Impact of Acupressure on Blood Pressure and Physiological Stress Responses

Abstract

Blood pressure and physiological stress responses are closely influenced by autonomic activity, emotional state, environmental demands, and underlying health conditions. Persistent elevation of blood pressure and repeated stress responses may contribute to cardiovascular risk and reduced well-being. Acupressure is a non-invasive complementary intervention involving manual stimulation of selected points and has been investigated as a possible method for regulating blood pressure and stress-related physiological responses. This review examines the impact of acupressure on blood pressure and physiological stress responses, focusing on possible mechanisms, commonly studied acupoints, evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, changes in pulse and autonomic measures, safety, and research limitations. Available evidence suggests that some acupressure protocols may reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly among people with hypertension, and may improve stress-related outcomes. A 2023 randomized trial in older adults with essential hypertension reported significant improvements in blood pressure, pulse rate, stress index, and sleep efficiency following eight weeks of auricular acupressure. A systematic review of acupressure for hypertension also reported reductions in blood pressure across nine eligible studies. However, other randomized evidence has found no significant effects on hemodynamic measures, indicating that results are not uniform. Acupressure should therefore be considered a complementary approach and not a substitute for medical treatment of hypertension.