High blood pressure is both a lifestyle and medical problem – because it has become so commonplace, many patients often overlook the significance or forget to treat it. Taking a blood pressure medication every day seems like enough; however, there are other methods to control high blood pressure without relying on chemical solutions. Acupuncture is a viable treatment for prolonged reduction of blood pressure.
Lack of sleep, drinking, smoking, and of course: stress. All of these are major contributing factors to high blood pressure, which is caused by inflammation of artery lining. This inner layer becomes swollen, which restricts blood flow through the artery, causing an increase in pressure. Other contributing factors that lead to high blood pressure are related to diets full of processed, fried and fatty foods.
In the U.S. it’s not unreasonable to wonder if we are all doomed – our diets are loaded with processed foods and more and more Americans struggle to get even six hours of sleep. Long hours at the office, stressful commutes, financial worries and managing a family can take its toll. That being said, it’s not surprising that nearly 70 million Americans have high blood pressure. That’s 1 in 3 or 29% of the population. This raises concerns over heart health and the toll it takes on the brain and kidneys. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. Just because the condition has become routine does not make it any less threatening to overall health and longevity.
That is why we often treat patients who have high blood pressure as part of an overall treatment plan; however, acupuncture can help treat the isolated concern.
In Eastern medicine, blood pressure is understood as excess heat elevation in the liver; another component is that heat-phlegm toxins clog blood vessels. By implementing a treatment plan of acupuncture and herbal medicines, the goal is to detoxify the body and remove the toxins from blood vessels. Acupuncture opens blood vessels, increases blood flow to the affected areas and allows drainage of toxins. The right herbal medicines work internally to detoxify the body. Changes to lifestyle are also critical – reducing salt intake, daily exercise, and reducing caffeine, alcohol and smoking all contribute to better overall health.
By controlling the inflammation, the arteries are healthy – they are capable of functioning properly which reduces blood pressure. From there, acupuncture and herbal treatments are used to reduce stress. Stress increases the demand on the restricted arteries which can lead to heart attack because the blood cannot reach the heart as quickly as it’s demanding it. Acupuncture reduces the production of the stress hormone cortisol and increases production and release of “happy hormones” – endorphins and dopamine. The “happy hormones” are the body’s natural antidepressants and pain killers.
To learn more about how acupuncture can reduce blood pressure, call us today to schedule a consultation. Or take advantage of the convenient online scheduler at the top of this page.
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