OBJECTIVETo observe the immediate effect and the long-term effect on blood pressure (BP) in acupuncture for hypertension.

METHODSSeventy cases of primary hypertension were acupunctured at Renying (ST 9), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) at 2:00-4:00 pm. BP was recorded before treatment and 5 min, 15 min and 30 min after acupuncture separately every day. The treatment was given for 5 days each week and stopped for 2 days. Totally, 3-month treatment was required. BP was compared at each time point with that before treatment separately on the same day, and made the comparison of it before the treatment every 15 days with that before acupuncture on the 1st day.

RESULTSOn the same day, the systolic pressure at each time point after acupuncture was decreased as compared with that before acupuncture, indicating the statistically significant difference (all P < 0.05). The diastolic pressures at each time point on the 1st, 15th, 30th and 60th days of acupuncture were decreased as compared with that before acupuncture, indicating the statistically significant difference (all P < 0.05). In the 3-month treatment, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure before treatment every 15 days were decreased as compared with that before the treatment on the 1st day (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can decrease the immediate BP and maintain the anti-hypertensive effect for primary hypertension so as to achieve the long-term stable anti-hypertensive effect.