Acupuncture can lower blood pressure elevations by as much as 50 percent. Hypertension (high blood pressure) may have no known cause (essential/primary hypertension) or be associated with other diseases (secondary hypertension). Essential hypertension, more than 90 percent of cases, is likely due to a combination of factors including: Smoking, high cholesterol, high sodium diet, stress, and obesity. Secondary hypertension is commonly associated with kidney and endocrine disorders. Symptoms such as fatigue, headache, chest pain, nausea, and excessive perspiration manifest when the condition is severe.
Acupuncture can become part of a therapeutic long-term health-care regimen for hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. Acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially those for treating the cardiac system. Acupuncture applied to specific wrist, inner forearm and leg acupoints triggers release of brain opioid chemicals that reduce excitatory cardiovascular system responses. Acupuncture to these specific sites results in heart activity/oxygen intake decrease and lowered blood pressure. Acupuncture can be beneficial for various cardiac ailments.
The allopathic treatment regimen of lifestyle modification, diet and blood pressure medication lower risk of associated complications (heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness); however, pharmaceutical anti-hypertensive drugs often have side effects. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine regulates the body system and lowers blood pressure without side effects. Acupuncture is an effective complementary modality for essential hypertension for both prevention and treatment.
Anti-hypertensive effects of acupuncture are best for treatment of mild or first stage hypertension. Acupuncture works through regulation of the nervous and endocrine systems. Therapy activates central endorphin pathways that elicit decreases in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure. Acupuncture is especially suitable for hypertensive individuals with existing liver or kidney complications that have low tolerance levels for anti-hypertensive medications. For information about acupuncture for the treatment of hypertension contact Dr. Richard Browne at (305) 595-9500.
