Acupuncture has been around for a while and many people practice it, but can acupuncture help your blood pressure? Let’s find out.
While it may sound like a rumor, there are a few clinical studies supporting the claim that acupuncture may reduce blood pressure (at least temporarily). However, while it may be helpful in the short term, acupuncture does not seem to be an effective long-term solution. The following is an overview of the effects of acupuncture on blood pressure.
Acupuncture Explained
Acupuncture comes from Chinese practices that are over 2000 years old and experts use it to treat a variety of medical conditions. It entails various techniques and modern acupuncturists use several new features such as magnets and lasers. However, due to these variations and the fact that it’s based on Chinese philosophy rather than scientific findings, it has been difficult to prove its efficacy.
Nevertheless, there are some clinical studies that measure the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating high blood pressure (hypertension). According to one of these studies, the results were positive, which fuels the idea that acupuncture is an effective hypertension treatment.
The Study
Appearing in the June 2007 issue of Circulation, this clinical study suggests that acupuncture that follows the exacting specifications of ancient Chinese tradition may be effective for treating mild hypertension. The study had 160 participants and researchers used two forms of acupuncture: traditional and nontraditional.
Their results show that traditional acupuncture was effective in reducing blood pressure, but only temporarily: when treatments stopped, the participants’ baseline blood pressure returned to their original values within a few weeks
Additional Studies
According to a comprehensive Cochran review from 2018, which analyzed 22 published clinical trials, only four of these studies suggested a small and temporary blood pressure reduction with acupuncture. In fact, the other 18 studies had either negative results or were of poor quality. Therefore, the review concluded that there is no evidence of acupuncture’s effectiveness as a long-term, practical treatment of hypertension.
While the one positive study is intriguing, more research will be necessary to prove that acupuncture is an effective treatment. However, if you want to try it out for yourself, then look for a certified expert in traditional Chinese medicine. Also, keep in mind that you’ll need to see them three times a week for the rest of your life if you want the chance to experience any blood pressure benefits. Even then, we can’t guarantee any results.
The Outlook
Based on the current results of various clinical trials, acupuncture is not an effective or practical way to treat hypertension. In fact, taking medications and exercising regularly is a far better approach.
In addition to regular exercise, you can boost your blood pressure health by eating healthily and taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Give your health the support it deserves and don’t rely on acupuncture as a treatment. Instead, you should exercise regularly, eat a heart-healthy diet, and take L-arginine Plus.