Published Paper Details:

Background: Essential hypertension continues to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, affecting almost half of the adult population worldwide. Acupuncture at specific cities, such as Liver 3 (LV3), has shown promising results in blood pressure management, given the well-established effect of pharmaceutical interventions. Case Presentation: A 64-year-old man who had just been diagnosed with essential hypertension had daily acupuncture treatments on both LV3 sites for 21 days. The patient did not take any medications, had no significant medical history, and favoured non-pharmacological management. Methods: Blood pressure was measured immediately before and after each Acupuncture session. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, linear regression, and effect size calculations using Cohen's d. Results: Baseline blood pressure of 180/100 mmHg decreased to 163/90 mmHg by day 21, representing reductions of 17 mmHg systolic and 10 mmHg diastolic pressure. Mean blood pressure reduction per session was 1.95 mmHg systolic and 2.33 mmHg diastolic. Paired t-test analysis revealed highly significant differences (systolic: t = 7.192, p < 0.000001; diastolic: t = 4.121, p < 0.001) with moderate effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.387 and 0.476, respectively). Linear regression demonstrated consistent downward trends throughout the intervention period. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Acupuncture at LV3 over 21 days resulted in clinically significant blood pressure reduction in this patient with essential hypertension. These findings support existing evidence for LV3 acupuncture as a potential complementary therapy for hypertension management, though larger controlled trials are warranted.