Acupuncture Stimulates Release Of Natural Opioids, Reduces Hypertension: Study

Over the years, acupuncture has been a popular way of enhancing one's health. And just recently, a new study suggests that it is indeed effective in treating hypertension. The treatment recruits the body's natural opioids; thus, producing its effects.

While there have been numerous claims that acupuncture is highly effective in lowering blood pressure, there was little evidence on how this happens on a physiological level. According to IFL Science, University of California Irvine (UCI) researchers performed electroacupuncture on rats experiencing hypertension to know if it can alleviate the symptoms. The treatment involves using acupuncture needles to run a pulsating electrical current to stimulate acupoints.

The rats received 30-minute treatments twice a week for five weeks. During the treatment, the needles were placed in the lower leg over the peroneal nerve. Researchers found that the rats' blood pressure was reduced for 72 hours after each treatment. After doing genetic analysis, it was also found that during the period of reduced blood pressure, there was an enhancement of the expression of genes coding for enkephalins or the body's natural opioids. The experts say it is an indication that the opioid system mediated the improvement in symptoms.

Meanwhile, Medical Xpress reported about another positive claim of the UCI team regarding the treatment and hypertension. Last year, they observed drops in blood pressure among patients who were treated with acupuncture at particular wrist locations.

The findings stating that the ancient Chinese therapy can stimulate the release of natural opioids and treat high blood pressure is indeed promising. The present research may not prove that acupuncture is effective for the wide array of illnesses that it is often said to cure; but apparently, it shows that the treatment is capable of producing systematic effects that influence how the body functions.

Hypertension is a serious condition that can lead to strokes, heart attack, and an array of potentially fatal complications. The journal Scientific Reports published the study last week.