Recent research, lauded as one of the most comprehensive studies on a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, indicates that tongxinluo might substantially aid heart attack recovery, prompting renewed interest in ancient remedies.
A Deep Dive into the Study
Every year, nearly 750,000 Americans suffer from a severe type of heart attack, known as a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Timely medical response is crucial, and survivors often grapple with a challenging recovery; about half are readmitted to the hospital within a year.Participants received either tongxinluo or a placebo daily, in addition to standard cardiac treatments. A month into the study, tongxinluo recipients displayed a marked decrease in major cardiac complications. Specifically, 3.4 percent of the tongxinluo group faced heart-related issues, compared to 5.2 percent in the placebo group. Moreover, heart-related fatalities were marginally lower in the tongxinluo group.
The tongxinluo group still exhibited better health outcomes a year later, indicating sustained benefits. However, there was a minor increase in adverse reactions in the tongxinluo group, but most side effects were non-severe, such as nausea and headaches.
Tongxinluo: A Formulation of Traditional Ingredients
The ingredients used in tongxinluo have a long history, but the drug formula itself is developed by a Chinese pharmaceutical company called Yiling Pharmaceutical. The formulation has been studied for about 30 years, according to studies indexed by PubMed.
Tongxinluo is crafted from powders and extracts from seven distinct plants and five unique animal products. While some ingredients like ginseng and peony root might sound familiar, others, such as dried cockroaches and leeches, could raise eyebrows.
Tongxinluo translates to “opening the heart’s network,” pointing to its use in treating angina. Angina is chest pain arising from blocked heart vessels.
Based on the historical use of the ingredients and the company’s intent in creating the formulation, tongxinluo targets the heart’s Qi deficiency. This approach emphasizes harnessing energy for better blood circulation and pain relief.
Balancing Traditional Belief with Modern Skepticism
The recent study on tongxinluo has drawn varied opinions from experts.Additionally, despite the trial’s endorsement of recommended medical treatments, only 57 percent of patients received a beta-blocker, and just under 50 percent were given an ACE inhibitor or ARB at discharge, contrasting sharply with U.S. guidelines. Dr. Bach suggests that the benefits of tongxinluo could be overstated if compared with optimally treated populations.
He also expressed reservations about the composition of tongxinluo, alluding to historical instances where contaminated traditional Chinese medicines had undisclosed, sometimes harmful, ingredients.
“But what if there were a drug—or better yet, a treatment—that worked? And I can honestly say we have no idea how it works. That’s what came across my desk today in what I believe is the largest, most rigorous trial of a traditional Chinese medication in history,” he shared.
Dr. Wilson told The Epoch Times that he anticipates more thorough investigations into traditional medicines, primarily in China and East Asia. He drew attention to the stringent US Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols that could hinder such studies in the United States. “The rigorous details required by the US IRB regarding ingredients and potential side effects might pose challenges for trials on such complex remedies,” he said.
TCM Physician Express Caution
While the tongxinluo formulation is based on herbs from traditional Chinese medicine, that doesn’t lend it the same credibility as formulations with a longer history of use.Mr. Liu pointed out, “In herbal treatments, it’s not just one ingredient that’s effective—the herbs work in synergy.”
Liu is cautious about the pharmaceutical company that developed this formula.
Yiling Pharmaceutical also introduced Lianhua Qingwen, a drug promoted by the Chinese regime for COVID treatment. However, its efficacy remains a topic of debate, Liu highlighted.
“I’m worried about the manipulation of the data,” he wrote to The Epoch Times, noting that Yiling has a deep relationship with the Chinese regime. In China, certain big pharmaceutical companies have close financial ties with the Chinese government, and they sometimes develop and promote drugs under the government’s directive.
Still, Liu holds out hope for the formula’s potential benefits for heart disease patients, stating,“If it [the data] is true, it is good news for herbal medicine.”
“Traditional Chinese medicine itself is profound,” he noted. If used correctly, it could offer significant benefits in treating diseases that current science cannot address.
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