Effects of acupuncture with needle manipulation at different frequencies for patients with hypertension: Result of a 24-week clinical observation

Objectives: To investigate whether the manipulation parameter of the twirling frequency in acupuncture affects the blood pressure when acupuncture is applied on the acupoints ST9 and LR3 in a human body. Design: A randomized, controlled trial. Interventions: A hundred and twenty patients with hypertension were randomized into four treatment groups. A twirling frequency of 120 twirls per minute or 60 twirls per minute were respectively applied on the acupoints ST9 or LR3. Each patient received five acupuncture sessions a week over a period of 12 weeks, with a follow-up period of a further12 weeks. The outcome was assessed by using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. Results: A hundred and twenty twirls per minute on ST9 could overall improve the BP (24hDBP, mSBP, mDBP, dDBP, nSBP and nDBP). Sixty twirls per minute on ST9 improved the 24hDBP, dSBP, dDBP and mDBP; 120 twirls per minute on LR3 did not show any anti-hypertensive effect, while 60 twirls per minute on LR3 improved the dSBP and dDBP. The results indicated that the acupuncture effect on BP, the onset of anti-hypertensive effect, the occurrence of the effect, and the duration of the effect depended on the frequency of needle manipulation on the same acupuncture point. Conclusions: As one of the important factors of the effects of acupuncture, the manipulation parameter's impact has its specificity for different acupoints. Thus, in the future, close attention needs to be paid to this clinically.