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Evidence-based blood pressure reducing actions of electroacupuncture: mechanisms and clinical application
John C Longhurst1, Stephanie C Tjen-A-Looi2
1Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine; Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. jcl@uci.edu.
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Low frequency electroacupuncture may help manage hypertension by reducing blood pressure. This acupuncture therapy shows potential for prolonged blood pressure reduction in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Hypertension is a global health issue, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality.
- Blood pressure, particularly systolic pressure, tends to rise with age.
- Limitations of pharmacological treatments prompt exploration of alternative therapies like acupuncture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of low frequency, low intensity electroacupuncture in managing hypertension.
- To determine if acupuncture can modulate sympathetic outflow and lower blood pressure.
Main Methods:
- Basic science studies informed clinical research approaches.
- Low frequency, low intensity electroacupuncture was administered once weekly for eight weeks.
- Participants were patients with mild to moderate hypertension not taking antihypertensive medication.
Main Results:
- Electroacupuncture reduced sympathetic outflow in approximately 70% of treated patients.
- Systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressures were lowered over two to four weeks.
- Blood pressure reductions persisted for up to one month after treatment cessation.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture, specifically low frequency electroacupuncture, shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for hypertension.
- Further research is needed for long-term therapy, resistant hypertension, and patients on medication.
- Current evidence suggests a potential role for acupuncture in hypertension management.
Abstract:
Hypertension is a serious world-wide health problem as it increases cardiovascular atherosclerotic risk, stroke and attending morbidity and mortality. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and particularly systolic pressure increase with aging. The downsides from pharmacological therapy have led to consideration of additional treatments, including acupuncture, which evokes endogenous neural-hormonal systems to lower blood pressure. Using basic science studies to guide clinical approaches to research, it is apparent that low frequency, low intensity electroacupuncture reduces sympathetic outflow in approximately 70% of patients with mild to moderate hypertension who are off antihypertensive drugs. Systolic and, to a lesser extent, diastolic arterial blood pressures can be lowered over two to four weeks for prolonged periods, lasting as long as one month, after cessation of an eight weeks of once weekly stimulation. Many questions about long-term therapy, treatment of resistant patients and efficacy in patients on medication remain to be studied. Current data, however, suggest that there may be a role of acupuncture in treatment of hypertension.
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