Hypotensive Effects Induced by Herbal Fomentation at Yongquan Point

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed at assessing the adequacy of blood pressure (BP) control with the Chinese herbal fomentation at Yongquan point (K1). MethodA total of 51 participants as a group were enrolled. In 10 participants as the subgroup, BP data were compared with those simultaneously recorded from the radial artery of the same side. After the baseline examination, each enrolled patient participated in one session lasting 24 hours, during which Yongquan point (K1) of both sides were fomented with a mixture of Chinese herbs. The technique of 24-hour Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was repeated at baseline and on the day after the therapy. ResultsThe systolic and diastolic BP measured intra-arterially during the test were, on average, similar to those measured noninvasively. Patients obtained a 6.0mmHg reduction for systolic BP and a 4.8mmHg reduction for diastolic BP during daytime. The rate of adverse events was 2.0% in the group. ConclusionOur data demonstrated that BP recording by the ABPM method in our study provided a relatively accurate estimate of the average radial BP of the population. So the conclusion, “Chinese herbal fomentation at Yongquan point (K1) of both sides has some hypotensive potentials” was more reliable.