In a previous paper, we reported the efficacy of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of hypertension. In the present study, auricular acupuncture was applied to two groups of patients: those taking hypotensive drugs for a long time and those taking no drugs. The difference in the efficacy of the therapy between the two groups was investigated. The fluctuation of blood pressure, the renin activity and catecholamines concentration in the blood during a three-month period were examined.
Patients, who had essential hypertension without any obvious underlying disease, were classified into three groups according to World Health Organization's criteria as follows:
Group I. (Hypertension) exceeding systolic value of 160mmHg, or exceeding diastolic value of 95mmHg. Group II. (Boundary Zone) neither Group I nor II. Group III. (Normal) below systolic value of 140mmHg or diastolic value of 90mmHg.
A subcutaneous needle was inserted horizontally in the anterior direction at the hypotensive point in the fossa triangularis, and then left there. Once a week, the needle was changed, and the blood pressure was measured. The efficacy was evaluated two weeks later as follows: A case which moved from Group I to III was “remarkable”. A case from Group II to III or from Group I to II was “effective”. An unmoved case was “unchanged”. A case from Group II to I was “aggravated”.
Result: No drug group. The efficacy of the auricular acupuncture was noted in 84% (32%: remakable, 52%: effective) of the nineteen Group I, II patients who were taking no hypotensive drugs. Drug group. The efficacy of the auricular acupuncture was noted in 50% (21%: remarkable, 29%: effective) of the twenty-four Group I, II patients who were taking hypotensive drugs. Druing the three-month period, both systolic and diastolic pressure in all the patients in Group I and II showed a significant decrease.
The serum renin activity showed a tendency to decrease but only within the normal range. The concentration of catecholamines changed also within the normal range, though no consistent tendency was seen.