Matthew Fellner DACM, L.Ac.
Acupuncture for Hypertension
Evidence Based Complimentary & Alternative Med.
March 4 2014
Li et al.
“…acupuncture significantly lowers blood pressure in patients taking antihypertensive medications.”
It is not a bold statement to suggest that we are overmedicated in this country. But there are certainly medications that are necessary and even lifesaving when taken appropriately. Blood pressure meds fall into that category. Many people are at risk of a cardiac event or stroke if they neglect to address their elevated BP. But as is often the case, that type of medical intervention does not address the underlying cause of the problem. High blood pressure may certainly be congenital, but often it is related to stress or lifestyle choices, including poor diet or lack of exercise. Many people take the medication, which often does exactly what it is designed to do(lower BP), but then forget about all the other reasons why they have the high BP in the first place. One of the best choices you can make to help lower blood pressure and restore your body to a healthy state of balance is to do acupuncture. As the research above states, acupuncture can significantly lower blood pressure in patients already taking medication. Acupuncture can help regulate the chemicals directly implicated in maintaining proper blood pressure, including renin & angiotensin. Acupuncture is relaxing and helps to offset the stress that is a major precipitating factor in chronic elevated BP numbers. And although acupuncture is a safe and effective method of treatment, it does happen overnight. It is best to start by establishing a routine, usually once or twice weekly to kickstart your body into healthier habits. Over time you will start to see some great results and be able to manage your blood pressure easier and with greater confidence. Here are a few statistics to consider:
- Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.1
- About 75 million American adults (32%) have high blood pressure—that’s 1 in every 3 adults.3
- About 1 in 3 American adults has prehypertension—blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal—but not yet in the high blood pressure range.3
- Only about half (54%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.2
- High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 410,000 Americans in 2014—that’s more than 1,100 deaths each day.1
High blood pressure costs the nation $48.6 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care
