Acupuncture and Blood Pressure – Surprising New Research
High blood pressure is a medical problem facing millions of people across the world. Numerous methods exist to help lower and maintain it including medications, diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. But now new research has uncovered a new possibility in the fight against high blood pressure – acupuncture. The ancient practice involves inserting tiny needles into pressure points which relieves certain ailments, sometimes with a tiny current of electricity. Over the past few years acupuncture has seen a rise in popularity and these new findings seem to suggest that using acupuncture to treat high blood pressure can actually be effective.
The study was conducted on lab rats that had their blood pressure raised for the test. Once that electrical stimulation was induced on their forelegs, a drop in blood pressure of up to forty percent occurred. By using electro acupuncture methods over the duration of the experiment, numerous findings were unearthed. The scientists inserted needles into pericardium 5 – 6, rotating them every ten to thirty minutes while the rats’ blood pressure was gradually increased. Needles were also inserted into the forelegs of the rats for thirty minutes and were not rotated. The needles in pericardium 5 – 6 were electrically stimulated by a current of varying degrees.
With the duration of the acupuncture treatment lasting up to one hour, blood pressure was monitored continuously. The rats who were treated with electro acupuncture at a frequency of two hertz displayed the most dramatic improvement, with levels dropping thirty three to thirty six percent. The lab rats that experienced stimulation at the heart and stomach levels showed even more success at treating high blood pressure with acupuncture. Those stimulated at the heart displayed a decrease in blood pressure of forty four percent, and those that were stimulated at the stomach had a decrease of thirty six percent.
Overall the study found that there are real benefits to be found in treating high blood pressure with acupuncture, especially with electro acupuncture techniques. Although not tested on humans, these promising results will undoubtedly lead to more studies to help determine how effective acupuncture treatment for high blood pressure really can be. While the researchers were quick to point out that the treatment is successful in those suffering from high blood pressure and would likely pose no benefits to healthy individuals, having another tool in the battle against high blood pressure is great news for those individuals currently suffering from it
