Review and Commentary on Recent Investigations into Electroacupuncture Treatment for Essential Hypertension

Hypertension is an issue of worldwide significance. In this article the author explores electroacupuncture (EA) protocols to treat high blood pressure and finds good response from a range of point protocols using a frequency of two hertz. In addition to discussion of the author’s use of EA, a paper from 2015 by Dr Peng Li et al - Long-Lasting Reduction of Blood Pressure by Electroacupuncture in Patients with Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial - is reviewed in detail. The University of California team responsible for this paper have published a series of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of EA for hypertension in which a frequency of two hertz is used; they have found this frequency to be significantly beneficial across a number of studies. In spite of these positive findings, EA remains to this day controversial both within and without the acupuncture community; for some in the traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) profession it is remains a new, untested technology. However, there is now RCT evidence to show solid cardiovascular benefits from the use of EA for the treatment of essential hypertension.