POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Li P, Tjen-A-Looi S, Longhurst JC.
Effect of electroacupuncture on hypertension and its
mechanism.
Susan Samueli Center of Integrative Medicine,
School Medicine, University of California, Irvine
pengli@uci.edu
PURPOSE: Our purpose is to identify the most effective
acupoints and parameters of EA that most effectively reduce blood pressure
(BP) in HTN patients, and explore its mechanism. First of all, we have
performed a series of animal experiments demonstrated that EA with low
current low frequency at P5-6 and St 36-37 inhibited experimental hypertension,
arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia. Control acupoints G37-39 or LI6-7
did not display such inhibitory effect. This effect is long-lasting
and is related to the activation of group II, III and IV afferent fibers
underneath the acupoints, which projected to the arcuate nucleus in
hypothalamus, passed through ventrolateral periaqueduct grey, in turn,
inhibited the cardiovascular sympathetic neurons in rostral ventrolateral
medulla by activation of µ and δ opioid receptors. In addition
to the experimental analysis, our clinical study showed that EA did
not alter the resting BP in healthy subjects. In contrast, EA at P5-6
with low current and low frequency for 30 min decreased the pressor
response induced by exercise stress in 70% subjects. Control acupoints
(G37-39) did not display this beneficial effect. In 20 patients with
mild to moderate hypertension, (BP 170-145/110-90 mmHg), EA at combined
acupoints P 5-6, St 36-37 and LI 4-11 for 30 min twice weekly for two
months reduced SBP and mean BP significantly. In other 10 patients with
hypertension, after EA treatment at P 5-6 and St 36-37 once a week for
two weeks, seven of them showed a significant reduction of SBP and MBP
with 24 hr ambulatory monitor. When EA treatment was continued for 6-8
weeks, SBP and MBP were decreased significantly (-26±3 and -21±4 mmHg,
respectively). After termination of EA treatment for one month, their
BP remained at a low level, but returned to high BP after cessation
of EA for two months. This preliminary study demonstrated that EA at
certain acupoints 1-2/week for 6-8 weeks can alleviate hypertension
significantly. The beneficial effect occurred slowly and lasted for
a prolonged period of time. The mechanism for this prolonged effect
is under active investigation.
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