Comparative Study on Ear Apex Bloodletting plus Acupoint Thread Embedding for Hypertension / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the real-time and short-term anti-hypertension efficacy of ear apex bloodletting plus acupoint thread embedding. Method Eighty-three eligible hypertension patients were randomized into group A of 28 cases, group B of 29 cases and group C of 26 cases. Group A was intervened by bloodletting at ear apex, group B was by acupoint thread embedding, and group C was by bloodletting at ear apex plus acupoint thread embedding. The blood pressure was recorded 5 min before intervention, as well as 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min following intervention, and the real-time anti-hypertension efficacy was compared. By analyzing the blood pressure before treatment and after 1-month treatment, the short-term anti-hypertension efficacy was compared. Result In group A and group C, the systolic and diastolic pressures at 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min after treatment were significantly different from that at 5 min before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 60.7% in group A, 51.7%in group B, and 80.8% in group C. The therapeutic efficacy of group C was significantly different from that of group A and B (P<0.05). The total effective rates for grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension were respectively 84.6%and 40.4%in group A, 76.9%and 31.3% in group B, and 100.0% and 64.3% in group C. In the three groups, the therapeutic efficacy for grade 1 hypertension was markedly different from that for grade 2 hypertension (P<0.05). Conclusion Bloodletting at ear apex can produce a significant anti-hypertension effect, and bloodletting at ear apex plus acupoint thread embedding is an effective method in treating hypertension.