e. improves blood flow), is an antioxidant, which can counteract free radical damage associated with atherogenesis and myocardial damage seen with ischemia (reduce blood supply) and reperfusion (damage to tissue caused when blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia). 66054

3) Several studies have shown that notoginsenoides lower elevated blood lipids (cholesterol). Studies have shown that notoginsenoides improve diastolic function in hypertensive subjects, induce the fibrinolytic system in in vitro models and act as antiproliferative agents on vessel leiomyocytes. 01683

4) Clinical research by western scientists has shown that Panax Notoginseng may prevent atherosclerosis and inhibit progression of the atherosclerotic lesions by interfering with the proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cell. 49623

5) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that ginsenosides Rg1 from Panax Notoginseng has estrogen-like activity and should be classified as a novel class of potent phytoestrogen. Ginsenosides have demonstrated pharmacological effects in the central nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. 61497

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng reduce cell damage after heart attack and protect nerve and brain cells from the damage of stroke. 01752

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory effect. 78152

Schisandra Chinensis:

1) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed the validity of the historical use of Schisandra Chinensis, in particular the lignans gomisin A and gomisin N, are hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, and antioxidative agents. 75889

2) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis protects the heart against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (damage to the heart tissue caused by reduced blood supply) injury. 48914

3) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis have protective effect against oxygen radical induced mitochondrial toxicity on rat heart and liver and is a potent antioxidant activities. It was found that Schisanhenol from Schisandra Chinensis strengthen the heart. 86468

4) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis possessed scavenging properties and reduces lipid peroxidation. 60352

5) Clinical research by western scientists from China confirmed the validity of the historical use of Schisandra Chinensis, in particular as a hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, and antioxidative agent and the lignans from this herb is more potent then Vitamin E. The actions of lignans from 7 herbs were compared and research found the lignans, schisanhenol from Schisandra Chinensis was the most active. Clinical research proved the lignans, schisanhenol from Schisandra Chinensis   prevented the decrease of membrane fluidity of liver microsomes and inhibits superoxide anion production (superoxide anion reduce oxygen supporting cellular respiration). 32091

6) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis protects the heart mitochondrial toxicity. 57000

7) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis possessed scavenging properties. 72101

8) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed that Schisandra Chinensis possessed scavenging properties and it is more potent than that of vitamin E. 66655

Cimifugin, one of the principle components of Saposhnikovia divaricata has analgesic and anti-hypertension function.