Traditional Remedies for Cardiovascular Diseases in Asia: A Scoping Review of Mind-Body and Herbal Interventions.

Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) has emerged as a major public health challenge, serving as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Traditional remedies, some of the oldest forms of medicine, are used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, particularly CVDs. These remedies are widely practiced in several regions of Asia and are increasingly recognized for their role in improving overall health outcomes. This study aims to identify the indigenous knowledge of Asian remedies to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. Following the PRISMA-ScR checklist, we conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL for articles published between 2019 and 2023. Keywords used included "herbal medicine", "traditional medicine", "complementary therapies", and "cardiovascular disease." Fifteen studies were included: 7 focused on mind-body therapies and 8 on herbal medicine. All studies investigating the traditional remedies for cardiovascular outcomes in patients aged ≥18 years were included. The study highlights the role of these remedies as preventive and therapeutic options alongside conventional medications. These remedies can be classified into mind-body therapies and herbal medicine, demonstrating effectiveness in lowering blood pressure and reducing CVD risk, while also helping to regulate stress and emotions. Traditional remedies offer significant benefits in preventing and managing CVD with minimal side effects. It can be utilized independently as traditional treatments or in conjunction with conventional medication. However, high heterogeneity and lack of safety data remain limitations. Further high-quality research is warranted to understand any potential interactions and support clinical integration of traditional remedies.