"Perfect Heartio" Drink and Cardiovascular Health

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one of the intriguing features of traditional Chinese culture, has a history of more than 2,000 years, with both unique theories and rich experience. Because of the lack of objective and quantitative evaluation criteria, TCM is complementary or alternative medicine in most Western countries. However, in China, more than 71.2% of patients who have experienced Western medicine, TCM, and integrative medicine (both Western medicine and TCM) preferred the integrative approach, and 18.7% chose TCM as their favourite. Moreover, TCM is increasingly welcomed in many developed countries, such as Australia and the United States. Importantly, patients who used more types of TCM tended to use much less Western medicine recommended by current guidelines. Recent review also highlighted the potential use of TCM as a complementary and alternative approach to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Perfect Heartio (PH) is a nutritional drink composed of mainly diluted herbal extracts of TCM, including ginger, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Alternanthera sessilis, Panax notoginseng, red date, Codonopsis pilosula, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Astragalus membranaceus. Broad pharmacological properties of ginger and its bioactive components have been reported, suggesting its potential use in preventing CVD. Glycyrrhiza uralensis stands out for its exceptional therapeutic potential, particularly in enhancing cardiac muscle regeneration, and slowing muscle aging. Alternanthera sessilis has been showed to prevent cardiovascular and liver diseases. Panax notoginseng improve angiogenesis. Red date exerts anti-adipogenicity effects and enhancing endothelial function. Codonopsis pilosula improves the functional state of the cardiovascular system and mitigating the onset and progression of CVD. Ligusticum chuanxiong has been showed to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Astragalus membranaceus also showed to improve cardiovascular function, protect myocardial cells, and increase coronary blood flow.

Inclusion criteria

• General healthy subjects during enrolment
• Age 18 and above
• Willing to comply with interventional plan and comes to do follow up
• Willing to gives consent

Exclusion criteria

• Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) more than once a week during enrolment
• Use of anticoagulants or corticosteroids
• Use of individual supplements of vitamin A, E, or beta carotene more than once a week during enrolment
• Renal failure or dialysis, cirrhosis, other serious conditions that precluded participation
• No previous history of cancer (except nonmelanoma skin cancer)
• Pregnant or lactating woman