Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

​

In medical terms, high blood pressure is known as hypertension. Blood pressure means the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries. When the pressure is abnormally high, it naturally causes abnormal wear and tear on the blood vessels. In serve cases, the pressure can cause the strained capillaries (tiny blood vessels) to rupture, which may result in a heart attack or stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. The brain is believed to be particularly susceptible to hemorrhage because it is enclosed in the skull and cannot expand when the blood pressure increases. Kidney disease, particularly inflammation, can cause hypertension, however only a very small percentage of the cases of high blood pressure are accounted for by kidney disease.

More common is that type of high blood pressure known as “essential hypertension.” This type is presumed to exit without any well-defined cause being known. The usual symptoms of high blood pressure are dizziness, headaches and noises or ringing in the ears. Along with any remedy used for hypertension, the following regime is generally recommended: sufficient rest, regular exercise, abstinence from tobacco, coffee, alcoholic beverages, a low sodium diet and when possible the avoidance of stress provoking situations and control of the cholesterol count by proper diet. Acupuncture has been a proven treatment, backed by numerous studies to lower blood pressure. The source of high blood pressure varies from person to person and is treated as such.