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Acupuncture helps lower elevated blood pressure, according to new research. A University of California, Irvine study found that electro acupuncture treatments lowered high blood pressure in rats by as much as 50 percent.
Though few studies on the efficacy of acupuncture to treat blood pressure have been conducted, the latest research shows promise.
"This suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments," said Dr Longhurst, the study's lead researcher. "Especially for those treating the cardiac system."
These studies suggest that acupuncture triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that dampen the response of the cardiovascular system. This decreases the heart's activity and need for oxygen, which as a result could lower blood pressure. Therefore, acupuncture could promote healing for a number of heart conditions including heart attacks and hypertension.
