Guest guest Posted November 9, 2006 Report Share Posted November 9, 2006 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547428?sssdmh=dm1.224007 & src=nldne NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 08 - Standardized or individualized traditional Chinese acupuncture is no better than a sham procedure in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients, according to a report in the November issue of Hypertension. Findings from small trials and case studies have suggested a benefit for acupuncture in treating hypertension, lead author Dr. A. Macklin, from the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Massachusetts, and colleagues note. However, until now, no data from large, randomized trials have been reported. The Stop Hypertension with the Acupuncture Research Program (SHARP) trial involved 192 subjects with untreated blood pressure between 140/90 and 179/109 mmHg. The subjects were randomized to undergo standardized acupuncture at preselected points, individualized traditional Chinese acupuncture, or invasive sham acupuncture (needle puncture at non-acupuncture sites). The subjects underwent 12 or fewer acupuncture sessions over 6 to 8 weeks. Blood pressure was monitored every 2 weeks for 10 weeks and antihypertensives were given if blood pressure exceeded 180/110 mmHg. The average drop in blood pressure from baseline to 10 weeks was comparable in each group, with about a decline of around 3.70 mmHg for systolic pressure and 3.5 mm Hg for diastolic pressure. The authors were unable to find any patient subgroups, based on age, race, gender, baseline blood pressure, or other factors, for which active acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture at reducing blood pressure. " The money and effort expended in this trial should save even more wasted money and ineffectual effort, " Dr. Norman M. Kaplan, from the University of Texas at Dallas, comments in a related editorial, in reference to the null findings reported. " Acupuncture is receiving a number of proofs of inadequacy, but it may turn out that science cannot trump 2500 years of Asian tradition. " Hypertension 2006;48:838-845. Check Nutrition at my site: Nutrition.teach-nology.com Ortiz, RD nrord@... " The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot. " -- Altshuler, motivational speaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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