Effectiveness of Acupressure on the Taichong Acupoint in Lowering Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Objectives. To evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure on the Taichong acupoint in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients.Methods. Eighty patients with hypertension attending a cardiology outpatient department in central Taiwan were included in this randomized clinical trial. Acupressure was applied to the Taichong acupoint in the experimental group (n= 40) and to the first metatarsal (sham acupoint) in the control group (n= 40). Blood pressure was measured by electronic monitoring before and immediately 15 min and 30 min after acupressure.Results. The average age of the experimental and control participants was 59.3 ± 9.2 years and 62.7 ± 8.4 years, respectively. The two groups were similar for demographics and antihypertensive drug use. Mean systolic and diastolic BP in the experimental group decreased at 0, 15, and 30 min after acupressure (165.0/96.3, 150.4/92.7, 145.7/90.8, and 142.9/88.6 mmHg); no significant changes occurred in the control group. There was a significant difference in systolic and diastolic BP between the experimental and control groups immediately and 15 and 30 min after acupressure (p< 0.05).Conclusion. Acupressure on the Taichong acupoint can lower BP in hypertensive patients and may be included in the nursing care plan for hypertension. However, additional studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage, frequency, and long-term effects of this therapy.
Department of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
Gan-Hon
GH
Lin
Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
Wei-Chun
WC
Chang
Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
Kuan-Ju
KJ
Chen
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan; Chander Clinic, No. 128, Sec. 3, Dongxing Rd., Taichung 40356, Taiwan.
Chen-Chen
0000-0001-7582-3763
CC
Tsai
Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
Sung-Yuan
SY
Hu
School of Nursing, College of Health Care, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Xue Shi Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Li-Li
0000-0002-5576-0299
LL
Chen