Acupuncture for Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) - Treatment Protocols

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for hypertension (high blood pressure). There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

  • Differentiation:
  • LV Yang Rising - Excess
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • May have dizziness a/or vertigo, distended headache, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, red eyes, insomnia, constipation.
      • Tongue:  Red w/thin yellow coat
      • Pulse:  Wiry, rapid or possibly slippery
    • Treatment Points:
      • Valaskatagis Point Selection (with additions):
      • LV 2 - LV fire, could use LV 3 if less heat signs
      • GB 20 - descend Qi, clear head
      • GV 20 - descend Qi
      • GB 34 - LV/GB fire
      • SP 6 - tonify Yin
  • Phlegm-damp Obstruction - Excess
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • May have dizziness a/or vertigo, heaviness in the head, loss of appetite, nausea, chest oppression, heavy limbs, obesity.
      • Tongue:  Swollen w/greasy white coat
      • Pulse:  Slippery, wiry
    • Treatment Points:
  • LV Excess w/KD Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • May have dizziness a/or vertigo, headache, tinnitus, sore back a/or knees, heat in the 5 palms, palpitations, insomnia, dry stools.
      • Tongue:  Red w/thin white coat
      • Pulse:  Fine, wiry
    • Treatment Points:
  • Yin & Yang Deficiency - Mixed
    • Signs & Symptoms:
      • May have dizziness a/or vertigo, blurred vision, heaviness in the head, weak legs, SOB, heat in the 5 palms, sore back a/or knees, palpitations, tinnitus. With yang predominance, aversion to cold, profuse night time urination, impotence, nocturnal emissions.
      • Tongue:  Light red (more yang def) or Red striped (more yin def)
      • Pulse:  Fine, deep (more yang def) or Fine, wiry (more yin def)
    • Treatment Points:
      • St. John Point Selection (with additions):
      • ST 36 - tonify Qi
      • CV 4 - tonify Qi & Yin
      • GV 20 - clear head
      • UB 20 - SP Shu
      • UB 23 - KD Shu
      • Yin Deficiency Predominates:
      • KD 3 - tonify Yin
      • SP 6 - tonify Yin
      • HT 7 - tonify Yin, calm spirit
      • Yang Deficiency Predominates:
      • GV 4 - tonify Yang

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

  • St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
  • Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
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