The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine (대한한방내과학회지)

The Society of Internal Korean Medicine (대한한방내과학회)
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Effects of Acupuncture at ST36 on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Dependent Vasodilation in Hypertensive Patients

족삼리(足三里) 자침이 고혈압환자의 혈압과 내피세포 의존성 혈관확장반응에 미치는 영향

  • Bae, Hyung-Sup (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Shin, Ae-Sook (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Park, Seong-Uk (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Sohn, Il-Suk (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Jung, Woo-Sang (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Moon, Sang-Kwan (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Park, Jung-Mi (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Ko, Cham-Nam (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Cho, Ki-Ho (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Suk (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University)
  • 배형섭 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 신애숙 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 박성욱 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 손일석 (경희대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 정우상 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 문상관 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 박정미 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 고창남 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 조기호 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실) ;
  • 김영석 (경희대학교 한의과대학 심계내과학교실)
  • Published : 2008.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives : The objective of this study was to assess the effect of acupuncture applied at the ST36 point on blood pressure and endothelial dependent vasodilation in hypertensive patients. Methods : 24 hypertensive patients were recruited and randomized to a study group (12 subjects) or a control group (12 subjects). Both groups took FMD (endothelial-dependant, flow-mediated dilation) measurement and then acupuncture needles were inserted at ST36 for the study group. In the control group, they took sham acupuncture as a control. FMD was rechecked after 10-min acupuncture treatment. Blood pressure was measured before and after acupuncture treatment. Results : FMD increased significantly in the study group after acupuncture (9.5${\pm}$2.0% to 11.1${\pm}$2.2%), but not in the control group. In both groups, there were no changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Conclusions : Acupuncture on ST36 appears to improve endothelial dysfunction of hypertensive patients and this might result from inducing activation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.

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