Acupuncture Treats High Blood Pressure
July 30th, 2009
Acupuncture combined with electronic stimulation can effectively lower blood pressure, according to a recent study.
Researchers at the Center for Integrative Medicine at UCI have found that electroacupuncture can lower blood pressure levels by as much as 50 percent. In tests, electroacupuncture reduced blood pressure during hypertensive states. Findings indicate electroacupuncture may be a therapy component for long-term hypertension care as well as for other cardiovascular conditions.
The study results suggest that acupuncture may be utilized as a complementary therapy to other medical cardiac system treatments and can be safely integrated into conventional medical treatment with little or no contraindications.
Acupuncture stimulates brain cells to release neurotransmitters that can either reduce or raise cardiovascular activity. Acupuncture needles inserted at specific acupoints on the wrist, forearm and leg can stimulate the release of opioid brain chemicals that reduce excitatory responses in the cardiovascular system.
When these responses are reduced, the heart’s activity and its need for oxygen are decreased, which can contribute to lowering blood pressure and can aid in healing cardiac conditions, such as hypertension and myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart).
In the study, the researchers stimulated acupoints slightly above the wrists on the forelimbs of study participants. Acupuncture combined with low levels of electrical stimulation applied during 30-minute treatment sessions lowered blood pressure by 40 to 50 percent.
While electroacupuncture effectively treats elevated blood pressure levels, such as those present in hypertension, it had no effect on average blood pressure rates. The researchers intend to use the study findings to establish a standard of acupuncture treatment that can benefit individuals who have hypertension as well as other cardiac conditions.
Although drug therapy and healthy lifestyle changes related to diet, exercise and weight loss are typically utilized to normalize blood pressure, some individuals are looking for alternative solutions.
Acupuncture can be a potential solution for individuals who find it difficult to make positive lifestyle changes or who continue to have high blood pressure despite making changes. Acupuncture can lower blood pressure due to increased vascular constriction and is an effective complementary modality for both prevention and treatment of hypertension.
For information about acupuncture for the treatment of hypertension call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
Leave a Reply