[Health Byte] TCM Has Special Impact In Chronic Disease Management

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Chronic disease is the slow-moving wreck we're all headed for. Beyond the white coats and pills of Western medicine, there's another approach: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been quietly treating the long-haul stuff for a couple of thousand years. At Shanghai's Yueyang Hospital – the country's top institution for integrating the two systems – specialists talk about how TCM tackles three modern plagues: hypertension (high blood pressure that strains the heart and arteries), atopic dermatitis (that recurring, maddening skin inflammation we call eczema), and fatty liver (a build-up of fat in the liver that can quietly turn serious).

Hypertension

The Pressure's On: Shanghai's Battle with High Blood Pressure

You probably know someone with high blood pressure. Odds are, that someone might be you. According to the World Health Organization, one in three people on this planet is walking around with hypertension – the polite medical word for "your blood's pushing a little too hard through your arteries." In Shanghai, it's even worse: About 35% of adults are hypertensive, says the city's health commission.

That's not just a number. It's part of a much bigger picture – heart attacks, strokes, the kind of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases that fill hospital beds and top the charts of what kills people in Shanghai.

But if there's one thing Shanghai loves, it's integration. East meets West, dumplings meet sourdough, and – apparently – medicine meets medicine.

The Doctor Who Mixes Ginseng and Science

Meet Dr Fu Deyu, chief cardiologist at Yueyang Hospital, a place where lab coats and herbal brews peacefully coexist. "Our integrated TCM and Western medicine therapy can help restore blood pressure, blood fat and glucose levels," she tells me, in the calm, confident tone of someone who's watched more than a few heart monitors flatten and recover.

She's talking about the "three highs" – high blood pressure, high blood fat and high blood sugar – the holy trinity of modern metabolic misery. Whether you're from Shanghai or Seattle, these three tend to show up together, like bad roommates who refuse to leave.

But this isn't your grandma's TCM clinic with jars of mysterious roots on the shelves (though there are definitely some jars). "TCM doesn't just mean herbal medicine," Dr Fu explains. "We use acupuncture, tuina (a kind of therapeutic massage), herbal soups, teas and our own hospital-made formulas. It's a full system. Every patient gets something tailored."

Why Everyone's Getting Squeezed

So why is everyone's blood pressure creeping up like rent in Jing'an? Dr Fu points to a familiar lineup: genetics, salty food, stress and bad habits. Basically, Shanghai life. "A good lifestyle is very important," she says, with the tone of a doctor who knows exactly how many espressos you had this morning.

The real goal, she says, is early intervention – catching hypertension before it turns into something worse. "When we integrate Western medicine and TCM early, we can protect long-term health much better."

Herbs, Hope and a Bit of Humor

Dr Fu's had her fair share of international patients – those who turned up after Western medicine couldn't keep their pressure down. "They got good results under my treatment," she says, smiling. "And they always tell me the herbal soup doesn't taste as bad as they expected."

That might be the best endorsement of TCM you'll hear this week.

Atopic Dermatitis

Itchy and Scratchy: Shanghai's Battle with Atopic Dermatitis

If your skin's been red, itchy and generally acting like a toddler on a sugar high, you might be dealing with atopic dermatitis – or AD, the most common form of eczema. In simple terms: It's a long-term inflammation of the skin that flares up, calms down, then flares up again. Chronic, annoying and hard to fully shake off.

According to national health data, about 80 million people in China are living with AD. Statistically speaking, there's an 80 percent chance you'll develop some form of eczema in your lifetime – which is about as common as having a Didi driver ask you if you're from Shanghai.

At Yueyang Hospital, AD isn't just another rash. It's the rash – the number-one condition in their dermatology department.

The Itch Beneath the Surface

Dr Li Xin, director of Yueyang's dermatology department, says AD isn't only skin-deep. "The disease has some specific comorbidities like allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis," he explains. In plain English: That means eczema often hangs out with asthma and hay fever, a kind of allergic trio that can make daily life miserable.

But it doesn't stop there. "There are also non-specific comorbidities," Dr Li adds – "children's poor development, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), metabolic issues like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, even depression and anxiety. Some patients can develop suicidal tendencies."

That's a lot of baggage for a rash. Which is why Yueyang's doctors focus on long-term management – keeping the condition quiet, stable and far away from ruining your weekends.

East + West = Less Scratch

In recent years, new treatments – like JAK inhibitors and biological agents – have given patients a serious leg up. (Those are advanced medicines that help calm the immune system and reduce inflammation, for anyone who doesn't casually read dermatology journals.)

But when it comes to the long game, Dr Li says TCM still has a major role to play. "The integration of Western medicine and TCM can be used through the entire disease process," she says. "Depending on the patient's symptoms, we can deepen the diagnosis, understand the pattern, and offer both external and internal treatments."

Translation: You get the best of both worlds – prescription drugs for quick control, herbs and acupuncture for the long haul.

"Through multiple therapies, we aim to help patients achieve minimal disease activity," Dr Li says. "While they receive Western medicine, we use TCM to strengthen the body, reduce inflammation and improve circulation to prevent relapse."

Soup, Stimulation and a Little Electricity

In winter, Yueyang's patients line up for gaofang, a seasonal herbal tonic paste that's supposed to help balance qi (your body's vital energy) and blood – or as Dr Li puts it, to keep your internal thermostat steady when the temperature drops.

For flare-ups – those times when the itching feels like it's got a personal vendetta – the hospital's toolbox goes full sci-fi: electrical stimulation, cupping for bloodletting, and acupoint catgut embedding (basically, tiny dissolvable threads under the skin that provide long-term stimulation). It's all about slowing the disease down before it spirals.

Fatty Liver

The Shanghai Belly: Fatty Liver and the Battle of the Buffet

Let's be honest – this is a city that loves to eat. But even before Shanghai has had a chance to sink it's menu into you, this is very often one of those things that seems to show up on nearly every expat's health exam for residents permits.

Late-night skewers on Wuding Road, weekend brunches with free-flow champagne, and that one colleague who brings milk tea twice a day. It's a lifestyle that tastes amazing… until your doctor starts talking about your liver fat percentage.

Welcome to the world of fatty liver, a condition where more than 5 percent of your liver is made up of fat. That might not sound like much, but in medical terms, it's enough to raise eyebrows – and your risk of heart disease, diabetes and a few other unwelcome guests.

At Yueyang Hospital, Dr Gao Sicheng, from the liver disease department, says fatty liver rarely comes alone. "People with fatty liver and other issues like hypertension, diabetes and high blood fat should receive intervention," she explains. Translation: If your doctor says your liver looks like a mini foie gras, it's time to make some changes.

The Yin, the Yang and the Frying Pan

Modern medicine has its ways – diet therapy, exercise, and medication. But Yueyang Hospital also brings TCM into the mix.

"TCM therapy for fatty liver includes both medicinal and non-medicinal treatment," Dr Gao says. "We promote qi circulation, strengthen the spleen, boost blood flow and reduce dampness."

In layman's terms? That means getting your internal plumbing working properly again. It's a holistic reset – less about calorie counting, more about helping the body rebalance itself.

Plaque Patrol: Beyond the Liver

Fatty liver isn't just about the liver. "For people with carotid plaque," Dr. Gao says, "we offer therapy to reduce fat and stabilize plaque."

If imaging shows serious coronary blockage – those are the arteries feeding your heart – you might need a stent (a tiny tube that props open clogged blood vessels). But if it's mild, TCM can help "make the plaque smaller and prevent serious heart or brain events," Dr Gao explains.

It's not magic. It's slow medicine – soups, herbs and acupuncture, combined with modern checkups and discipline. "Many patients feel very positive effects if they strictly follow doctor's advice and adopt a healthy lifestyle for four to six months," she says. Some even see carotid plaque shrink or disappear.

Health Byte Tips

Shanghai's sleep-deprived masses, take note: The cure for your insomnia might just be sitting in your playlist.

At a recent World Mental Health Day event, experts from the Shanghai Mental Health Center reminded everyone that music isn't just background noise – it's therapy you can stream.

"Listening to music while breathing deeply can help relax and reduce pressure," says Dr Liu Le from the center. Her advice? Skip the caffeine playlist and go for something with a slow rhythm and steady melody, about 30 to 60 minutes before bed. That tempo helps your body downshift, easing you into sleep instead of doom-scrolling through it.

For maximum chill, keep the volume soft – 40 to 50 decibels, about the level of quiet conversation – and try slow music for 20 to 30 minutes to calm the nerves. If you'd rather skip the tunes altogether, the sounds of nature work too: gentle wind, steady rain or rolling waves.

It's science-backed, Shanghai-approved self-care – no prescription needed, just good headphones and a bedtime playlist that won't make your heart race.

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About the Author

Cai Wenjun is a seasoned health reporter with Shanghai Daily. With extensive experience covering the local medical system, hospitals, health officials and leading medical experts, Cai has reported on major pandemics, including SARS, swine flu and COVID-19, as well as developments in the local health industry.