acupuncture for hypertension

Treatment with Chinese Medicine

You may be considering alternative therapy for any one of a multitude of health problems. Acupuncture and Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) can provide effective treatment for many problems.

More than 1 in 4 people in the UK have high blood pressure

This page looks at how Traditional Chinese Medicine can help HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, also known as HYPERTENSION.

Find out

• how the problem is described in Western terms
• how the problem is explained by Traditional Chinese medicine
• what clients have said about treatment
• what the evidence is that acupuncture is effective for the problem (includes links to World Health Organisation if appropriate)
• what links there are to other useful sites

What is HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE in Western terms?

High blood pressure is literally an increased pressure in the circulatory system. This has a number of knock-on effects, for example, it increases the load on the heart muscle and can accelerate the development of arterial disease.

There may be no signs and symptoms of high blood pressure so it is known as the silent killer. Above a certain level, there will be changes to health. Where blood pressure is above a certain level, there will be no alternative to using medication to control it.

• In 90-95% of cases, there is no identifiable cause
• In the remaining cases, there are links to various disorders
• It is normal for blood pressure to vary and stress, in particular, causes it to rise. Lifestyle changes are important to help reduce blood pressure

How does Chinese medicine help with high blood pressure?

Lifestyle change

Changes may be suggested such as giving up smoking, taking exercise, limiting alcohol intake, losing weight and managing stress. Acupuncture can help with these difficult changes because it is a very calming treatment and because it can help people to give up unhealthy, possibly addictive, habits.

Reducing the Blood Pressure

Massage and acupuncture can help to reduce blood pressure. Inserting needles or pellets into the blood pressure groove on the back of the ear can be used as well as body acupuncture.

Treating the underlying cause

The strength of Chinese Medicine is that it allows a reason for the high blood pressure to be found, then highly specific treatment will be possible.

The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Explains what I have summarised above in more detail, it is well worth reading (link here) if you ignore the adverts.

Have clients been pleased with treatment?

Patients appreciate the ability to manage their emotions more successfully as a result of treatment, often being aware themselves that their stress is raising their blood pressure. I have also treated patients who wanted to avoid going to higher levels of medication.

What evidence is there that Chinese medicine works?

Not researched yet, try again another time!

You will find that acupuncture and Tuina can be used for far more problems than is commonly realised