About this trial
Acupuncture therapy will be provided to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The mild to moderate hypertensive patients will be either on or off hypertensive medications. The course last for 8 weeks and the frequency is once a week.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Subjects from 45 to 75 years of age
Clinically diagnosed with mild to moderate hypertension and ON or OFF medication (Office SBP > 140 mmHg and < 160 mmHg Or ABPM average SBP > 130 mmHg and < 145 mmHg), and
No significant ECG change reflecting ischemia (i.e. ST elevation or depression) at rest will be recruited to participate in this study.
Disqualifiers
Subjects will be excluded if pregnant or nursing.
Subjects will be excluded if they have coronary disease (by history or on ECG screening), conduction abnormalities on ECG consistent with left bundle branch block, cardiac arrhythmias associated with low blood pressure (<90 mmHg), peripheral vascular disease, orthopedic disease, diabetic neuropathy or severe hypertension (BP >170 mmHg systolic or >110 mmHg diastolic), or any other physical or psychological illness.
Those with known sensitivity to any topical preparations or strong reactions to medical dressings and skin tapes also will be excluded.
Inability our or unwillingness of individual to give written informed consent.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- electroacupuncture
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
University of California, Irvine
Lead sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborator