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Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction as an Antihypertensive Drug
Published on: May 17, 2024
Evidence on the use of alternative substances and therapies in hypertension
E Martín-Riobóo1, M Turégano-Yedro2, J R Banegas3
1Especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, UGC Poniente, Distrito Sanitario Córdoba-Guadalquivir, Córdoba, IMIBIC, Hospital Reina Sofía Córdoba, Spain.
Objective:
Review of some of the best-known biological and non-biological complementary/alternative therapies/medicines (CAM) and their relationship with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension (HT).
Search Strategy:
Narrative review assessing a recent series of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials published in recent years, focusing on the effects of CAM on BP and HT.
Selection Of Studies:
We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar, obtaining a total of 4336 articles, finally limiting the search to 181 after applying filters.
Synthesis Of Results:
Some studies on biological therapies show some usefulness in BP reduction with an adequate benefit-risk balance, although there is a scarcity of high-quality trials that support these results. Some mind-body therapies have shown hypothetical benefit; in contrast, others lack robust evidence.
Conclusions:
Although some therapies present a reasonable risk-benefit ratio, they should in no case replace pharmacological treatment when indicated.
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