Acupuncture reduces hypertension

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Acupuncture combined with a mild electrical current temporarily reduces high blood pressure in rats, University of California at Irvine researchers said.

The 3,000-year-old medical procedure invented by the Chinese involves inserting needles at specific points on one's body to fight disease or relieve pain.

Researchers targeted specific areas of rats' bodies and found electrically enhanced acupuncture temporarily reduces elevated blood pressure as much as 50 percent.

"This study suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments, especially for those treating the cardiac system," said study leader John Longhurst of the university's Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine.

"The Western world is waiting for a clear scientific basis for using acupuncture, and we hope that this research ultimately will lead to the integration of ancient healing practices into modern medical treatment," Longhurst said.

The study appears in the March issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Provided by United Press International