Combining electroacupuncture targeting sympathetic activity and inflammation reduced hypertension more effectively than either treatment alone in salt-sensitive rats.
Researchers used a factorial animal experiment in salt-sensitive hypertensive rats receiving a high-salt diet. Rats underwent electroacupuncture targeting sympathetic regulation, inflammation, both target sets simultaneously, or sham treatment twice weekly for five weeks; normotensive rats served as controls. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured non-invasively, while blood samples were analysed for norepinephrine and inflammatory markers.
Combined electroacupuncture produced the largest reductions in blood pressure, sympathetic activity, and inflammatory markers. Sympathetic-targeted stimulation lowered blood pressure and related biological markers, whereas inflammation-targeted stimulation limited blood-pressure increases and reduced inflammation. The combined regimen showed a positive interaction between the two approaches, indicating that simultaneously addressing sympathetic overactivity and chronic inflammation enhanced antihypertensive effects.
