In a single-blind, randomized, controlled study involving 220 patients with newly diagnosed moderate to severe essential hypertension, treatment with relaxation therapy, added to standard anti-hypertensive drug therapy, was found to reduce blood pressure more significantly than treatment with medications alone.
Subjects were randomized to either receive relaxation therapy twice a week for 8 weeks, in addition to standard drug therapy, or drug therapy alone.
Baseline blood pressure readings were not significantly different between the two groups of patients (193/105 mm Hg in the group randomized to receive relaxation therapy and 192/102 in the group randomized to receive drug therapy alone).
After the 8 week intervention, blood pressure was significantly lower in the group who received relaxation therapy (133/81 mm Hg), as compared to the control group (146/84). Good control over blood pressure was achieved by 59% of subjects in the relaxation therapy group, as compared to only 36% in the drug therapy group.
The authors conclude, "Relaxation therapy on the background of standard antihypertensive drug treatment results in better control of blood pressure."
