A new analysis of 15 randomized trials suggests that acupuncture-based treatments may help lower blood pressure in adults with hypertension. The analysis, which combined data from 15 independent studies, focused on treatments that use penetrating needles, such as traditional acupuncture and electroacupuncture. The researchers looked at how these treatments affected blood pressure measured at the end of treatment.
They found that acupuncture was linked to a reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top number) by about 6.63 mmHg on average, compared to control groups. However, the effect on diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) was less clear. When looking at changes from the start of treatment, there was a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (about 3.97 mmHg), but the effect on systolic blood pressure was not consistent across all analyses.
The analysis also found some evidence that acupuncture might help with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, but this was based on limited data. No serious side effects were reported, but the studies did not provide detailed information on safety.
It's important to note that this is a meta-analysis, which means it combines results from multiple studies. While the findings are promising, the evidence is not strong enough to recommend acupuncture as a replacement for standard blood pressure treatments. More research is needed to confirm these effects and to understand how acupuncture might fit into a comprehensive treatment plan. If you have hypertension, talk to your doctor before trying acupuncture or any new treatment.
