06 Nov Tongxinluo Improves Heart Health, Study Shows
When it comes to heart attacks, one type called STEMI is particularly serious. It happens when a crucial heart artery suddenly gets blocked, and it can be life-threatening. But there’s an interesting twist – an old Chinese remedy called Tongxinluo might have a role to play in making things better for people who’ve had a STEMI heart attack. Researchers in China have been investigating this traditional medicine, and their findings are encouraging.
Understanding STEMI
STEMI is a scary type of heart attack where one of the heart’s essential blood vessels gets completely blocked. It’s a global health concern, and in the United States alone, it affects hundreds of thousands of people yearly. Some of these cases lead to severe consequences. Certain factors can affect how likely you are to experience STEMI.
STEMI Risk Factors:
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- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Family history of heart problems
Meet Tongxinluo
Tongxinluo isn’t a new find; Chinese people have been using this medicine for thousands of years. People have believed it can protect the heart, but scientists wanted to determine if this belief holds. So, they conducted the China Tongxinluo Study for Myocardial Protection in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (CTS-AMI). Researchers performed this study to see if Tongxinluo could be a helpful addition to the standard treatments for STEMI.
The CTS-AMI Study
This study involved nearly 4,000 people who had experienced a STEMI heart attack. Patients split into two groups: one received Tongxinluo capsules, and the other got a placebo. The real medicine and the placebo looked, tasted, and smelled the same. The study lasted a year and checked how well the treatment worked after 30 days and one year.
Good News
Here’s the exciting part – the group that took Tongxinluo had fewer major heart and blood vessel problems in the first 30 days, including fewer heart-related deaths. Additionally, this positive effect continued throughout the year without causing more bleeding problems.
Understanding Tongxinluo’s Secret
Tongxinluo means “to open the network of the heart” in Chinese. Authorities approved this medicine as a treatment for heart and stroke problems back in 1996. While we have yet to understand how it works fully, some key ingredients in Tongxinluo may help improve heart function.
Common Tongxinluo Ingredients:
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- Ginseng
- Leech
- Scorpion
- Red Peony Root
- Cicada Shell
- Cockroach
- Centipede
- White Sandalwood
- Dalbergia wood or Agarwood
- Frankincense
- Chinese Date Seed
- Borneol
Challenges and What’s Next
Studying traditional Chinese medicine like Tongxinluo can be tricky because it often contains many different compounds. This makes it hard to figure out exactly what’s doing the healing. Additionally, not everyone stuck to the treatment plan perfectly. Plus, the study mostly involved people from China, so we need more research to know if it will work for everyone.
Conclusion
Tongxinluo capsules, an ancient Chinese remedy, offer promise for people recovering from STEMI heart attacks. While more research is needed to understand it fully, the CTS-AMI study provides hope that traditional Chinese medicine could have a role to play in modern heart care.