Traditional Chinese medicines are being used for thousands of years but failed to become mainstream in the Western world. Now, a recent study says that some of these traditional medicines could help people in preventing and decreasing the risk of certain heart disease.

Researchers examined the randomized, controlled studies of traditional Chinese medicines over the past 10 years. Patients with different conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, pre-diabetes/diabetes, chronic heart failure, and diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, are part of the study to determine how effective and safe the medicines were.

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Researchers have found that some of these traditional Chinese medicines did provide benefits for the conditions. Some of the medicines that are safe and effective are: Zhongfujiangya, Tiankuijiangya, Jiangya, Jiangyabao, and Qiqilian. According to the researchers, these medicines imitate the positive effects of antihypertensive drugs - used in Western medications to treat hypertension.

However, the study is only based on short-term and there is no evidence if these traditional and alternative medicines could provide long-lasting effects. Usually, U.S. doctors steer clear of traditional Chinese medicines as they do not go through the similar exhaustive approval process like those made domestically. Moreover, one treatment is likely made up of various ingredients with several chemical compounds.

Yuxia Zhao, a physician in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Shandong University Qilu Hospital in China and the senior author of the study, noted that traditional Chinese medicines are often prescribed as complex formulae, managed by a health practitioner on a personalized basis.

The traditional medicines could be used alongside regular treatments. The underlying mechanisms, as well as pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medications' active ingredients, have been elucidated, Zhao explained. Hence, these medications could be used as an alternative and complementary for primary and secondary prevention of certain heart disease.

It is also important to note that there have not yet been enough studies indicating traditional Chinese treatments as the main form of care. Researchers suggest that before incorporating them in the arsenal of supplements, it's better to seek assistance first from primary care physician or trained professional in herbal medicine.