Using Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure: Advantages
High blood pressure is an extremely common ailment, in fact some sources suggest that at least 1 in 3 Americans are afflicted with the disease, and because there are not many symptoms that are obviously related to high blood pressure, the disorder can go undiagnosed for many years. If left untreated high blood pressure can lead to a range of very serious consequences, including stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.
Treatments for High Blood Pressure
There are many treatments for high blood pressure. The most common form of treatment, which is highly effective for most patients, is that of a drug regimen. Pharmacological intervention can reduce blood pressure quickly and effectively, however it should be known that some patients do not tolerate medications designed to treat high blood pressure well, or would prefer to avoid prescription drugs when possible, and for these people, acupuncture for high blood pressure may be one avenue to consider.
Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure: An Alternative Treatment Method
Acupuncture for high blood pressure is one specific form of the general treatment type, acupuncture. This is an ancient treatment (dating back about 3000 years) that originated in China, and what happens is that practitioners insert thin, specialized needles at various points on the body in order to relieve pain and illnesses.
While the actual mechanics of how the treatment works are still largely unknown, acupuncture has been advocated for a range of illnesses, from depression and stress reduction to infertility.
Recent clinical studies suggest that acupuncture for high blood pressure may work primarily by changing the way the brain controls the respiratory system – decreasing oxygen demand which means the heart doesn’t work as hard and blood pressure drops. One study suggests acupuncture for high blood pressure only works when accompanied by small electrical pulses.
So far, only animal clinical trials have been conducted, but the next step will be testing acupuncture for high blood pressure in human volunteers.
One crucial decision made by acupuncture practitioners is the placement of the needles. In the clinical trial, acupuncture for high blood pressure was conducted on what would be the wrists and forearms of humans. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that acupuncture for high blood pressure can be effective on other areas of the body as well.
Acupuncture for high blood pressure should only be used as a complement to other proven methods for reducing blood pressuring – increasing exercise, eating many fruits and vegetables, and reducing salt intake and stress. Nonetheless, acupuncture for high blood pressure is one more weapon in the arsenal for fighting this all too common and potentially deadly disease.
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