For thousands of years, Chinese people have been treating their high blood pressure problems with acupuncture. Even during that time, they were conscious of this disease and had a dependable and very beneficial treatment for this health problem. High blood pressure is the state of health where the blood causes unhealthy pressure on the walls of the blood vessels (chambers of the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins). Over time, this pressure causes damage to the vessel walls and can result on the hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).
Hypertensive symptoms are often acute in nature and they manifest as intestinal pain, emotional instability, insomnia, bad mood, depression, anxiety, nose bleeding, restlessness, shallow breathing, severe headaches, vertigo or a flushed face. High blood pressure is identified with the repeated rise of blood pressure. Other secondary symptoms of high blood pressure are frequent urination, weak vision and weakened muscle strength.
As mentioned, acupuncture has been an effective treatment for hypertension or high blood pressure. Today, acupuncture combined with electric stimulation can effectively lower hypertension. A study was done recently involving the use of acupuncture needles that were connected by wire to an electricity generating gadget that creates and sends out low and mild electrical pulses. The needles were inserted on a spot just above the wrist and in the inside of the forearm. Mild pulses of electricity were then sent to the body via the needles and this procedure had the effect of lowering the blood pressure on the hypertensive subject. One other study regarding acupuncture’s effect in lowering hypertension showed that the needles were able to stimulate the brain to release natural opioids called endorphins and enkephalins that positively excited the heart causing the lowering of high blood pressure.
For the treatment of hypertension, needles are applied to the forearm, legs and/or wrist to stimulate the production and secretion of endorphins and enkephalins so as to induce relaxation and tranquility in the mind and body. The body and mind is able to rest and the blood pressure goes down. Acupuncture likewise helps in the treatment of myocardial ischemia, another cardiovascular problem.
There are specific herbs that can be used in combination with acupuncture therapy. Herbs such as Prunella, Shan Za and Gastrodia Rhizome are given by a licensed and experienced herbologist for the lowering of blood pressure. The herbs cited are to be injected rather than taken orally to get optimal results. Another effective and totally painless form of acupuncture is acupressure. One particular acupressure technique good for lowering high blood pressure is the pressing the palm with the thumb and index finger. There are more variations of acupuncture that are beneficial for the lowering of high blood pressure. Herbal medicine in combination with acupuncture is still the best natural treatment form for high blood pressure.