Objective: To observe the effect of needle-retention duration at Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on blood pressure in hypertension patients.
Methods: Twenty-four patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into acupuncture group and medication group. For patients of the acupuncture group, single-use sterilized filiform needles were inserted into Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and manipulated for about 10 s till "Deqi", and retained for 8 h. Patients of the medication group were treated by oral administration of Nifedipine tablets(20 mg)in the morning. Blood pressure (right brachial artery) was detected 0.5, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the treatment respectively.
Results: In comparison with pre-treatment, the systolic pressure levels at the time-points of 0.5, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after taking Nifedipine in the medication group, and the systolic pressure levels at the time-points of 2, 4 and 6 h after the treatment in the acupuncture group, and the diastolic pressure levels at the time-points of 2, 4, 6 and 8 h in both acupuncture and medication groups were decreased obviously (P<0.05, P<0.01). The effect of acupuncture group was significantly weaker than that of the medication group in lowering systolic pressure at the time-points of 0.5 and 8 h after the treatment (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and medication groups in lowering systolic pressure at the time-points of 2, 4 and 6 h after the treatment, and in lowering diastolic pressure at the time-points of 0.5, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the treatment (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Acupuncture stimulation of Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) with sustained needle-retention works well in lowering blood pressure in hypertension patients, but is relatively slower and has a shorter period of time in lowering blood-pressure efficacy.