Testing Acupuncture to Help Control High Blood Pressure

This trial is testing electroacupuncture—a form of acupuncture combined with mild electrical stimulation—as a way to help control high blood pressure. Researchers believe that this treatment may work by calming an overactive nervous system and reducing inflammation in the body, addressing problems that standard blood pressure medications alone may not fully fix. The study will compare four different approaches: two versions focused on specific aspects of nervous system control, a combination of both, and a sham (fake) acupuncture control group.

Although most Americans with high blood pressure take medication, only about half achieve good blood pressure control—and the problem worsens as people age. Researchers believe the root cause involves an imbalance in the nervous system and chronic inflammation that current medications don't fully address. This trial tests whether electroacupuncture can target these underlying causes to improve blood pressure control beyond what medications alone can achieve.