Treatment of Hypertension Complicated with Anxiety and Depression Based on the Thought of “Unblocking Collaterals and Regulating Spirit”

Hypertension is one of the common chronic diseases worldwide. The comorbidity with anxiety and depression, as a key risk factor, contributes to a high incidence of adverse outcomes. This comorbid condition falls into the category of “psychosomatic heart disease”. This paper summarizes the clinical experience of Professor Zhao in the treatment of hypertension complicated with anxiety and depression, with the “Unblocking Collaterals and Regulating Spirit” as the guiding ideology and core therapeutic principle. Professor Zhao proposes that the fundamental pathogenesis lies in the dysfunction of liver collaterals and the injury of spirit due to collateral damage. Three specific pathogeneses are summarized as follows: stagnation of qi blocking collaterals, transforming into fire and disturbing spirit; stagnation of qi leading to fluid retention, accumulating into phlegm and clouding spirit; deficiency and stagnation of collaterals, producing blood stasis and causing spirit exhaustion. Corresponding therapeutic methods are adopted, including purging fire, dispersing collaterals and tranquilizing spirit; resolving phlegm, unblocking collaterals and refreshing spirit; and removing blood stasis, smoothing collaterals and nourishing spirit. Meanwhile, the corresponding clinical proven prescriptions are summarized.