This study is examining the effectiveness of a herbal Chinese traditional medicine for high blood pressure. The main outcome to be measured will be the change in blood pressure after 8 weeks.
The details
Hypertension can damage blood vessels, which can cause other health problems. These include stroke, heart attacks, kidney damage, and others. It is therefore important to reduce blood pressure.
Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient practice that includes the use of plants to treat illnesses (herbal medicine). Gastrodia and Uncaria are types of plants that are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat overactive liver leading to hypertension. However, it has not been proven in a modern clinical setting how effective this herbal medicine is.
This study aims to evaluate how effective Gastrodia and Uncaria are at lowering blood pressure. The main outcome measured will be a change in blood pressure over 8 weeks.
Who are they looking for?
This study is recruiting 500 participants with hypertension. Patients must either be taking anti-hypertension medication for at least 2 weeks or not taking any medication for hypertension. Patients’ office blood pressure readings should be between 140 and 159 mmHg for systolic and less than 100 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. Patients’ average systolic blood pressure readings over a 24 hour period must be higher or equal to 130 mmHg.
Patients with hypertension caused by another condition such as kidney or endocrine disease cannot participate. Patients taking drugs for other diseases that may affect blood pressure cannot participate. Patients who have suffered from heart attacks, strokes or heart disease in the last 6 months and those with a history of an irregular heartbeat cannot participate. Patients with abnormal liver and kidney function tests cannot participate. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding cannot participate. Patients with certain diseases including thyroid disease, certain infections, chronic mental illness, or cancer cannot participate.
How will it work
Participants will be divided into 2 groups. The first group will receive a 10 g tablet containing Gastrodia and Uncaria and the second group will receive a placebo tablet.
Patients’ average blood pressure readings over 24 hours will be measured after 8 weeks of treatment. This will include average systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Patients’ office and home blood pressure readings will be measured for at 4 and 8 weeks.
