[Acupuncture combined with medication for morning blood pressure of essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: Based on the western medication, to evaluate the advantages in the morning blood pressure treated with acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) and Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with acupuncture technique for activating blood circulation, eliminating wind and regulating the liver and spleen in the patients with essential hypertension.

METHODS: A total of 90 patients of essential hypertension of the mild and moderate degrees were randomized into a medication group (30 cases, 3 dropping), No.1 acupuncture group (30 cases, 2 dropping) and No.2 acupuncture group (30 cases, 1 dropping). In the medication group, adalat was prescribed for oral administration, 30 mg at 7 am every day, continuously for 6 weeks. In the No.1 acupuncture group, on the basis of the treatment as the medication group, the acupuncture technique for activating blood circulation, eliminating wind and regulating the liver and spleen was applied and the acupoints were Renying (ST 9), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36). In the No.2 acupuncture group, on the basis of the treatment as the No.1 acupuncture group, Fengchi (GB 20) and Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2) were added in acupuncture. Acupuncture was given in the time zone from 8 am through 10 am every day, once a day, 5 times a week, totally for 6 weeks. Separately, before treatment and in 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the morning blood pressure, the control rate and the symptom score were observed in the patients of the three groups. The morning blood pressure was followed up in 3 and 6 months separately.

RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, in 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the levels of blood pressure reduced in the patients of the three groups ( P <0.05, P <0.01). After 2-week treatment, the differences were not significant in the morning blood pressure and its control rate in the patients of the three groups (all P >0.05). In 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the levels of the morning blood pressure in the No.2 acupuncture group were lower than those in the No.1 acupuncture group, and the results in the No.1 and No.2 acupuncture groups were all lower than those in the medication group (all P <0.05). In the follow-up visit for 3 and 6 months separately, the differences were not significant in the morning blood pressure among the three groups (all P >0.05). In 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the symptom scores reduced as compared with those before treatment in the three groups (all P <0.05). The symptom scores in the No.1 and No.2 acupuncture groups were all lower than those in the medication group (all P <0.05). The differences were not significant between the No.1 acupuncture group and the No.2 acupuncture group (all P >0.05).

CONCLUSION: The comprehensive treatment of acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) and Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with acupuncture technique for activating blood circulation, eliminating wind and regulating the liver and spleen achieve the effects of reducing the morning blood pressure in the patients with essential hypertension, relieving the symptoms of hypertension such as headache, vertigo and tinnitus and the effects are better than those of the acupuncture technique for activating blood circulation, eliminating wind and regulating the liver and spleen.