High blood pressure is treated successfully with acupuncture and herbal medicine. According to several studies1, treatments are most effective when the patient is also receiving pharmaceutical therapy for hypertension.
How Hypertension Is Perceived in Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine perceives hypertension as excess within the blood vessels. By virtue of the vascular system's relation to the heart, this would be considered a disease of the Heart. The source of excess may be in the form of heat, phlegm, or stagnant coagulated blood. Examples include:
- Liver heat transmitting into the Blood Vessels
- Poor digestive health producing phlegm-dampness that transmits into the Blood Vessels
- Heart deficiency resulting in Blood Stasis within the vessels due to poor circulation
- Kidney deficiency resulting in water retention, expanding the Blood Vessels
Depending on these factors, the treatment strategy will vary.
Phlegm-dampness may appear as concurrent high blood sugar or elevated LDL cholesterol. Acupuncture points such as SP-9 Yinlingquan and ST-40 Fenglong are often used. Herbal formulas such as Èr Chén Tāng (Two-Aged Herb Decoction) are used to break down fatty-acid build and rheum.
Blood Stasis may manifest as blood clots that increase hydrostatic pressure. Acupuncture points such as SP-10 Xuehai and PC-6 Neiguan and herbal formulas such as Xuè Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng (Drive Out Stasis from the Mansion of Blood Decoction) are used to promote blood circulation.
Liver heat is inflammation of the Liver organ that may transfer into the blood vessels through hepatic circulation. Acupuncture points such as LV-2 Xingjian and GB-38 Yangfu are used with herbal formulas such as Long Dan Xie Gan Tang to drain heat from the Liver channel and reduce blood pressure.
Kidney deficiency can result in reduced ability to regulate bodily fluids, leading to increased water retention and hydrostatic pressure. Acupuncture points such as KD-3 Taixi and KD-7 Fuliu are used in conjunction with Kidney Qi Pill (肾气丸 Shèn Qì Wán) to strengthen the Kidney and regulate water passages.
When patients come to our office, we will thoroughly examine and assess the nature of their health condition and issue treatment the same day. To learn more, see Acupuncture (针灸).
1 Cevik C, Işeri SO. The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs. Acupunct Electrother Res. 2013;38(1-2):1-15.
