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Published on: January 15, 2022
[Present status and research train of thoughts in integrative medicine on unstable plaque]
Jing-chun Zhang1, Ke-ji Chen, Wen-gao Ahang
1Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chines Medicine, Beijing 100091. zhangjingchun276@sohu.com
Insights
Stabilizing unstable atherosclerosis (AS) plaque is crucial for preventing cardiovascular events. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a promising approach by addressing inflammation and plaque instability.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Integrative Medicine
Context:
- Atherosclerosis (AS) plaque instability is a key factor in cardio-cerebrovascular events.
- Inflammation significantly contributes to AS plaque formation and rupture.
- Current research focuses on stabilizing AS plaque to prevent adverse outcomes.
Purpose:
- To review recent studies on stabilizing unstable AS plaque using integrated Chinese and Western medicine.
- To introduce the theory of "unstable plaque induced by toxin and stagnation" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
- To explore TCM interventions for unstable plaque by removing toxins and activating blood flow.
Summary:
- Atherosclerosis plaque progression and instability are linked to cardiovascular events.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) demonstrates potential in stabilizing AS plaque due to its multi-target and milder adverse effect profile.
- This review examines integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches, proposing a TCM-based theory and intervention strategy for unstable plaque.
Impact:
- Provides a theoretical framework and potential therapeutic strategies for stabilizing AS plaque using TCM.
- Offers an objective experimental and clinical basis for TCM's role in preventing cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.
- Highlights the advantages of TCM in managing complex diseases like atherosclerosis with fewer side effects.
Abstract:
The changing of atherosclerosis (AS) plaque from stable to unstable is closely related to the incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular events. So, to stabilize AS plaque become the hot point of the modern study on prevention and treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The formation of AS plaque is a very long and complicated process with the participation of many factors. However, inflammation reaction plays an important role in the formation and rupture of unstable plaque. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows latent therapeutic advantages in stabilizing AS plaque with its characteristics of multi-way, multi-link, and multi-target point and all-sided treatment as well as its rather milder adverse reactions. The paper gives a comparatively systematic retrospection of study on unstable plaque treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine conducted in recent years. Combined with the related topics conducted by the authors, they raise the theory of "unstable plaque is induced by toxinduced by toxin and stagnation", and introduce the study on the intervention of unstable plaque by removing toxic substances and activating blood flow. They believe that the explorative study can provide objective experimental and clinical basis for TCM therapeutic method in stabilizing AS plaque.
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