Causes of High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure, or Hypertension, is a very common health condition which often has no obvious signs and symptoms. However, if left untreated, it can lead to severe health consequences, as it affects the blood supply to every organ of the body. In Western Medicine, most hypertension is described as essential, meaning that there is no apparent cause for it. Medication is therefore aimed at overriding the body’s mechanisms to reduce the figures in themselves, rather than allowing the body to adjust the pressure itself. (More information on measurements and health implications is available from both the Blood Pressure Association and the British Hypertension Society.)
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a way of explaining the causes of hypertension. Using its principles, we can identify different patterns of imbalance which can lead to high blood pressure: Our health depends on an ever-changing balance of calming, nourishing qualities and active, warming qualities. If these are in balance, the blood pressure will be within a healthy range. Many people with high blood pressure experience a lack of calming energies, allowing the active part to take over – and, like a pressure cooker, this will cause the blood pressure to rise. Of course, everybody is different and will express these imbalances in different ways. A detailed consultation is therefore necessary to fully understand the causes of the hypertension for any particular person.
What can be done?
Conny has treated many people with high blood pressure over the last couple of years, and has often been pleasantly surprised to see just how much the blood pressure can come down with a course of treatments. The key is that once we understand why someone’s blood pressure is high, we can start to address the imbalance. Chinese acupuncture can therefore be a powerful tool to reduce high blood pressure. It works both immediately, as can be seen by measurements done just before and after treatments, and in the long run, as the root of the imbalance is being addressed.
Acupuncture works best as part of a programme. Conny therefore includes lifestyle changes such as looking at your diet, reducing alcohol intake, doing the right kind and amount of exercise, etc into the treatment course. Not everybody with high blood pressure will benefit equally from all of them. Using Chinese Medicine can help to understand which of these changes will be most effective for you specifically.
To reduce mild hypertension, a course of 6 treatments is usually necessary. If it is more severe, a longer course might be appropriate.
What if I am already taking blood pressure medication?
The earlier the high blood pressure is treated, the better. However, if you were diagnosed with high blood pressure a long time ago and have been taking medication for perhaps many years, we can still lower it with acupuncture, it might just take a little longer. Side-effects from the medication can also be reduced through acupuncture.
PLEASE NOTE: Untreated high blood pressure is dangerous. If your GP has prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure, please follow their advice and carry on taking it. Acupuncture is used in parallel with your medication, not instead of it. As your blood pressure comes down, your GP will be able to lower the medication doses or advise you to stop taking it.
Contact Conny on 07796 478 946 or info@connyduxbury.com
