Acupuncture Lowers Cholesterol
Acupuncture combined with plum blossom
needling reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels in obese patients with
hyperlipidemia. Researchers discovered an additive effect when combining the
two protocols. The total effective rate in the acupuncture combined with plum
blossom needling group was higher than in a group receiving only
acupuncture. Other clinically significant
changes documented in the study were improvements in body mass index and body
fat percentages.
Plum blossom needling, often referred to as
seven-star needling, refers to a group of needles attached to a wand. The
flexible wand is manually manipulated to tap the needles to the surface of the
skin. The researchers investigated the synergistic and additive effects of
combining plum blossom needling with standard acupuncture protocols. One group
received manual acupuncture and the other group received a combination of
manual acupuncture plus plum blossom needling. Acupuncture was applied to
acupoints including:
•Qimen
(LV14)
• Taichong
(LV3)
•Zhangmen
(LV13)
•Taibai
(SP3)
.Zusanli
(ST36)
.Geshu
(UB17)
•Ganshu
(UB18)
•Pishu
(UB20)
In the plum blossom group, the seven-star
needle was applied to the acupoints in addition to standard manual acupuncture.
Acupuncture treatments were provided one time per two days for a period of
three continuous months. The total effective rate in the acupuncture with plum
blossom group was 96.2% and the acupuncture only group had a total effective
rate of 84.6%. The researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with plum
blossom needling is more effective than acupuncture as a standalone procedure
for the treatment of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides).
Sun et al. had related findings when
testing the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. They
discovered that acupuncture combined with the drug Lipitor is more effective
for the treatment of hyperlipidemia than using only Lipitor. The Lipitor only
group had a 73.3% total effective rate whereas the acupuncture plus Lipitor
group had a 93.3% total effective rate.
Lipitor was given to hyperlipidemia
patients in both groups, one 20 mg tablet per day for six weeks. Manual
acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group to the following acupuncture
points with a forty minute needle retention time at a rate of two times per
day, five days per week, for six weeks:
•Baihui (GV 20)
•Zhongwan (CV 12)
•Zusanli (ST 36)
•Sanyinjiao
(SP 6)
•Yinlingquan (SP 9)
•Fenglong (ST 40)
Measurements of serum total cholesterol,
triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were recorded. The
researchers note that combining acupuncture with Lipitor delivers superior
positive patient outcomes than using Lipitor as a standalone procedure.
In a related study, Shen et al. find
acupuncture effective for lowering blood pressure in patients with
hypertension. Using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), the
researchers examined how acupuncture point LV3 (Taichong) lowers blood
pressure. They discovered that LV3 activates the anterior cingulated gyrus and
its connection with surrounding areas of the brain. The researchers note that
LV3 regulates the parasympathetic nervous system and lowers blood pressure
through this pathway.
References:
Wu, B., Z. C. Liu, and B. Xu.
“Clinical observation on obesity and hyperlipidemia of liver qi stagnation
and spleen deficiency pattern in female patients treated with combined therapy
of acupuncture and tapping method.” Zhongguo zhen jiu= Chinese acupuncture
& moxibustion 34, no. 12 (2014): 1151.
Sun, Y. Z., and J. Song. “[Clinical
trials for treatment of primary hyperlipidemia by using acupuncture in
combination with Lipitor].” Zhen ci yan jiu= Acupuncture
research/[Zhongguo yi xue ke xue yuan Yi xue qing bao yan jiu suo bian ji] 40,
no. 1 (2015): 61-64.
W. Shen, Z. Sun, X. L. Wang, B. L. Zou, and
S. Fu. “Twisting acupuncture and sham acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3) in
patients with essential hyper-tension: an fMRI study.” Zhongguo zhen jiu=
Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion 34, no. 12 (2014): 1191.
