How TCM Supports Health as BP, Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Ranges Shift

Are you a normal person? Depends on whom you ask. A few decades ago, your annual checkup might have shown “perfectly normal” blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Fast forward to today, however, and those very same numbers might prompt concern or even a prescription.

Over time, the definition of “normal” has narrowed so much that millions of people who once fit comfortably within healthy ranges are now labeled “borderline” or “at risk.” A difference of just a few points can flip you overnight from low-risk to high-risk without your body changing at all.

The question is: have we really become less healthy, or have the goalposts just moved?

When Guidelines Tighten, Risk Rises (on Paper)

As medical research evolves, the definition of “normal” keeps tightening, not because humanity has changed overnight, but because the cutoffs have. A blood pressure once considered fine at 140/90 or even 160/95 is now labeled hypertension. A fasting glucose of 110 mg/dL, once shrugged off, is now “prediabetes.” Total cholesterol levels that used to pass as acceptable can suddenly flag you as high risk.

Each new update redraws the line between “healthy” and “at risk.” The irony is that your body might feel exactly the same, but the paper record says otherwise. For many people, a shift of just a few points can turn a clean bill of health into a recommendation for lifelong medication.

These thresholds are guidelines based on evolving interpretations of risk across large populations. They’re useful for public health, but they don’t define your individual vitality.

To see how dramatically the standards have changed, take a look at the historical record below.

Staying Steady by Studying TCM Patterns

Rather than chasing ever-changing numbers, TCM looks at the patterns behind why those numbers drift. These deeper imbalances can be the result of a myriad of patterns. However, to keep it simple, we’ll narrow the cast of characters to stagnation, dampness, and deficiency. These internal forces often nudge blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar upward in the first place.

When these patterns are addressed, the body naturally regulates itself within its own optimal range; no matter how the goalposts move!

Blood Pressure: Calming Rising Liver Yang

In TCM, elevated or easily fluctuating blood pressure often reflects what is known as Liver Yang rising. Yin, the cooling and anchoring aspect of the body, becomes depleted; the Yin Qi in the Liver meridian no longer balances Yang. When Yang surges upward unchecked, it may manifest as stress-related blood pressure spikes, irritability, head tension, and restlessness.

The goal is to calm the Liver, anchor the Yang, and nourish Yin so internal balance can be restored.

ActiveHerb.com’s BPSure (Jian Ya Pian) isn’t mentioned in any ancient TCM compendiums such as the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. This is because BPSure is a signature formula, not a classical one. After all, blood pressure cuffs and monitors didn’t exist during the Han dynasty and Warring States period over 2,000 years ago. (Granted, surviving that era without your blood pressure skyrocketing would have required monk-level meditation skills.) 

BPSure is an ActiveHerb best seller, specially formulated to maintain blood pressure already within the normal range by cooling excess Liver Yang and supporting smoother circulation.

Cholesterol: Resolving Damp and Phlegm

Similar to blood pressure, cholesterol is a modern health concern that ancient wisdom can explain. Before the concept of cholesterol existed, TCM described a similar issue: the buildup of Damp and Phlegm inside the body. When digestive function (especially the Spleen in TCM) is weakened by rich, processed foods or inactivity, fluids and metabolic byproducts can become sticky. Over time, this internal Phlegm may obstruct circulation and contribute to rising lipid levels.

CholestAssure (Jian Dan Gu Chun Pian) is a signature Guang Ci Tang brand of Chinese Medicine. Despite its modern-day formulaic adaptation, however, it follows a classic approach of draining Damp and clearing Phlegm to support healthy lipid metabolism within a normal range.

As mentioned in one of our most widely-read blog posts since 2014, if a problem doesn’t exist (because it wasn’t mentioned in ancient medical texts), can TCM support the health concern? In the case of cholesterol, the answer is yes, because of the focus on resolving Phlegm-Damp accumulations by strengthening Spleen transformative function while activating Qi and Blood circulation to disperse congealed turbidity. In other words, it’s like boosting the power of your body’s cleanup crew while unclogging the pipes, so fats and fluids can flow out smoothly instead of pooling into sticky buildup.

Blood Sugar: Nourishing Yin and Qi

Do you think blood sugar imbalances, like cholesterol and blood pressure, are also a modern health problem? Think again….

High blood sugar was recognized in ancient Chinese medicine even without modern lab testing. Physicians noticed that some people’s urine attracted ants because of its sweetness, along with persistent thirst, and named the pattern Xiao Ke, or wasting and thirsting. TCM associates this with deficiency of both Yin and Qi. Yin cools internal heat and protects fluids. Qi provides the power for proper metabolic function. When both run low, heat accumulates and signs like thirst, fatigue, and increased urination can appear.

GlucoAssure (Jian Tang Pian), another ActiveHerb.com signature formula for today’s health concerns, is designed to nourish Yin, strengthen Qi, and clear internal heat. Through these actions, GlucoAssure helps support blood sugar regulation already in the healthy range.

Staying Balanced Even When the Ranges Change

Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar guidelines will likely continue to change. What is considered borderline today may be reclassified as risky tomorrow. Instead of constantly adapting to new cutoffs, TCM focuses on balancing the internal environment that keeps these values steady. By calming rising Liver Yang, draining Damp and Phlegm, and nourishing Yin and Qi, the body can maintain healthier function so the numbers have less reason to drift.

No matter how these guidelines evolve, a qualified TCM practitioner can help determine whether internal imbalances are present and guide you toward dietary, lifestyle, and herbal support tailored to your needs. TCM formulas like BPSure, CholestAssure, and GlucoAssure may help maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels already within the normal range. Consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your routine, especially if you use prescription medications.

References:

Moser M. Historical perspectives on the management of hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2006 Aug;8(8 Suppl 2):15-20; quiz 39.

Krakoff LR, Gillespie RL, Ferdinand KC, Fergus IV, Akinboboye O, Williams KA, Walsh MN, Bairey Merz CN, Pepine CJ. 2014 hypertension recommendations from the eighth joint national committee panel members raise concerns for elderly black and female populations. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 Jul 29;64(4):394-402.

https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2017/11/09/11/41/2017-Guideline-for-High-Blood-Pressure-in-Adults

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/new-high-blood-pressure-guideline-emphasizes-prevention-early-treatment-to-reduce-cvd-risk

Kannel WB et al. “Serum cholesterol, lipoproteins, and the risk of coronary heart disease: The Framingham Study.”Ann Intern Med. 1971;74(1):1-12.