[Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture for improving myocardial ischemia in coronary heart disease].

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common condition where the heart doesn't receive enough blood flow, leading to chest pain and other serious complications. This research review examined how acupuncture works to improve blood flow to the heart muscle in people with CHD. The researchers looked at multiple studies from around the world to understand the biological mechanisms behind acupuncture's benefits.

The review found that acupuncture helps the heart through several different pathways in the body. It improves blood flow to heart tissue and helps grow new blood vessels, which can provide alternative routes for blood to reach the heart. Acupuncture also reduces inflammation in heart muscle, protects heart cells from dying, and helps the heart use energy more efficiently. Additionally, it balances the nervous system signals to the heart and reduces stress hormone activity that can harm the heart.

For patients with coronary heart disease, this research suggests that acupuncture works as more than just symptom relief—it actually addresses multiple underlying problems that contribute to poor heart function. The treatment can reduce how often chest pain occurs, decrease its duration, and help prevent serious cardiovascular events. It may also improve overall quality of life for people living with heart disease.

This multi-targeted approach makes acupuncture a valuable complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatment for CHD. If you're considering acupuncture for heart-related conditions, work with a licensed acupuncturist who has experience treating cardiovascular conditions and coordinate care with your cardiologist.

This comprehensive review synthesizes current research on acupuncture's mechanisms for treating myocardial ischemia in coronary heart disease. The analysis reveals acupuncture functions through multiple synergistic pathways: inhibiting myocardial inflammatory responses, modulating cardiac autonomic nervous system balance, suppressing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy, optimizing myocardial energy metabolism, and promoting therapeutic angiogenesis. Evidence demonstrates acupuncture improves myocardial perfusion, reduces ischemic tissue damage, and provides cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Clinical outcomes include decreased angina frequency and duration, reduced adverse cardiovascular events, and improved quality of life. The review characterizes acupuncture's cardioprotective effects as multi-target and multi-pathway, supporting its role as adjunctive therapy in CHD management. These findings provide mechanistic rationale for incorporating acupuncture into integrative cardiovascular treatment protocols, particularly for patients seeking symptom management and risk reduction beyond standard pharmacological interventions.