Objective: To study the effect of acupuncture on blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients.
Methods: A total of 80 out-patients with primary hypertension at the family medicine unit and the social security unit were randomly and equally divided into an acupuncture plus medication group and a control group that received only medication. Patients of the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture stimulation of Yinlinquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Neiguan (PC 6) for 30 min, once per week, continuously for eight weeks. In addition, both groups received amlodipine (5 mg) once daily, continuously for eight weeks. Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and mean arterial BP (mABP) were recorded. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: SBP of the 40 cases in the acupuncture group significantly improved compared to the medication only group [Z =－ 4.265, P (2-tailed) = 0.001] and DBP of acupuncture group was lower than that of the control group (Z =－ 2.813, P = 0.005). mABP of acupuncture group was the marked improvement in the reduction of blood pressure to that of medication group in controlling blood pressure. (Z = －2.416, P = 0.016).
Conclusion: These results indicate that the effectiveness of acupuncture with the acupuncture group is superior to the only medication group in the control of hypertension.
Keywords: Acupuncture; Amlodipine; Blood pressure; Hypertension.