Qigong reduced blood pressure and catecholamine levels of patients with essential hypertension

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of Qigong as a non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension and evaluate the contribution of Qigong in the blood pressure (BP) reduction of essential hypertension patients. Fifty-eight patients volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into either a Qigong group (n = 29), or a wait list control group (n = 29). In response to 10 weeks of Qigong, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were decreased significantly. There was a significant reduction of norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, and stress level by the Qigong. These results suggest that Qigong may reduce BP and catecholamines via stabilizing the sympathetic nervous system. Therefore, Qigong is an effective nonpharmacological modality to reduce BP in essential hypertensive patients.