HOME HELP CONTACT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Full Text Full Text (PDF) CFPlus Fast Facts Rapid Responses: Submit a response Rapid Responses: View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nahas, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nahas, R.

Complementary and alternative medicine approaches to blood pressure reduction

An evidence-based review

Correspondence: Dr Richard Nahas, Seekers Centre for Integrative Medicine, 6 Deakin St, Ottawa, ON K2E 1B3; telephone 613 727-7246; e-mailrichard{at}seekerscentre.com

OBJECTIVE To review the evidence supporting complementary and alternative medicine approaches used in the treatment of hypertension.

QUALITY OF EVIDENCE MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from January 1966 to May 2008 combining the key words hypertensionor blood pressure with acupuncture, chocolate, cocoa, coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone, melatonin, vitamin D, meditation, and stress reduction. Clinical trials, prospective studies, and relevant references were included.

MAIN MESSAGE Evidence from systematic reviews supports the blood pressure–lowering effects of coenzyme Q10, polyphenol-rich dark chocolate, Qigong, slow breathing, and transcendental meditation. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with hypertension and cardiovascular risk; supplementation lowered blood pressure in 2 trials. Acupuncture reduced blood pressure in 3 trials; in 1 of these it was no better than an invasive placebo. Melatonin was effective in 2 small trials, but caution is warranted in patients taking pharmacotherapy.

CONCLUSION Several complementary and alternative medicine therapies can be considered as part of an evidence-based approach to the treatment of hypertension. The potential benefit of these interventions warrants further research using cardiovascular outcomes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. V. Birtwhistle Irritable bowel syndrome: Are complementary and alternative medicine treatments useful? Can Fam Physician, February 1, 2009; 55(2): 126 - 127. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. V. Birtwhistle Syndrome du colon irritable: Les traitements complementaires et de medecine douce sont-ils utiles? Can Fam Physician, February 1, 2009; 55(2): 128 - 129. [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses: