[Effect of a standardized acupuncture treatment on complains, blood pressure and serum lipids of hypertensive, postmenopausal women. A randomized, controlled clinical study].
BACKGROUND
Acupuncture according to the Chinese syndrome is often used in patients with postmenopausal complaints. Often these patients have an increased blood pressure. As experienced therapists report that acupuncture is efficient also in hypertension, our aim was to investigate whether the acupuncture used for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome also has an effect on blood pressure.


METHODS
The efficacy of a standardized acupuncture according to the Chinese syndrome was evaluated in a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study with 10 postmenopausal patients with mild hypertension. Blood pressure was measured by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement. Complaints and well-being were evaluated by validated questionnaires. In addition, serum lipids and excretion of catecholamines in the 24-hour urine were measured.


RESULTS
Blood pressure was altered neither by verum nor placebo acupuncture, however, complaints were significantly reduced and well-being was improved after verum treatment. The improvement lasted less than two months. Serum lipids did not change, but the excretion of normetanephrine was reduced by verum acupuncture.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture with a standardized combination of acupuncture points according to the Chinese syndrome can transitorily reduce postmenopausal complaints, but does not alter blood pressure or serum lipids at the same time.
Kraft
K
K
Medizinische Poliklinik der Universitat Bonn, Deutschland.
Coulon
S
S
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause
D008055:Lipids