According to traditional Chinese medicine, the cause of hypertension is mostly related to the disharmony of qi and blood circulation. Only by recognizing the cause can we effectively and quickly identify the root cause of the disease, and better prevent and treat hypertension. So from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, what are the main causes of hypertension in people?
1. Emotional Imbalance
Long-term mental tension or anger can lead to stagnation of liver qi, which can transform into fire and consume liver yin. When yin cannot restrain yang, liver yang becomes excessive and disturbs the head. The liver and kidneys are closely related, and liver fire can also damage the yin of the liver and kidneys, resulting in liver and kidney yin deficiency and liver yang excess. Long-term emotional stress is a major enemy of health. "Worry injures the spleen," "anger injures the liver," "overthinking injures the lungs," "fear injures the kidneys." These are conclusions drawn from long-term practice in Chinese medicine. Depressive discomfort caused by mental stimulation can lead to "stagnation of liver qi," which can result in neurosis, endocrine disorders, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and can also reduce the body's immune function and shorten lifespan.
2. Dietary Imbalance
Overconsumption of fatty and sweet foods or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the internal production of dampness. Prolonged accumulation of dampness can generate heat, and heat can scorch body fluids and transform them into phlegm. The blockage of phlegm can disturb the meridians and affect the clarity of the mind, leading to hypertension.
3. Internal Deficiency
Overwork or kidney deficiency due to old age can lead to insufficiency of kidney yin, loss of liver nourishment, and excessive liver yang. Under the combined effects of the above factors, the balance of yin and yang in the body is disrupted, especially the imbalance of liver and kidney yin and yang. Due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, liver yang excess, a pathological phenomenon of deficiency below and excess above is formed, resulting in symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and insomnia. Kidney yin deficiency cannot nourish the heart, and the heart is also affected, resulting in symptoms such as palpitations, forgetfulness, and insomnia. If the condition persists, the deficiency will affect the yang, often leading to deficiency of kidney yang, accompanied by symptoms such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, yang-phlegm, and increased nocturnal urination.
4. Sedentary Lifestyle
People who prefer a sedentary lifestyle or are naturally inclined to be sedentary, and those who have limited physical activity due to their occupation, such as sitting at a desk all day and rarely walking, will have poor circulation of qi in the body, and stagnation of qi will hinder the distribution of body fluids. People who prefer a sedentary lifestyle or are naturally inclined to be sedentary, and those who have limited physical activity due to their occupation, such as sitting at a desk all day and rarely walking, will have insufficient utilization of fats and oils, leading to excessive accumulation in the body, infiltrating the blood, and causing elevated blood lipids.
5. Aging
Aging leads to the decline of all organs in the body, with the kidneys being the main organ. The kidneys govern the five fluids. When the kidneys are deficient, the regulation of body fluids is affected. The spleen governs transportation and transformation, and when the spleen is weak, the digestion and absorption of food is impaired. The liver governs dispersing and draining, and when the liver is weak, the distribution of body fluids is hindered. All three factors can lead to abnormal metabolism of fats and oils, resulting in elevated blood lipids.
No matter what causes hypertension, the main methods of treatment ultimately come down to three points: diet, exercise, and emotions. As long as we control these three points well, we don't have to worry about the harm that hypertension can cause to our bodies.
