Acupuncture for Essential Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Sham‐Controlled Clinical Trials

Abstract

Background. Acupuncture is frequently advocated as an adjunct treatment for essential hypertension. The aim of this review was to assess its adjunct effectiveness in treating hypertension. Methods. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and the Chinese databases Sino-Med, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP through November, 2012, for eligible randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture. Outcome measures were changes in diastolic (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Results. A total of 4 randomized controlled trials were included. We found no evidence of an improvement with the fact that acupuncture relative to sham acupuncture in SBP change (n = 386; mean difference = −3.80 mmHg, 95% CI = −10.03–2.44 mmHg; I 2 = 99%), and an insignificant improvement in DBP change (n = 386; mean difference = −2.82 mmHg, 95% CI = −5.22–(−0.43) mmHg; I 2 = 97%). In subgroup analyses, acupuncture significantly improved both SBP and DBP in patients taking antihypertensive medications. Only minor acupuncture-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions. Our results are consistent with acupuncture significantly lowers blood pressure in patients taking antihypertensive medications. We did not find that acupuncture without antihypertensive medications significantly improves blood pressure in those hypertensive patients.

Acupuncture Studies: Are They Done with Sham or Scam?

“…This "real vs. sham" Acupuncture study however concludes that Acupuncture does not work for reducing blood pressure [6]? How is it possible?…”

Acupuncture in hypertension and your contributions about nursing diagnoses

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] The experimental or quasi-experimental methods using metallic needles were the most frequently employed, presenting good internal validity and control of variables, in accordance with standards universally recommended for clinical trials, which enable us to infer that AP is an efficacious technology to be implemented in the care provided to people with SAH. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] According to the theoretical-philosophical conceptions of TCM/AP, the body is a field that is constantly exchanging energy, called Qi, which circulates among tissue, muscles, organs, and viscera through energetic channels called meridians, where acupuncture points are located. When metallic needles penetrate the skin through these points, they mobilize the Qi and regulate its flow through the body, balancing it so that manifestations of imbalance, expressed by signs and symptoms present in a pattern of disharmony, are regulated or remedied.…”

“…23 We highlight one study that was conducted by nurses who verified significant results for the BP levels and NDs of hypertensive individuals. 24 The potential action of the laser acupuncture technique was not compromised or harmed when compared to the effectiveness response reported by studies using metallic needles or needles associated with electrotherapy, 23,24 though there are no studies employing the three modalities and thus allowing comparisons to be performed among the techniques in regard to effectiveness.…”

“…The most significant decrease was observed among those exposed to AP associated with pharmacological treatment when compared to those who received either medication only or AP. [17][18][19]22,23 This shows that AP employed as a complement to conventional treatment can produce more satisfactory results.…”

“…17,23 Such variation may have been influenced by sample losses reported by the RCTs. In some studies such loss was more prevalent in the placebo group and we infer that as the participants in this group did not perceive any improvement in their health condition (e.g., decreased blood pressure), they withdrew from the study and no longer attended the experimental sessions.…”