Electrical Acupuncture Slashes High Blood Pressure

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Electrical Acupuncture Slashes High Blood Pressure

Acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation, or electroacupuncture, can

lower elevations in blood pressure by 50 percent, according to a study in

rats. The treatments provided temporary relief from elevated blood pressure,

such

as what occurs in hypertension.

The study involved rats with artificially elevated blood pressure.

Acupuncture was applied to specific points on the rats' forelimbs--the

corresponding

human point would be on the inside of the forearm just above the wrist--but did

not change blood pressure rates.

Researchers then added electrical stimulation to the treatment by running an

electrical current through the acupuncture needles. While high frequencies of

stimulation had no effect, low frequencies lowered elevated blood pressure

rates by 40 percent to 50 percent. A 30-minute treatment was able to reduce

blood

pressure by 25 mmHg, and the reduction lasted for nearly two hours.

One caveat: The electroacupuncture worked only on elevated blood pressure

levels, not standing levels. The researchers said their goal is to establish a

" standard acupuncture treatment " that can benefit those with hypertension and

other cardiac ailments, and believe electroacupuncture, which is now being

tested on humans, may be useful for the long-term care of these conditions in

human

patients.

Ancient Healing Practices Meet the Western World

Acupuncture provides an excellent complement to other medical treatments,

researchers say, but the Western world is still waiting for a definitive

scientific basis for using this age-old treatment.

During acupuncture, a 3,000-year-old form of Chinese medicine, needles are

inserted into specific body points to help relieve pain and disease. Previous

studies by the same authors have shown that acupuncture excites brain cells,

causing them to release neurotransmitters that can inhibit or heighten the

heart's activity.

Specifically, when a needle is inserted at a certain point on the wrist,

forearm or leg, opioid chemicals in the brain that reduce excitatory responses

in

the cardiovascular system are released. The result? A decrease in heart

activity and need for oxygen, which can lower blood pressure and promote the

healing

of heart-related conditions like myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood flow

to the heart) and hypertension.

Journal of Applied Physiology March 2005, Vol. 98: 872-880

Medical News Today March 29, 2005

 

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

When it comes to treating chronic degenerative diseases, I prefer non-toxic

health care options to modern medicine's poor excuses for " cures. " I've run a

number of articles in the past about studies that have demonstrated the

benefits of acupuncture. But this is the first study I've seen describing

acupuncture

treatments to normalize high blood pressure.

If you're looking to lower your blood pressure, but are not crazy about

needles and the idea of using electrical acupuncture, then I have some good news

for you: there are plenty of non-drug and non-invasive, inexpensive and simple

alternatives to lower your blood pressure and improve your health:

Eliminate all grains and sweets from your diet until your blood pressure and

weight normalize. The overproduction of insulin is a major factor in the

persistence of high blood pressure.

Utilize the benefits exercise can provide you as a drug. Most overweight

hypertensive patients require about six to nine hours of relatively intense

exercise per week (working hard enough where they have problems comfortably

talking

to someone). This intensity is required to decrease the sensitivity of the

insulin receptors.

Have effective tools to address the emotional stress that lies behind the

physical symptoms associated with elevated blood pressure by using energy

psychology tools. My favorite is the Emotional Freedom Technique. It's like

acupuncture without the needles!

Spend a safe amount of time in the sun. Interestingly, it appears that the

farther you are from the equator, the greater your risk of high blood pressure

becomes.