[Progress in the research of neuroendocrine-immunological mechanism of acupuncture in regulating blood pressure and protecting target organs in hypertension].

By ways of favorable bi-directionally-regulative effect of acupoint stimulation and close correlation between acupoints and Zangfu-organs, acupuncture therapy can effectively regulate both blood pressure and functional activities of the corresponding viscera. Hence, acupuncture therapy, as a complementary method for hypertension, has its characteristics in protecting target organs. In the present paper, the authors review the progress in acupuncture treatment of hypertension in recent ten years from the studies of clinical treatment and animal experiments; analyze the underlying mechanism of acupuncture in protecting target organs of hypertension from the neuro-endocrine-immune network. Moreover, the authors point out some existing problems and put forward a few suggestions about acupuncture research in this field.