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Moxibustion for hypertension: a systematic review
Jong-In Kim1, Jun-Yong Choi, Hyangsook Lee
1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine,Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
|July 7, 2010
Summary
Moxibustion, a traditional therapy, shows limited evidence for treating hypertension. While one study suggests benefits as an adjunct to medication, more rigorous trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness for lowering blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Traditional East Asian Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Moxibustion involves heat from burning herbs, typically Artemisia vulgaris, to stimulate acupuncture points.
- It is a traditional therapy originating from East Asia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing clinical evidence on moxibustion for hypertension treatment.
- To assess the efficacy of moxibustion in managing high blood pressure.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search of 15 databases was conducted up to March 2010.
- Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing moxibustion against antihypertensive drugs or no treatment.
- Risk of bias was assessed for all included RCTs.
Main Results:
- Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria.
- Two RCTs found no significant blood pressure reduction compared to antihypertensive drugs alone.
- One RCT indicated moxibustion as an effective adjunct therapy for lowering blood pressure.
- One RCT showed immediate blood pressure-lowering effects compared to no treatment.
- Included RCTs lacked reporting on randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding.
Conclusions:
- Insufficient evidence currently supports moxibustion as an effective hypertension treatment.
- Further high-quality, rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary.
- More research is needed to clarify the role of moxibustion in managing hypertension.
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