Der Einfluss einer standardisierten Akupunkturbehandlung auf Beschwerden, Blutdruck und Serumlipide hypertensiver, postmenopausaler Frauen. Randomisierte, kontrollierte klinische Studie

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture according to the Chinese syndrome is often used in patients with postmenopausal complaints. Often these patients have an increased blood pressure. As experienced therapists report that acupuncture is efficient also in hypertension, our aim was to investigate whether the acupuncture used for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome also has an effect on blood pressure. Patients and Methods: The efficacy of a standardized acupuncture according to the Chinese syndrome was evaluated in a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study with 10 postmenopausal patients with mild hypertension. Blood pressure was measured by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement. Complaints and well-being were evaluated by validated questionnaires. In addition, serum lipids and excretion of catecholamines in the 24-hour urine were measured. Results: Blood pressure was altered neither by verum nor placebo acupuncture, however, complaints were significantly reduced and well-being was improved after verum treatment. The improvement lasted less than two months. Serum lipids did not change, but the excretion of normetanephrine was reduced by verum acupuncture. Conclusions: Acupuncture with a standardized combination of acupuncture points according to the Chinese syndrome can transitorily reduce postmenopausal complaints, but does not alter blood pressure or serum lipids at the same time.

Electroacupuncture Delays Hypertension Development through Enhancing NO/NOS Activity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

“…According to previous trials, acupuncture is more effective than sham only when given in addition to medication [11, 35] and acupuncture alone is not better than sham [36, 37]. These results can imply both acupuncture and sham acupuncture are effective for lowering BP.…”

Is Acupuncture Effective for Hypertension? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…A majority of RCTs involved patients with mild or mild to moderate hypertension, except two studies enrolled participants with hypertension of Stage III[ 28 , 31 ]. And 18 RCTs were conducted in China [ 12 – 18 , 20 , 22 – 31 ], 2 in Germany [ 32 , 33 ], 2 in South Korea [ 21 , 34 ] and 1 in the United States [ 19 ].…”

A review of controlled trials of acupuncture for women's reproductive health care

“…22 Menopausal complaints and well-being significantly improved during treatment but this effect did not last for more than 2 months. No effect was seen on hypertension or on serum lipids, though there was a reduction in the secretion of noradrenaline in the acupuncture group.…”