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(Hypertension. 2007;49:E6.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Letters to the Editor

Response to Hasty Conclusion About Acupuncture for Hypertension?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas

I agree that there may be benefits from acupuncture beyond its lack of effect on blood pressure. The study by Macklin et al¹ is the only proper trial yet published, and despite the rather questionable objections raised by Moffet,² it stands as documentation that acupuncture as currently widely performed does not lower blood pressure more than seen with a placebo effect. Even if it had a small effect, the time and expense involved in repeated acupuncture make it impractical and cost-ineffective. Lifestyle changes and antihypertensive drugs remain the only proven therapies and should not be neglected in pursuit of an ineffectual alternative.

	Acknowledgments

 
Disclosures

None.

	References

Top References

 
1. Macklin EA, Wayne PM, Kalish LA, Valaskatgis P, Thompson J, Pian-Smith MC, Zhang Q, Stevens S, Goertz C, Prineas RJ, Buczynski B, Zusman RM. Stop Hypertension With the Acupuncture Research Program (SHARP). Results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Hypertension. 2006; 48: 838–845.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Moffet HH. Hasty conclusion about acupuncture for hypertension?. Hypertension. 2007; 49: e5.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

This Article Extract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 49/1/E6    most recent 01.HYP.0000252810.36388.a4v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kaplan, N. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kaplan, N. M. Related Collections Clinical Studies