OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on hypertension of phlegm-stasis blocking collateral type and the mechanism.

METHODSSixty cases of hypertension were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Taicehong (LR 3), and oral administration of Captori, and the control group only with Captoril, for 4 therapeutic courses. The changes of blood pressure, clinical symptoms, hemorheologic parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), TC, TG, HDL and LDL levels after treatment were observed.

RESULTSIn the treatment group, blood pressure significantly decreased, and contents of CRP, TC, TG and LDHD decrease, the hemorheologic parameters improved and HDL level increased. Both the cumulative scores of clinical symptoms and the therapeutic effect for each symptom were improved significantly, with very significant differences as compared with those before treatment and the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture treatment has obvious effect of decreasing blood pressure, and reverses or delays the course of atherosclerosis, which mechanisms are possibly related with the function of protecting vascular endothelium.